Hitotsubashi Hall is an auditorium and conference facility operated by Hitotsubashi University, located inside the National Center of Sciences in the Hitotsubashi district of Chiyoda-ku. The same building also houses the National Institute of Informatics (NII), and the venue sits in the academic heart of central Tokyo between Jimbocho and Takebashi. It is widely used for academic events such as scholarly conferences, symposia, and international meetings. Hitotsubashi Hall occupies the 2nd floor, while the Special Conference Rooms are on the 1st floor.
The main Hitotsubashi Hall measures 604 m² and seats 521 in a school-style layout. Combined with four divisible Medium Conference Rooms and three Special Conference Rooms, the facility lets organizers run a plenary session alongside breakout sessions and holding rooms within the same floor cluster. A 4-minute walk from both Jimbocho and Takebashi stations, and set in the calm surroundings of the Imperial Palace and Kitanomaru Park, it functions well as a venue for academic conferences hosting domestic and international researchers, as well as formal gatherings organized by government agencies, universities, and academic societies.
This guide covers practical information including how to get to Hitotsubashi Hall, where to stay, dining options nearby, and tips for your visit.
Getting to Hitotsubashi Hall
The National Center of Sciences, which houses Hitotsubashi Hall, sits between Takebashi Station (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line) and Jimbocho Station — an interchange for the Hanzomon, Toei Mita, and Toei Shinjuku lines — and is about a 4-minute walk from either. From both Narita and Haneda airports, the standard approach is via Tokyo Station or the central subway network.
From Narita Airport
- Narita Express (N’EX) + Tokyo Metro Tozai Line: Narita Express from Narita Airport Station to JR Tokyo Station (approximately 60 minutes), then an underground connection to Otemachi Station and one stop on the Tozai Line to Takebashi Station (about 2 minutes), followed by a 4-minute walk from Takebashi Exit 1b. Total journey approximately 80 minutes, fare around JPY 3,100. With few transfers, this is the standard business route even with heavy luggage.
- Taxi: Narita Airport to the Hitotsubashi area via the Metropolitan Expressway. Journey time approximately 70 minutes, fare around JPY 25,000–30,000. A practical option for group transfers or late-night arrivals. Travel time varies with expressway traffic.
From Haneda Airport
- Keikyu Line / Toei Asakusa Line + Tokyo Metro Tozai Line: Keikyu Line through-service to the Toei Asakusa Line, reaching Nihombashi Station in about 35 minutes. Transfer to the Tozai Line and ride two stops to Takebashi Station (about 4 minutes), then a 4-minute walk from Exit 1b. Total approximately 50 minutes, fare around JPY 700. A cost-effective and reliable route.
- Taxi: Haneda Airport to the Hitotsubashi area via the Metropolitan Expressway. Journey time approximately 40 minutes, fare around JPY 8,000–12,000. No transfers required — convenient for guests with heavy luggage or late-night arrivals.
From Nearby Train Stations 🚶
- Jimbocho Station, Exits A8 & A9 (Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line / Toei Mita and Toei Shinjuku Lines): Approximately 4 minutes on foot. The shortest exits to the National Center of Sciences from this three-line interchange, and convenient when arriving from the Jimbocho secondhand-book district.
- Takebashi Station, Exit 1b (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line): Approximately 4 minutes on foot. Located on the Imperial Palace / Kitanomaru Park side, this is the easiest route when arriving on the Tozai Line from the Otemachi and Marunouchi areas.
Venue Quick Reference
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hitotsubashi Hall — an auditorium and conference facility operated by Hitotsubashi University |
| Address | Hitotsubashi Hall 2F, National Center of Sciences, 2-1-2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8439 (Hall on 2F, Special Conference Rooms on 1F) |
| Nearest Station | Jimbocho Station Exits A8 & A9 (approx. 4-min walk) / Takebashi Station Exit 1b (approx. 4-min walk) |
| Official Website | Hitotsubashi Hall |
| Bookings & Inquiries | See the usage guidance pages on the official website |
| Shared Building | Same building (National Center of Sciences) as the National Institute of Informatics (NII) |
Event Venues at Hitotsubashi Hall
In addition to the main hall, Hitotsubashi Hall offers divisible Medium Conference Rooms and Special Conference Rooms, forming a configuration suited to academic conferences that pair a plenary session with breakouts and holding rooms. The Hall is on the 2nd floor and the Special Conference Rooms are on the 1st floor.
| Facility | Configuration / Area | Capacity / Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hitotsubashi Hall | 604 m² (2F) | Seats 521 in school-style layout. Main venue for conferences, symposia, and international meetings |
| Medium Conference Rooms | 4 rooms (119 m² each / 476 m² combined) | For breakout sessions and receptions. Partitions allow flexible sizing |
| Special Conference Rooms | 3 rooms (70 m² each / 210 m² combined, 1F) | Smaller rooms suited to board and committee meetings, holding rooms, and satellite sessions |
For detailed floor plans, equipment, and usage terms for each room, please refer to the official Hitotsubashi Hall website.
Recommended Hotels Near Hitotsubashi Hall
The Hitotsubashi, Jimbocho, and Takebashi area where the venue sits adjoins the Otemachi and Marunouchi business districts, with a range of hotels within walking distance or one to two subway stops. Below are five options across different budgets and styles for speakers and attendees.
KKR Hotel Tokyo
Directly connected to Exit 3b of Takebashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, in the same Takebashi-station area as the venue. Rooms overlook the greenery of the Imperial Palace and Kitanomaru Park, and Otemachi and Marunouchi are within walking distance. A calm setting well suited to conference speakers and business travelers.
Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten
A next-generation hotel carrying the lineage of an inn founded in 1899, blending Japanese and Western styles. Accessible from Ogawamachi Station (Toei Shinjuku Line) and Shin-Ochanomizu Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line), it is one stop from Jimbocho on the Toei Shinjuku Line. A good fit for stays that emphasize Japanese-style hospitality for international guests.
APA Hotel Kanda-Jimbocho-Ekihigashi
A business hotel about a 4-minute walk from Jimbocho Station — the same station serving the venue. All rooms include Wi-Fi and large LCD televisions, balancing functionality and value. Convenient as a base for attendees with early sessions or multi-night stays.
Sakura Hotel Jimbocho
A multilingual, traveler-friendly hotel within walking distance of Jimbocho Station, with staff supporting Japanese, English, and Chinese. It offers a 24-hour front desk and café, making it a reasonable choice for individual international attendees and groups.
Palace Hotel Tokyo
A luxury hotel facing the Imperial Palace’s Wadakura Moat. Located in Otemachi, it is one stop from Takebashi on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and also within walking distance. With Michelin-starred dining among its restaurants, it suits stays for senior-level guests and groups wishing to consolidate accommodation and post-conference dining in one property.
Recommended Restaurants Near Hitotsubashi Hall
Jimbocho is one of the world’s great secondhand-book districts and, at the same time, a food destination known for European-style curry and long-established coffee houses. Below are six picks across genres, all convenient to the venue.
European-Style Curry
Bondy Jimbocho Honten
Founded in 1973, Bondy is the pioneer that put Jimbocho on the map as a “curry town.” Its signature is a rich beef curry built on the brown sauce of French cuisine — an ideal lunch for giving international guests a taste of Jimbocho’s character.
Ramen
Sugoi Niboshi Ramen Nagi Jimbocho
A niboshi (dried-sardine) ramen specialist known for a rich broth blended from sardines sourced across Japan. Within walking distance of Jimbocho Station, it is handy for a quick meal between sessions, and its counter-focused seating works well for solo diners.
Sushi
Jimbocho Sushi Wasabi
A sushi restaurant within walking distance of Jimbocho Station, serving Edomae nigiri in an open, glass-fronted space. Ranging from reasonably priced sets to full-course nigiri, it is easy to use for a casual meal with international guests or a small post-conference dinner.
Coffee House
Ladrio
Founded in 1949 and said to be the first café in Japan to serve Viennese coffee, Ladrio is a long-standing fixture of the book district. Its brick-walled “Showa modern” interior is a calm spot for a pause between meetings or an informal chat with speakers.
Japanese
Josui Kaikan Kyohantei
A Japanese restaurant on the 3rd floor of Josui Kaikan (2-1-1 Hitotsubashi), adjacent to the venue. Set within the dignified hall known as the alumni house of Hitotsubashi University, it serves kaiseki and lunch sets in a calm setting. Very close to the venue and well suited to formal meals or post-reception dinners.
Bistro
GARB pintino
A casual French restaurant in Terrace Square, about a 2-minute walk from Jimbocho Station Exit A9 and roughly 5 minutes from Takebashi Station. Course-style cooking that highlights fresh domestic ingredients makes it a fit for meals with international partners or a slightly more formal post-conference dinner. Course menus, reservations required.
Tips Before You Visit
🚉 Jimbocho Is a Three-Line Interchange — Use Exits A8 & A9
Jimbocho Station serves the Hanzomon, Toei Mita, and Toei Shinjuku lines, and where you reach street level varies considerably by exit. Exits A8 and A9 on the Hitotsubashi side are the shortest to the venue (the National Center of Sciences). Noting the exit numbers in your event guidance helps first-time attendees arrive without getting lost.
🚇 Takebashi Exit 1b Is on the Imperial Palace / Kitanomaru Park Side
If arriving on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Exit 1b at Takebashi is the shortest route to the venue. It is just one stop from the Otemachi and Marunouchi areas on the Tozai Line, with a calm approach on the Imperial Palace side. Because Otemachi connects several lines, decide in advance — based on your hotel — whether to use Jimbocho or Takebashi.
🏛 The National Center of Sciences Shares Its Building with NII
The National Center of Sciences, home to Hitotsubashi Hall, also houses the National Institute of Informatics (NII). The Hall is on the 2nd floor and the Special Conference Rooms are on the 1st, so confirming the reception and entry route and your floor in advance is reassuring. Multiple events may run on the same day, so check the on-site signage.
📚 Jimbocho Is a World-Class Book District — Arrive Early to Explore
The surrounding Jimbocho district is one of the world’s great clusters of secondhand and specialty bookstores. If you have time before or after a meeting, it is enjoyable to explore, but many bookshops close on Sundays and holidays or in the early evening, and hours vary. Mind the timing when guiding international guests.
🍛 Popular Curry Shops Get Busy at Lunchtime
Jimbocho is famous as a curry battleground, and popular shops such as Bondy draw lunchtime queues on weekdays. If you plan to visit during a conference lunch break, shift your timing or build in extra buffer to allow for crowds.
🚶 Weekday Rush Hours Are Crowded — Convenience Stores and ATMs Are Near the Stations
The Hitotsubashi and Takebashi area is dense with offices and government buildings, and sidewalks fill with commuters during weekday mornings and evenings. Convenience stores and ATMs cluster around Jimbocho and Takebashi stations, so handle cash needs and quick snacks near the stations.
📅 Some Office-District Shops Close on Weekends
Many restaurants around the venue are inside office buildings and may close on weekends and public holidays. The book-district side, by contrast, has many shops open on weekends, so for weekend events it is safer to plan your dining around the Jimbocho bookstore-street side.
This guide is based on official sources and publicly available information as of its publication date. Access routes, operating hours, and venue details are subject to change. Please verify the latest information via the official links provided.