Okuma Auditorium / Authentic Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki

■Okuma Auditorium (1927)

< Overview >

The Okuma Auditorium is a Tudor Gothic auditorium of Waseda University in Totsuka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Designed primarily by Koichi Sato, construction of the auditorium was planned to begin in 1923 following the death of Waseda founder Okuma Shigenobu.

It's construction was halted by the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake but eventually began in 1926.

It opened in 1927, commemorating the 45th anniversary of the founding of Waseda University.

The auditorium includes a large hall with a capacity of over 1,100 seats and a basement hall of about 300 seats.

The bells at the top of the tower were shipped across the Panama Canal from the MacLean Company in Baltimore, United States.

It was the first time that four bells had been used in Japan.

The bells still produce the same harmony as that of the Palace of Westminster.

The clock tower chimes six times a day at 8:00, 9:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00 and 21:00.

※Important Cultural Property < Designer > Koichi Sato (1878 - 1941) Takeo Sato (1899 - 1972) < Structural Design > Tachuu Naitou (1886 - 1970) < Address > 1-104 Totsuka-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

■My recommendation local food

< Lemonya > If you come around here, please go to Okonomiyaki restaurant "Lemonya". (I'm sorry. It's a bit far from "Okuma Auditorium") "Lemonya" is in a somewhat suspicious building but famous restaurant loved by locals for over 25 years.

Okonomiyaki is Japanese pizza-like dish. It is divided into two forces in Hiroshima style and Osaka style, and here you can enjoy the authentic Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki. The Hiroshima style is characterized by the fact that noodle is included. Recommended menu is "Nikutama-soba" topping "negi"(Green onions). "Nikutama-soba" is crispy outside and creamy inside so very delicious‼︎

< Store information >

Store name : Lemonya Address : 3-11-18 Takada, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Phone : 03-3209-9617 Open : Tue.-Sat. 17:00 pm to 23:00 pm. Sum. 16:00 pm to 22:00 pm. Closed : Mon.

■How to get to Okuma Auditorium

< Tokyo Station Route >

Tokyo Station → ( Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line : 2 min ) → Otemachi Station →

( Tokyo Metro Tozai Line : 11 min ) → Waseda Station → ( On foot : 5 min ) →

Okuma Auditorium

< Shinjuku Station Route >

Shinjuku Station → ( JR Yamanote Line : 5 min ) → Takatanobaba Station →

( Tokyo Metro Tozai Line : 3 min ) → Waseda Station → ( On foot : 5 min ) →

Okuma Auditorium