Affiliated Facilities
Botanical Gardens
The Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo has two botanical gardens, the main garden in Tokyo (Koishikawa BG) and the satellite garden in Nikko, Tochigi Pref. (Nikko BG). Both are open to the public. The Koishikawa Botanical Garden, located in midtown Tokyo, with an area of approx. 16 ha, was established as a research and educational facility of the University of Tokyo in 1877. Prior to that, the garden was the Koishikawa Medicinal Herb Garden, which was established in 1684 by the Tokugawa Shogunate. In 2012, the garden was designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty and Historic Site of Japan.
The Nikko Botanical Garden was established in 1902 at Hotokeiwa near Toshogu Shrine and moved to its current location in 1911. In the garden, there is a collection of Japanese alpine and temperate to subarctic species, as well as foreign species related to them.
- Websites: Koishikawa Botanical Garden
- Websites: Nikko Botanical Garden
Misaki Marine Biological Station (MMBS)
The Misaki Marine Biological Station (MMBS) is located amidst the rich fauna at the southwestern tip of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture. Founded in 1886, it is one of the oldest marine stations in the world. Being used by about twenty thousand researchers and educators per year, the station is a hub for both international scientific collaborations and engagement with the public.
Research Center for Spectrochemistry (RCS)
Founded in 1976, the Research Center for Spectrochemistry (RCS) provides the environment and instruments for researchers and students alike. The main research conducted here includes synchrotron radiation spectroscopy and high-speed Raman spectroscopy and microscopy to investigate chemical states and transient phenomena. The facility also takes part in inter- and multidisciplinary efforts by living cell and functional material observations.
Geochemical Research Center (GcRC)
At the time of its establishment in 1978 the Geochemical Research Center (GcRC) was named the “Laboratory of Earthquake Chemistry” in line with its first mission of improving earthquake prediction. The facility’s current research activities focus on the chemistry of Earth and planetary materials and the behavior of fluids in volcanic and earthquake activity. GcRC's synergy of fundamental and field research will open new avenues in geoscience.
- Website: Geochemical Research Center (GcRC)
Institute of Astronomy (IoA)
The Institute of Astronomy (IoA) promotes both research and educational activities in the field of optical, infrared, and radio astronomy. A wide spectrum of research is conducted at IoA, from the origin of the solar system to the birth and death of stars, the evolution of galaxies, and cosmology. IoA operates a 1.05m Schmidt telescope in Nagano, Japan, and promotes the development of observing instruments for sub/millimeter-wave telescopes in Chile and Greenland. A 6.5m infrared telescope at an observatory in Atacama, Chile is also being constructed. Together with other large observing facilities like Subaru and ALMA, IoA is at the cutting edge of astronomy today.
- Websites: Institute of Astronomy (IoA)
- Websites: Kiso Observatory, The University of Tokyo
- Websites: The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory Project
Center for Nuclear Study (CNS)
Since its establishment in 1997, the Center for Nuclear Study (CNS) has played a crucial role in nuclear science research and education domestically and worldwide. CNS’s primary focus is on heavy-ion research, collaborating closely with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) where its major facilities are located.
- Website: Center for Nuclear Study (CNS)
Research Center for the Early Universe (RESCEU)
The Research Center for the Early Universe (RESCEU) was founded in 1999 as an institute at the Graduate School of Science covering various research fields in astronomy and astrophysics. Our current major projects include the evolution of the universe and cosmic structures, gravitational-wave astrophysics and experimental gravity, and the formation and characterization of planetary systems. We are working on numerous Japanese and international collaborations ranging from the Planck scale to the large-scale structure of the universe.
Center for Attosecond Laser Science (CALS)
The Center for Attosecond Laser Science (CALS) promotes frontier research in the interdisciplinary research fields of attosecond laser science and ultrafast intense laser science. CALS supports the construction of Attosecond Laser Facility and the establishment of its management as a user facility. CALS also promotes fostering young researchers in cooperation with other universities and private companies so that they can play a leading role in the international research community in the future.
Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory (MGRL)
The Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory (MGRL) was originally established in 1983 to ensure the safety of recombinant DNA technology on campus and has been supporting research as a joint-use facility within the university. The research groups are investigating how the thousands of genes and their coding proteins interact to bring about the highly coordinated behavior of cells, tissues, and organisms, and thereby exploring the fundamental mechanisms underlying complex biological systems.
Institute of Photon Science and Technology (IPST)
Founded in 2013, the Institute of Photon Science and Technology (IPST) is focusing on research in laser-physics and light-matter interaction. However, it is also active in interdisciplinary collaborations with scientists in the fields of medical science, pharmaceutical science, and bioscience. The findings of these joint programs have a social impact by contributing to the development of new technologies in industry.
Universal Biology Institute (UBI)
The Universal Biology Institute (UBI) was founded with the goal of bringing together theoretical biology and quantitative experimental biology to elucidate the underlying principles of all living organisms. The Institution has the goal of establishing this new world-class academic field by providing students with a thorough overview of biology, mathematics, and physics.
- Website: Universal Biology Institute (UBI)
UTokyo Organization for Planetary and Space Science (UTOPS)
The UTokyo Organization for Planetary and Space Science (UTOPS) was founded to go beyond the existing framework and divisions of academia to address the fundamental questions of planetary science and astronomy, such as “What processes shaped the Solar System?” and “Why is there such a diversity of exoplanets?” The Institute is developing cutting-edge science instruments, including the 6.5m-aperture Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) telescope.
Institute for Physics of Intelligence
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has already made a profound social impact. It is also expected to make several breakthroughs in science. The Institute for Physics of Intelligence conducts research to understand why machine learning and AI work so effectively based on the fundamental laws of physics. Ultimately, the Institute aspires to understand the emergence of human intelligence through the interplay among physics, mathematics, and information science.