Kokuritsu-Kyogijo

  

Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station is located in Sendagaya (Shibuya Ward) and Shinanomachi (Shinjuku Ward). Also known as Tokyo Taiikukan Mae, the station serves Toei Oedo Line of Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation. Right in front of the Station is Sendagaya Station of JR Chuo-Sobu Line.

 

Kokuritsu-Kyogijo in Japanese means National Stadium. Therefore, Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station means National Stadium Station. It is called by this name because the station lies close to the Stadium just 2 minutes' walk away.

 

Tokyo National Stadium

 

The Tokyo National Stadium is located in the center of Tokyo, within easy access of three subway stations (Kokuritsu-Kyogijo, Aoyama-itchome, and Yoyogi) and two above ground train stations (Sendagaya and Shinanomachi). It was completed in 1958 on the site of former Meiji Shrine Outer Park Stadium. The first event of the stadium was the 1958 Asian Games. The other major events held here were the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the 1967 Universiade, the 1967 World Track & Field Championships, and the 1991 World Athletics Championships. Today this 60,000 capacity facility holds all the major Japanese soccer events besides other national events.

 

Located within the Stadium is the Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum . This museum, named after Emperor Hirohito's brother, Prince Yashuhito Chichibu, displays different kinds of sporting goods. The main exhibition of the museum is The Olympic Games and Japan. Here, visitors can see various torches, medals, mascots, uniforms, and several other memorabilia related to the Olympic Games and its history. Other exhibits include a wide range of paraphernalia related to various sports like soccer, rugby, archery, and traditional Japanese sports like kemari and sumo among many others. There is also a mini-theater that shows sporting films, besides a library with about 30,000 books and 60,000 magazines – all on sports. The Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum is a must for all sports enthusiasts.

 

Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium

 

Located just across from Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station is the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. This world-class sporting complex was built in 1954 for the World Wrestling Championship. Designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, the building has a futuristic look. The Gymnasium complex consists of three buildings - a large arena, a small arena, and a swimming pool, all connected by a two-level stone plaza.

 

The dominant structure of not only the complex, but the whole neighborhood, is the large arena. Its striking feature is the roof, which has curved intersecting surfaces that gives it a complex geometric shape. The entire surface of the roof has a diameter of 150 meters. This arena, which can hold 10,000 people, hosts various national and international sporting events and concerts.

 

The smaller arena can hold 900 people. The main part of this arena lies below ground level, but its stepped roof rises above the plaza. Its cube-like shapes and structure stand in contrast to the curved ones of the larger arena.

The third building has a third shape – it's rectangular in shape with concrete below and glass block above. The roof is made of translucent teflon and has a curved arched shape. This building houses an indoor Olympic size swimming pool.

 

National Noh Theater

The National Noh Theater, devoted to presenting noh , the classical Japanese dance-drama, and its accompanying comic drama form kyogen , was opened in 1983. The main stage of the theater features the traditional roof-covered thrust stage. The theater can seat 591 people divided on two sides of the stage. On the upper floor is the Rehearsal Stage with a floor seating for 250 people. On this same floor is an Exhibit Hall with noh -related exhibits. There is also a library with an audio-visual corner with noh -related books and displays, besides a restaurant where visitors can have soft drinks and light refreshments.

 

The theater produces three to five performances a month. A very popular theater, it attracts fans from all over Tokyo. The National Noh Theater is located just 5 minutes walk from Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station.

Hato Mori Hachiman Shrine

Hato Mori Hachiman Shrine is situated a few minutes' walk from Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station. The shrine grounds are a peaceful place in the middle of the bustling city center with many pine trees as old as 300 years. Inside the shrine is a stage for performances of traditional Japanese art forms. On the shrine grounds next to the shrine building, is a small hillock with steps that lead up to a plateau. From here visitors can have a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji. This small shrine is visited by many devotees each day as it holds great historical importance.