Sat, Oct 31 – Tue, Nov 3

Jishu Hoseisai 自主法政祭

Hosei University

Hosei's festival runs four days along the old Edo Castle moat, in the towers that Golden Time fans will recognise as Fukurai University. When you have had enough yakisoba, walk out to Iidabashi and into Kagurazaka's stone-paved lanes for dinner.

✅ Open to everyone🚶 No reservation💴 Bring cash
Hosei University Ichigaya campus buildings
Photo: Asturio Cantabrio / CC BY-SA 4.0 / source
Key facts
Dates
Sat, Oct 31 – Tue, Nov 3
Hours
10:00-18:00 (last day until 16:00)
Where
Ichigaya Campus
Open in Google Maps ↗
Nearest station
Ichigaya or Iidabashi (JR, Tokyo Metro), about 10 min
Entry
Free
Reservation
Not needed
Payment
Bring cash: most stalls don't take cards
English
Mostly Japanese (Google Lens helps)
Official site
Visit official site ↗

Last updated: Sep 15, 2026

What it is

  • Hosei's four-day festival, including the Culture Day holiday on November 3.
  • The campus is the model for Fukurai University in the anime Golden Time.
  • It sits beside the old outer moat of Edo Castle.

Highlights

  • 79th festival in 2026.
  • Kagurazaka's restaurant streets are a short walk from Iidabashi.

Best time to go

General tips that apply to most Tokyo university festivals.

  • Right at opening, usually 10:00: stalls are ready and lines are short.
  • On multi-day festivals, weekdays are the quietest days.
  • Saturday early afternoon is the busiest time almost everywhere.
  • Eat before 11:30 or after 13:30 to skip the lunch rush.

Suggested plan

  1. 10:00 Pick up a map at the gate. Do the popular indoor events (exhibitions, workshops, cafes) before the lines grow.
  2. 11:30 Lunch from the food stalls, ahead of the noon rush.
  3. 13:00 Watch bands, dance and theatre on the outdoor stages.
  4. 15:00 Walk the campus sights, then sort your trash at an eco-station on the way out.

Rules at the festival

  • Ask before photographing students up close.
  • No photos where signs say so.
  • Sort trash at the eco-stations: burnable, plastic, cans, PET bottles.
  • Don't bring your own alcohol. Many festivals ban it; where it is sold, buy only from the official stalls.
  • No smoking and no drones on campus.
  • Only enter rooms that are part of the festival.

Etiquette

Point-and-show phrases

No Japanese needed. Show this screen to a student at the stall.

これください
This one, please
Kore kudasai
いくらですか?
How much is it?
Ikura desu ka?
写真を撮ってもいいですか?
May I take a photo?
Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?
カードは使えますか?
Can I pay by card?
Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka?
ゴミ箱はどこですか?
Where is the trash bin?
Gomibako wa doko desu ka?
入口はどこですか?
Where is the entrance?
Iriguchi wa doko desu ka?
トイレはどこですか?
Where is the restroom?
Toire wa doko desu ka?
おいしい!
Delicious!
Oishii!
ありがとうございます
Thank you
Arigatou gozaimasu

Cash & ATMs

Most 7-Eleven stores have ATMs that accept foreign cards, and many are open 24 hours.

Find 7-Eleven ATMs near the station ↗

The story of this campus

The campus behind the anime Golden Time, on a moat lined with cherry trees.

Read the campus guide →

Stay & tours

Affiliate links. Booking through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.

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