Last year, in December, my daughter had her Japanese Language Proficiency Test examination center at the Komaba campus @ University of Tokyo. Located in Komaba Meguro district, Tokyo, this area was called Komaba Meadows and served as a hunting ground for the Tokugawa family!!! When I took my daughter there for the examination, I was amazed to see the yellow Ginkgo trees all around the campus.
There is a street at the back of the main building named Ichou Namiki (イチョウ並木) where Ginkgo trees line up on both sides of the road adjacent to the various buildings of the campus. On a dry, clear and blue cold morning of December the Ginkgo leaves were in full colors.The campus is close from the Shibuya Station. Get on to Inokashira Line from Shibuya and get down at the Komaba Campus station which is second from Shibuya. You can also walk from Shibuya for 20 minutes if you are adventurous enough.My daughter left me for the test and I had a lot of time on hand and decided to go around the campus and take a look. Sunlight peeps through a few branches of the tree and lights up the street as below.
The campus is free access to anyone and the autumn colors can be enjoyed from end of November to first week of December. The University campus if just outside the station, not even a minute of walk from the station. Locations of Ginkgo trees in Tokyo, Showa Kinen Koen and Gaien Mae are too crowded while the university campus very few people come here to watch the trees.A dog and the pet owner was one of the few companions also enjoying the weather on that day with me. The lady directed me to a canteen/restaurant in the campus since it was difficult to wait outside in the campus with the cold weather, waiting for my daughter to finish her JLPT tests. You can enjoy good cheese toasts and other snacks on the menu.A crow tries to make sense of all that yellow shower….
Early December, the trees have already shed 50% of the leaves, the best time to visit when the trees are still having a good volume of yellow with a carpet below too to enjoy and complement the view.A cyclist couple makes way through the yellow street….Location of the campus : See the Google Maps link below

A grand Ginkgo tree at the campus. The trees are supposedly one of the oldest species and can live for more than 1000 years! The campus here was reconstructed after the second world bombing and the trees are planted a few years ago. They will be around for a long time I guess.Beautiful stroll and I was suddenly in front of stairs, concealed due to the leaves, I would have missed those steps….A few snaps from the campus…
Waiting for daughter I had not thought that the long day at the JLPT examination center will be so colourful and fun.