Top Things to do in Kita
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Top 10 Things to do in Kita, Japan
Discover the best top things to do in Kita, Japan including Former Fukukawa Gardens, Asukayama Park, Hoku Topia, Otonashi Shinsui Park, Paper Museum, Kita-ku Central Library, Shibusawa Museum, Nanushinotaki Park, Oji Shrine, Banknote & Postage Stamp Museum.
Restaurants in Kita
1. Former Fukukawa Gardens
Overall Ratings
4 based on 248 reviews
Reviewed By hfot2 - Vermont
Many visitors’ attentions seemed to be focused on the big house for which the Gardens were built. The house was designed by an English architect in what is called English architecture style in a brochure. Actually it’s a rather humdrum but imposing pile of depressingly dark brown stone in a late Victorian/early Edwardian style, apparently built for a Japanese family.
Immediately beneath the house was a rose garden with very many roses in full bloom in the first week of December. A great many photographers were spending quite a lot of time on the house and rose garden.
We were far more interested in the Japanese garden beyond and below, down a long flight of stairs behind a gazebo. It was separated from the Western garden by a range of momiji, mostly in fine color. Below was a pleasantly laid out array of pond, with island and lanterns and hill and all the usual accoutrements. There were pine trees ready to be strung up for winter snow protection. There also were very odd cylinders of straw wrapping with bristly topknots around a sort of palm.
We were just about getting ready to head back to the entrance to leave when we discovered a side path. This led into a glen requiring a climb up and around and showing us a teahouse and two other small out buildings, plus a huge building of the same same brown stone, described in the brochure as a stable but it looks more like a kura to us. We next completed the loop around the glen, then we went down to the pond again to get some final photos and then we again made the climb up and out.
When we arrived the ticket seller kindly told us there was to be a concert at noon on the upper lawn and we were welcome to attend. We didn’t, but the music softly wafted over the garden during our entire visit. Happily it was peaceful Japanese music and not a rock concert!
Visitor’s tips:
The discount coupon from our Tokyo map worked here and we were in for only ¥50 each.
Ask for a bus time table and the location of the closest bus stop before you enter, so you can plan your time accordingly.
There is a men’s and women’s rest room hidden in a back corner of the garden on the lowest level.
2. Asukayama Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 198 reviews
Reviewed By RayParks - Adelaide, Australia
On Wednesday 1st April, my fourth day in Tokyo, I decided to go to visit Asukayama Park with my Japanese friend who had never been there before. Just as the name of the park, it is on top of 'yama' - higher ground. When we arrived at the platform of Oji Station, we saw a sign to three exits: to the three museums, Central exit to Askayama Park and North exit for Otonashi-shinsui Park.
The Central exit was right in front of the Mono-Rail station of the Park as well as the steep steps to the top of 'yama'. We arrived there at 9:30am and the first Mono-Rail service was scheduled at 10:00am. So we decided to go up the slope at the foot of 'yama' along Meiji-dori Street to the short steps to enter the park. As we entered, there was a beautiful tunnel of cherry blossoms! We walked through it to reach the highest point where the Mono-Rail station was.
There was a beautiful flower garden as well. As there were not many people, we thoroughly enjoyed the flowers and cherry blossoms. The only thing that bothered me was the noise. Express trains were frequently going though Oji Station that was on almost the same level as the park. And the traffic on Meiji-dori was very heavy.
There were three museums in the park. But we decided to exit the park without visiting the museums and go to Otonashi-shinsui Park which was on the other side of Meiji-Dori.
3. Hoku Topia
Overall Ratings
4 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By ｓｓｓｈ101 - Tokyo, Japan
複合施設なんだが、区外の人間にはコンサートホールと展望ロビー位しか用は無いが、この展望ロビーが中々良い。文京区役所の展望ロビーは一番見たい都心側が見えないが、ここは北の地からの都心一望である。大変良い、入場は無料だが有料の双眼鏡もある。
4. Otonashi Shinsui Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By RayParks - Adelaide, Australia
As we entered the park from very busy Meiji-dori Street, my friend and I felt a sense of serenity. While Asukayama Park was on a higher ground, Otonashi Shinsui Park was down below Meiji-dori. Although there wasn't much water, when we visited (1st April), we could hear the little side stream murmuring. it was a small park and cherry blossoms were beautiful. More people arrived, when we were leaving the park at around 11:00am. We went through a lane, following the sign to Oji Station.
5. Paper Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Matt K - Lakewood, Ohio
This is a very good paper museum, worth visiting if you have any interest. The exhibits cover the worldwide history of paper, focusing on Japan; some times the display panels have English text, but when not the information is available in a translated packet you can get at the entrance.
For a bonus, catch the nifty streetcar (clang clang!) to or from Asukayama Park.
6. Kita-ku Central Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By ｓｓｓｈ101 - Tokyo, Japan
赤煉瓦部分はオシャレなカフェになっていて、手前部分は持ち込みや自販機購入の飲食オーケーって言う太っ腹営業、更にテラス席もあり誰でも利用出来る。
7. Shibusawa Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By キャプテンぽんた - Japan
明治の実業家渋沢栄一の全てがわかる資料館です。
丁度、「渋沢栄一渡仏150年 渋沢栄一パリ万国博博覧会へ行く」の企画展開催中。
若干27歳の若さで、将軍徳川慶喜の実弟・昭武に随行した折の体験記などが、写真や書簡、書類などの膨大な資料を中心に展示されています。
渋沢が、西洋の発展ぶりに目を見張り、技術や機械の日本への早期導入の必要性を強く感じたり、頭の回転が速く、数字に孟ていたことから今でいう財務大臣のような任務をこなしたことなど、渋沢がやがて大実業家となった原点に迫ることができます。
さらに、渡仏中に幕末の政変が起き、本来、留学を続ける予定だった昭武と共に、帰国しなければならなくなった当時の不安定な世情の背景など、非常に興味深い内容でした。
8. Nanushinotaki Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By ｓｓｓｈ101 - Tokyo, Japan
ここトリップアドバイザーの項目を見るまでは知らなかったが凄い場所が東京にあったものだ。無料開放の公園である。深山幽谷である。西芳寺かと思うような茶室もある。ワザワザ行く価値大。
9. Oji Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By jmgrier - Los Angeles, California
Visited this shrine with my husband as we explored Kita for the day. It is a bit out of the way. We definitely got some strange looks and were relieved to leave. Definitely recommend Meiji shrine or larger ones for a spiritual visit.
10. Banknote & Postage Stamp Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By Ducktalk - Cowes, Australia
For westerners, recommend you don't make a special trip to see this museum as its only little and the signage is almost all in Japanese. However, it's beautifully displayed and well put together. The staff are lovely too!
