In front of Oji Station's North Exit, along the Kita-Hon Street, you'll find the Hokutopia, a 17-story multi-cultural complex.
If you're looking for landmarks in Oji, the south side has Sun Square, and the north side has Hokutopia!
I almost blurted out "Hokutopia!" and got some strange looks (lol)
So, to get to Hokutopia, it's located from the bus rotary at the north exit of Oji Station, past the Mizuho Bank and the Pronto.
(Source: Hokutopia Official Access)
If you take the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, it's directly connected to Exit 5. You can also access it from the Toden Arakawa Line (tram).
You should be able to spot it right away as you walk, because you'll see a tall building!
Whoa! The building certainly has a lot of impact. Apparently, when it was first completed, it was the tallest high-rise building in Kita-ku!
It has several large halls, and many people use them, especially on weekends and holidays for various performances.
I'm including the Hokutopia floor guide from the website.
And, I found a place where you can sit and rest on the 1st floor where the front desk is located!
There are six single-seater benches near the escalators and exits on the floor.
They're like bamboo shoot-shaped benches with varying heights.
As you can see from the photos, it would be difficult to use the adjacent seat if someone is already using one (lol)
But for families, it seems just right for children to take a break!
And, a great thing about this rest area is that you can use free Wi-Fi!
The free Wi-Fi usage is as follows:
- Available near the Kita-topia 1st floor citizen's plaza and the 2nd floor coffee shop.
- Up to 60 minutes per connection. (Unlimited connections)
So, it's convenient to remember this if you want to use free Wi-Fi near Oji Station!
Also, the free observation deck at Hokutopia is a fantastic spot with panoramic views of Tokyo, so please stop by!
So, why not try using this spot as a place to take a break in Oji?