Ochanomizu Area Guide
- Nikolai Cathedral
- Meiji University Museum
- Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subcultures
- sola city Conference Center
- Waterras
- Japan Football Museum
- Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan
- Shin-Ochanomizu Station
- Hospitals
- Accommodation in Ochanomizu
- Tokyo Area Guides
Tokyo Area Guides: Ochanomizu 御茶ノ水
Ochanomizu is a major university area of Tokyo very near Akihabara, surrounding the Kanda River. Ochanomizu is therefore very student-oriented, with numerous second-hand musical instrument shops, cheap eats, and book stores.
Ochanomizu Station, Tokyo
Building work on the Kanda River at Ochanomizu Station, Tokyo
Ochanomizu is part of the larger Yushima and Kanda area of shitamachi (historical) Tokyo
Here we focus on the area around Ochanomizu Station and south of the station. For attractions north of Ochanomizu Station and the Kanda River please see the Yushima and Kanda guide.
The street between the Hijiribashi and Ochanomizubashi exits of Ochanomizu Station, parallel to the elevated train tracks of the JR Chuo-Sobu Line, is lined with many restaurants and cafes popular with local students and workers. These include not just Japanese cuisine but Thai, Korean, European and Indian food options.
Buildings in Ochanomizu, Tokyo
Nikolai Cathedral, Ochanomizu, Tokyo
Nikolai Cathedral
The Nikolai Cathedral is just south of Hijiribashi Bridge. Nikolai Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox church completed in 1891. Look for the distinctive green onion dome. This Byzantine-style church was designed by Josiah Conder, the same architect who designed the Iwasaki-tei residence in the same vicinity.
The church is officially known as the Resurrection Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in Japan, but takes its common name from Archbishop Nikolai, who was the church's first administrator until his death in 1912. The church is open for services on Sundays. The University of Tokyo and a number of other colleges are here.
It is near JR Ochanomizu Station and Shin-Ochanomizu station on the Chiyoda Line.
Meiji University, Ochanomizu, Tokyo
Meiji University Museum
The huge tower of Meiji University is close to Nikolai Cathedral and in the basement of the adjacent Academy Common building is the free and very interesting Meiji University Museum.
The Meiji University Museum has a very diverse collection of exhibits ranging from the history of the university itself, to archaeological remains, to a quirky section on Edo Period punishments and instruments of torture.
Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subcultures
The Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subcultures is another museum administered by Meiji University and named after the manga critic and graduate of Meiji - Yoshihiro Yonezawa (1953-2006), who was also instrumental in the establishment of interest in and sales of dojinshi (self-published material). The collection includes books, dojinshi, magazines and kasutori zasshi (pulp magazines). The museum is open on Monday and Friday from 2 pm-8 pm and on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays from noon-6 pm.
Dining out in Ochanomizu, Tokyo
sola city Conference Center
Back towards the Nikolai Cathedral and the Inouye Eye Hospital is the sola city Conference Center (Tel: 03 602 4855) used for conferences, educational fairs and parties. The sola city Plaza is an open space around the sola city complex and has winter illuminations around Christmas and New Year.
Waterras
Just to the east of sola city and across the street from the Ochanomizu Hotel Juraku is the Waterras shopping and dining mall housed in two towers.
The shops include a city center supermarket, and a convenience store and lots of fine dining options: washoku (traditional Japanese food), yoshoku (Japanese-style western food), Italian, Chinese, and an izakaya. Other shops include a bakery, Mister Donut, a florist, a massage and skin care clinic, a wine bar and craft beer bar (Wiz).
Shin-Ochanomizu Station, Tokyo with mosaics by glass artist Ikkou Itabashi
Japan Football Museum, Tokyo
Japan Football Museum
The Japan Football Museum is just a few minutes' walk north of Ochanomizu Station. It has fun exhibits on the history of football in Japan, the 2002 World Cup held jointly in Japan and Korea and the J.League - Japan's professional soccer league. There is also a section on the women's game. The Japan national women's team has, in fact, been far more successful than their male counterparts on the global stage.
Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan
Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan was established as Kobayashi Somegami in 1858 and is a shop cum museum specializing in Japanese paper dyeing and origami products. On the 4th floor, visitors can observe a demonstration of paper dyeing using traditional techniques. There is also a gift shop for purchasing washi paper used in origami and a gallery of stunning origami designs. Classes are also held in the art of origami folding.
Shin-Ochanomizu Station
Shin-Ochanomizu Station on the Chiyoda Line of the Tokyo metro has the longest escalator of any subway station in Japan and some lovely mosaics by glass artist Ikkou Itabashi representing the months of the year on its platforms.
Tokyo Medical & Dental University
Hospitals
There are several hospitals and medical related facilities in the Ochanomizu area. These include the huge Tokyo Medical & Dental University and Juntendo Hospital north of the Kanda River as well as the Sanraku Hospital, Inouye Eye Hospital and Nihon University Hospital south of the river.
Accommodation in Ochanomizu
The Ochanomizu area is a popular place to stay, being close to Tokyo Station, Akihabara and a number of historic sights. Yasukuni Dori marks the boundary between Ochanomizu and Jimbochi to the west and Kanda to the east.
Some hotels in the Ochanomizu district are: Ochanomizu Hotel Juraku, Hotel MyStays Ochanomizu, Hilltop Hotel and Hotel Villa Fontaine Jimbocho Tokyo
Choose from our recommended hotels and hostels in Tokyo or compare and book a hotel in Tokyo with Agoda.
JR Ochanomizu Station, Tokyo
Guide Books on Tokyo Japan
Ochanomizu is part of Tokyo's shitamachi - the area of Tokyo that was part of the Edo Period city - and has a number of interesting museums, shops and restaurants.