New National Stadium Course
There are three lines in Aoyama 1-chome: the Ginza line, the Hanzomon line, and the Oedo line.
Today we will start from here, walk through the National Stadium, and return here. It is a 40-minute walk. (November 2021)
Aoyama Junior High School
This middle school is built on the site of a former Army War College. This school was established in 1947. Graduates of the school include Haruomi Hosono of the world-famous YMO and actress Hiroko Yakushimaru.
Gondawara intersection
Turn left at this intersection.
Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery
It is an art museum located in Meijijingu Gaien. Paintings depicting the life of Emperor Meiji from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era are on display.
National Stadium
The predecessor National Stadium, which opened in 1958, was demolished and the new National Stadium was completed in 2019. At the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics held in 2021, it became the venue for athletics as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
Japan Olympic Museum
The torch and medals used in the past Olympic Games are on display. In addition, there are various images and attractions where you can experience the physical abilities of top athletes.
It seems that you need to make an admission reservation from the website to enter.
Admission fee is 500 yen in general.
10: 00-17: 00 (Last reception 16:00)
Closed on Mondays
03-6910-5561
https://japan-olympicmuseum.jp/
(Information is November 2021)
Jingu Stadium
It is a historic baseball stadium built in 1926. There are many games such as Tokyo Big6 Baseball, high school baseball, adult baseball, and professional baseball, in which six famous universities in Tokyo compete against each other. Today, it is used by Yakult Swallows as its home ground. Along with Osaka’s Koshien Stadium, it is also called the “sacred place for baseball.”
Aoyama High School
It is a public high school whose predecessor was the prefectural 15th grade school, which opened in 1940. The school festival is said to be the highest high school cultural festival in Japan and is very popular.
Chichibu Palace Rugby Field
A rugby-only ball game field that opened in 1947. Initially, the name was “Tokyo Rugby Field”, but in 1953, the name was changed to “Chichibu Palace Rugby Field” in memory of Prince Chichibu Miya, who was the Honorary President of the Japan Rugby Union.
Ginkgo trees
Ginkgo trees
It is a row of ginkgo trees that can be said to be the most famous in Japan. 146 ginkgo trees planted in 1923 decorate the road. The lower the ginkgo tree is planted toward the back, and it looks like the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery is in the distance in perspective.
Honda Head Office
The building that stands out at the intersection is Honda’s headquarters. This building has a distinctive exterior with a balcony. It is said that the founder Soichiro Honda has worked to install a balcony so that the glass will not fall and hurt pedestrians when a big earthquake occurs.
