Taitō

"Taitō" redirects here. For the video game developer, see Taito Corporation. For other uses, see Taito (disambiguation).

Taitō 台東区
Special ward
Taitō City
A street in Ueno, Taitō
Flag Logo
Location of Taitō in Tokyo Metropolis
Taitō
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
Government
• Mayor (Ward)	Hiroshi Yoshizumi (since May 2003)
Area
• Total	10.11 km2 (3.90 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2015)
• Total	186,276
• Density	18,420/km2 (47,700/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Tree	Cherry blossom
Flower	Ipomoea nil
Website	www.city.taito.tokyo.jp/foreign/english/taitou-e.html

The statue of Saigō Takamori in Ueno Park

Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden is the former estate of the Iwasaki clan, who were founders of Mitsubishi. The building was constructed in Western style.

The five-storied pagoda at Sensō-ji

Taitō (台東区, Taitō-ku) is a special ward located in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. In English, it is known as Taito City.

As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 186,276 and a population density of 18,420 persons per km². The total area is 10.11 km². This makes Taito ward the smallest of Tokyo's wards in area, and third smallest in population.

History

The ward was founded on March 15, 1947. During the Edo period, the Yoshiwara licensed quarter was in what is now Taitō.

Geography

Situated in the northeastern portion of the wards area of Tokyo, Taitō is surrounded by five other special wards: Chiyoda, Bunkyō, Arakawa, Sumida and Chūō.

Landmarks

Taitō is famous for its typical Shitamachi districts.

Districts

• Ueno
• Ameyoko
• Yanaka
• Asakusa
• Asakusabashi

Temples and shrines

• Sensō-ji and Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)
• Asakusa Shrine
• Akiba Shrine
• Kan'ei-ji
• Kishibojin
• Ueno Tōshō-gū
• Zenshō-an

Parks

Cherry blossom in Ueno Park

• Asakusa Park
• Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden
• Sumida Park
• Ueno Park
• Yanaka Park

Museums and zoos

• Amuse Museum
• Asakura Sculpture Hall
• Daimyo Clock Museum
• National Museum of Western Art
• National Museum of Nature and Science
• Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
• Tokyo National Museum
• Ueno no Mori Museum
• Ueno Zoo
• Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall

Entertainment

Suzumoto Vaudeville Hall in Ueno

Asakusa Hanayashiki Amusement Park

• Suzumoto Engeijo (Suzumoto Vaudeville Hall)
• Asakusa Vaudeville Hall

Education

Colleges and universities

• Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
• Ueno Gakuen University

Primary and secondary schools

Taito operates public elementary and junior high schools.

Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.

• Hakuo High School
• Kuramae Technical High School
• Shinobugaoka High School
• Taito Commercial High School
• Taito Chuyakan High School
• Ueno High School
• Ueno Shinobugaoka High School

The school district of the metropolis also operates one metropolitan junior high school:

• Hakuo Junior High School

Public libraries

Taito operates several public libraries, including the Central Library, the Central Library Asakusabashi Branch, the Negishi Library, and the Ishihama Library. The Central Library is located in the first and second floors of the Lifelong Learning Center.

Other

The city operates the Lifelong Learning Center, a complex including a multi-media room, a studio, and other facilities. The Central Library is on the first and second floors of the Lifelong Learning Center.

Economy

Tokyo Ricoh Office Solution and Ricoh Technosystems, divisions of Ricoh, are headquartered in Taitō as of 2008. Chikumashobo, a publisher, has its headquarters in the Kuramae (蔵前) area of the ward.

Retail

• Matsuzakaya department store in Ueno
• Matsuya department store in Asakusa

Other

• Taiyo Yuden, electronics and materials company in Ueno

Events

• Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
• Asakusa Samba Carnival
• Torigoe Shrine Matsuri
• Sanja Matsuri, one of the three great festivals of Tokyo

Transportation

Rail

• JR East
  • Tōhoku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen: Ueno Station
  • Tōhoku Main Line
  • Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line: Okachimachi, Ueno, Uguisudani Stations. Also, Nippori Station (on the boundary with Taitō)
  • Utsunomiya Line, Takasaki Line: Ueno Station
  • Jōban Line: Officially, the line begins at Nippori Station, although most trains start/terminate at Ueno Station
• Tokyo Metro
  • Ginza Line: Ueno-Hirokoji, Inarichō, Tawaramachi, Asakusa Stations
  • Hibiya Line: Okachimachi, Ueno, Iriya, Minowa Stations
• Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
  • Toei Asakusa Line: Asakusa-bashi, Kuramae, Asakusa Stations
  • Toei Ōedo Line: Ueno-Okachimachi, Shin-Okachimachi, Kuramae Stations
• Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Main Line: Keisei Ueno Station
• Tobu Railway Isesaki Line: Asakusa Station
• Tsukuba Express: Shin-Okachimachi, Asakusa Stations

Highways

• Shuto Expressway No. 1 Ueno Route
• National Highways
  • Route 4
  • Route 6

Sports and recreation

The City of Taito operates the Taito Riverside Sports Center. The center includes a gymnasium, tennis courts, two baseball fields for adults, one baseball field for children, one large swimming pool, one children's pool, and an athletic field. The gymnasium includes two courts, two budo halls, a Japanese-style archery range, a sumo ring, a training room, a table tennis room, an air-rifle shooting range, and a meeting room.

External links

• Taitō City official website (Japanese)
• Taitō City official website (English)
• Taito Culture Guide Book "Bunka Tabou" (English)