Nakano (中野区, Nakano-ku) is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. The English translation of its Japanese self-designation is Nakano City.
As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 322,731 and a population density of 20,701 persons per km². The total area is 15.59 km².
The ward was founded on October 1, 1932 when the towns of Nogata and Nakano were absorbed into the former Tokyo City as Nakano Ward. The present administration dates from March 15, 1947 when the Allied occupation reformed the administration of Tokyo-to.
1447: Ōta Dōkan defeated Toshima Yasutsune in a battle here.
1606: The Naruki Kaidō, predecessor of today's Ōme Kaidō (a road to Ōme) was established.
1695: In connection with the Shorui Awaremi no Rei (a law for the protection of animals), a facility for keeping wild dogs opened.
1871: The twelve villages that comprise present-day Nakano became part of Tokyo Prefecture.
1889: The Kofu Railway opens. The forerunner of today's Chūō Main Line included a station at Nakano en route from Shinjuku to Hachioji.
1897: Nakano becomes a village.
1932: Tokyo City expands to encompass the district that included Nakano.
1943: With the abolition of Tokyo City, Nakano becomes part of Tokyo-to.
1947: Nakano becomes one of the special wards under the new system.
1961: The Tokyo subway system extends to Nakano.
1973: Construction of Nakano Sun Plaza near Nakano Station reaches completion.
Five special wards surround Nakano: Shinjuku, Suginami, Nerima, Shibuya, and Toshima. It lies just west of the bustling Shinjuku area.
Rivers include the Kanda, Myosho-ji and Zenpuku-ji Rivers, and the Aratama Waterway.
Nakano Sun Plaza: concert hall, hotel facilities
Arai Yakushi Shingon Buddhist temple
Nakano Broadway: otaku building (several floors of arcades, manga, anime, idol, music, toy, subculture specialty shops—With a very well spoken Namco arcade--)
GRIPS International House, apartment for foreign students studying at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
Public elementary and middle schools are operated by the Nakano City Board of Education. Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.
Fuji High School
Minorigaoka High School
Musashigaoka High School
Nakano Technical High School
Saginomiya High School
Yotsuya Commercial High School
Horikoshi Gakuen High School
Colleges and universities
Shumei University (Tokyo headquarters)
Teikyo Heisei University Nakano Campus
Tokyo Polytechnic University
Meiji University Nakano Campus
University of Tokyo Nakano campus
Kokusai Junior College
Nakano Ward is served by the JR East Chūō and Sobu lines, the Seibu Shinjuku Line, the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, and the Toei Oedo Line.
JR East
Chūō Line (Rapid), Chūō-Sōbu Line: Higashi-Nakano and Nakano Stations
Seibu Railway
Seibu Shinjuku Line: Arai Yakushi-mae, Numabukuro, Nogata, Toritsu-Kasei, Saginomiya Stations
Tokyo Metro
Marunouchi Line: Shin-Nakano, Nakano-Sakaue Stations
Honancho Branch Line: Nakano-Fujimicho, Nakano-Shimbashi, Nakano-Sakaue Stations
Tozai Line: Nakano, Ochiai (although the station is in Shinjuku, some entrances are in Nakano) Stations
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation:
Toei Oedo Line: Nakano-Sakaue, Higashi-Nakano, Shin-egota Stations
A complicated bus network is constructed throughout Nakano Ward because most train lines only run east and west.
Kanto bus
Toei bus
Kokusai Kogyo bus
Keio bus
Shuto Expressway:
C2 Central Circular Route (Nakano-chōjabashi exit)
Prefectural road:
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 8 (Mejiro-dōri Ave., Shin-Mejiro-dōri Ave.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 439 (Senkawa-dōri Ave.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 440 (Shin-Ōme-kaidō Ave.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 25 (Waseda-dōri Ave.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 433 (Ōkubo-dōri Ave.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 4 (Ōme-kaidō Ave.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 14 (Hōnan-dōri Ave.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 317 (Yamate-dōri St.; 6th Beltway)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 420 (Nakano-dōri St.)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 318 (Kannana-dōri St.; 7th Beltway)
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 427 (Nakasugi-dōri St.)
Nakano-minamiguchi ekimae shōtengai - an outdoor arcade
Kanako Yanagihara, comedian
Kazuko Eine, singer
Mayumi Kojima, singer and songwriter
Marika Matsumoto, voice actress, actress
Shoko Sawada, singer and songwriter
Yuji Tanaka, comedian
