Nogizaka

 

Nogizaka Station is located on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line in the Nogizaka district of Minato Ward of Tokyo. It was opened in October 1972.

 

Nogizaka is a popular tourist destination because of the shrines, museums, and parks located in the area. Some attractions located close to Nogizaka Station are:

 

Hikawa Shrine

 

Hikawa Shrine, located just a short walk from Nogizaka Station, is one of the ten most important shrines of Tokyo. The shrine grounds are an oasis of peace and greenery in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the area.

 

Hikawa Shrine is said to have its origins in 951 A.D. when it was built to deify Hitotsugigawara, the Lord of Toyoshima County in present day Kita Ward. It was moved to its present location with a new building in 1730 by the 8th Shogun, Yoshimune Tokugawa (1684-1751). As a result of his devotion to the shrine, Yoshimune was enshrined here after his death. The following six shogun successors frequented the shrine to seek blessings from the former's spirit. The public followed suit and Hikawa became one of the most important shrines of the time. Seeing its popularity among the people, Emperor Meiji, upon taking over Edo in 1868, declared Hikawa Shrine one of the ten guardian shrines of Edo.

 

The shrine buildings, built in the traditional nagare and gongen styles of architecture, are still the originals from 1730. They house some of Tokyo's most priceless treasures. The eastern entrance of the shrine has a fine old set of stone stairs with a pair of gingko trees at the top of the approach. The shrine grounds are also full of trees and greenery giving it a beautiful look in spring.

 

Every two years in September, Hikawa Shrine holds a Festival, in which mikoshi are taken out in a procession and stalls are put up on the shrine grounds.

Nogi Shrine

 

Nogi Shrine is located just 1 minute's walk from Nogizaka Station. This shrine is dedicated to General Nogi and his wife, who committed ritual suicide in 1912.

 

Nogi Maresuke (1849-1912) was an important figure of the Meiji Period. He was a brave army general who fought for the Emperor in the Satsuma Rebellion in 1875, and more importantly, led the Japanese against the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War and successfully laid siege of Port Arthur in 1904. As a show of solidarity and to join the Emperor in the hereafter, General Nogi and his wife committed suicide by slitting their throats at Emperor Meiji's funeral in September, 1912. Nogi and his wife are both enshrined at Nogi Shrine.

 

Nogi Shrine was built on the same grounds as where Nogi's residence was located. The shrine was completely destroyed during the World War II bombings but was rebuilt soon after. The shrine has a simple structure. It stands in contrast to the mansion in the background which has a striking look. It is said that the mansion was designed by Nogi himself based on a design of a building of the French army headquarters. Next to the mansion are brick stables. The mansion and the stables have been designated Important Cultural Properties of Minato City. The Nogi compound itself is a beautiful garden with many trees and a variety of plants. Called Nogi Park , it is an attraction in itself. General Nogi loved plants and trees, especially sakura trees, so he had all the area around his mansion full of them.

 

Nogi Shrine and Nogi Park are open to the public throughout the year, except for the mansion, which is accessible only on the 12 th and 13 th of September. Another attraction of the place which needs special mention here is the Antiques Flea Market that is held at Nogi Park on the second Sunday of every month. The Flea Market attracts not only the Japanese, but also tourists who are always on a lookout for antiques at bargain prices, which is exactly what the Flea Market at Nogi Park has to offer.

 

National Art Center

The National Art Center is a joint project of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the National Museums Independent Administrative Institution. This is the fifth such project of the two institutes after The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto; The National Museum of Western Art and The National Museum of Art, Osaka.

 

The National Art Center is the newest and the largest art museum of Tokyo. It was opened in January 2007 as a highly modern space of non-permanent exhibitions. The building of the museum, designed by Kisho Kurokawa, covers a floor space 48,000 m on a site of 30,000 m. It has a striking façade of waves of glass with a curved frontage. Upon entering the atrium, one can immediately notice the beautiful blend of two conical pods. The floor is wooden and the walls are slatted.

 

The National Art Center has no collection of its own. Instead, it acts as a venue for art exhibitions by artist associations and art institutions, as well as special exhibitions to highlight the latest art trends in Japan and the rest of the world. The Center has also undertaken the task of collecting information on art. This information, that includes a comprehensive collection on all past art and art exhibitions in Japan, besides various materials on art, is available in a library that is accessible to the public. Other than this, the National Art Center also holds lectures, symposia, talks, and workshops on all aspects of art. For this there are three lecture rooms and an auditorium. The other features are a museum shop, three cafés, and a restaurant.

 

This unique and innovative art exhibition facility is directly linked to Nogizaka Station through Exit 6.

 

Sanno Hospital

 

Sanno Hospital, one of the most modern and technologically advanced hospitals of the country, is located just 4 minutes on foot from Nogizaka Station. This hospital has some of the highest skilled doctors and medical staff. Most doctors and staff members speak fluent English, and for those who don't, interpretation service is available. This has made Sanno Hospital a popular hospital among foreign residents of Tokyo, as well as tourists and visitors.