Waseda
Waseda
Station lies on the Tokyo
Metro Tozai Line in the Waseda district
of Shinjuku Ward of Tokyo.
Waseda
is a quiet and peaceful district
located in the north-eastern part
of Shinjuku. Despite the fact that
there are no major attractions and
few foreign visitors or tourists
in the area, a few hotels are situated
in Waseda. As the area lies between
Shinjuku and Nihombashi, it makes
Waseda an ideal place for a hotel
to serve both the busy areas.
Waseda
is also the place where Waseda University
is situated.
Waseda
University
Waseda
University is one of Japan's top
and most well-known private, coeducational
institutions of higher learning.
Often referred to as Sodai ,
the university is located a five
minute walk from Waseda Station.
Waseda has a reputation of being
highly selective and admissions
are only by entrance examinations.
Waseda
University was founded in 1882 by
the Meiji era politician, former
prime minister, and samurai scholar
Okuma Shigenobu, as a college with
three departments. It was designated
a full-fledged university in 1902.
During the World War II bombings,
Waseda University was almost completely
destroyed, but was rebuilt and reopened
in 1949. Today Waseda University
is a comprehensive university with
two high schools and academic programs
in law, economics, the sciences,
arts and architecture.
Besides
this main Waseda campus, the University
also has campuses in Chuo-ku and
Nishitoukyou-shi of Tokyo, Tokorozawa-shi
and Honjo-shi of Saitama, and Kitakyushu-shi
of Fukuoka Prefecture.
Kansen-en
Park
Kansen-en
Park is located 5 minutes from Waseda
Station. This small (1.4 ha) park
was previously the residence of
the Shimizu family, one of the most
prominent families of the Edo era.
After the Meiji Restoration in 1867,
it was transferred to Marquis Souma,
who handed it over to Shinjuku Ward
in 1912.
Since
Kansen-en Park was built during
the Edo period, its style is also
typically Edo. It is densely wooded
and very quiet. Narrow stone paths
meander through the trees and shrubs
of many different varieties. There
is a beautiful gourd-shaped pond,
called Yamabuki-no-ido (meaning
‘well of the Japanese roses), in
the middle of the park, which is
surrounded by flowering shrubs.
At the south end of the park is
Mishima-Yama mountain. A Mizu-Inari
Shrine is also located
on the site.
