Tokyo , Japan 's megacity de facto capital is one of 47 prefectures, or national sub-divisions in Japan . It is located on the eastern side of Honshu , the third largest Japanese island. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populated metropolis in the world with a population of over 35 million people. In spite of the fact that Japan 's overall population is declining, Tokyo 's is growing. It boasts the largest gross domestic product worldwide for a city.
Originally a small fishing village named Edo, Tokyo was the Emperor Ota Dokan's choice for the Edo Castle . By the 1600s Edo became the centre of shogun Tokugawa leyasu's nationwide military government. By the 1800s Edo had become the nation's political and cultural center. The city of Tokyo was then established but abolished as a municipality around 1943 and merged with the Metropolitan Prefecture of Tokyo. Tokyo is designed around major train stations in a high-density fashion with their own right-of-way. By 1970 Tokyo 's subway and commuter rail networks became one of the busiest in the world. In the 1980s Japan experienced a real estate boom that crashed in the early 1990s. Many companies, banks and individuals met with significantly reduced real estate properties and Japan is still recovering from this economic crisis.
Tokyo boasts several outlying islands extending as far as 1,850 m from central Tokyo . The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands and form part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park . Tokyo lies in a sub-tropic humid climate zone with hot humid summers and mild winters. There is sporadic snowfall and it occurs almost every year during the winter season. Tokyo is an urban heat island, meaning its metropolis is considerably warmer than surrounding rural areas. Tokyo experiences typhoons every year although these are seldom very strong. Tokyo has enacted an emissions cap system in order to cut down on greenhouse gases.
Some wonderful tourist attractions include Tokyo 's many impressive museums. Tokyo National Museum is Tokyo 's largest museum. It specializes exclusively in Japanese art and sculpture. The National Museum of Western Art boasts collections of modern Japanese art and foreign films. There are many theatres for the performing arts such as noh and kabuki. Noh is a major form of classic Japanese musical theatre while kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theatre. It is known for the elaborate theatrical make-up of its performers. Symphony orchestras and other musical organizations perform Western and traditional music. Ueno Park boasts the National Museum of Science and a public zoo. The Japanese Sumo Association is located in Tokyo and features three official annual sumo tournaments in January, May and September. Tokyo often hosts sports tournaments in tennis, soccer, judo and swim meets.
Many festivals occur in Tokyo throughout the year. Major events include the Sanno at Hie Shrine and the biennial Kanda festivals. The Kanda features a parade with gorgeously decorated floats and thousands of people in attendance. Tokyo cuisine is internationally acclaimed. Typical meals are punctuated by raw fish, sushi and vinegared rice. This cosmopolitan and stunning city is well worth the visit and offers entertainment and cultural attractions to suit virtually every tourist.
Tokyo Attractions
Landmarks
Tokyo Tower
4-2-8 Shiba-koen Minato 105-0011 Japan
Telephone: 81-3-5425-2100
An attraction with two purposes, the Tokyo Tower is both a radio and television communications tower and a major tourist attraction. Standing 332.6 metres talk, it is the tallest self supporting structure in the world, exhibiting a design very similar to the Eiffel Tower in France . Almost three million visitors come to see this impressive sight each year, as well as enjoy the two separate sections of the tower which have been developed for visitors. Beneath to tower is the amusingly named “ Foot Town ”, it sits entirely between the columns of the tower proper and contains a whole host of shops, restaurants and bars. Visitors pass through Foot Town on the way into the tower, where they can then proceed up to either of the two public observation decks. The first observation deck is only 150 metres above the ground; the second observation deck is a staggering 250 metres above ground level. The tower was commissioned in 1957 and took a team of almost a quarter of a million people 18 months to complete, finally opening on December the 23 rd 1958. The total build cost was a staggering 2.8 billion Yen.
The Tsukiji Market
5-2-1 Tsukiji Chuo 104-0045 Japan
Telephone: 03 3542 1111
Early in the morning, between 5am and 9am, The Tsukiji Market is a flurry of activity, as pound upon pound of fresh fish and seafood is auctioned and snapped up by greedy buyers at rock bottom prices. The Tsukiji Market has been a major tourist attraction for as long as visitors have been travelling to Tokyo for leisure purposes. So much more than a market, this vibrant area is a central focus of Japanese life for many local business owners. Unfortunately, the market is scheduled to be re-located within the next five years, the local tourist department has attempted to curtail this, but it now seems sure that this famous fish market will soon lose much of its charm when it moves to modern new premises. The sheer quantity of different varieties of fish, both dead and alive, is quite staggering, hundreds of different species of all shapes and sizes. Visitors are advised to keep clear of the busier areas during the early morning, as the fish cart drivers are notoriously thick headed and will think nothing of running a pedestrian down if they get in the way of their work.
The Iceberg / Audi Forum
6-12-18 Jingumae Shibuya Japan
Telephone: 81-3-5464-7200
This impressive structure christened “The Iceberg” is a seven story high building which was designed by Creative Designers International. The structure is almost entirely made of glass, including the external elevator. Additionally, three separate hues of glass are used out toward the edges of the building, designed to give the effect of viewing a huge crystal. Contained within The Iceberg on the first two flows is the Tokyo Audi Forums, which is set up to allow visitors to explore every facet of the Audi brand, including displays of all the latest Audi models along with prototype vehicles and experimental technology undergoing development in Audi laboratories around the world.
Gardens
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
11 Naito-cho Shinjuku 160-0014 Japan
Telephone: 81-3-3350-0151
The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden was originally the home of the Naito family, before being opened as a garden and managed by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. In recent times the park has come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment. The garden has a circumference of around 3.5km and covers an overall area of almost 60 hectares. Three distinctly different styles of design are melded together to form a charming example of a fusion garden, visitors will see Japanese, French and English influenced areas, containing over 20,000 trees and an incredible quantity of different species of flora and fauna. The greenhouse is an interesting feature of the garden, and contains a permanent display of sub-tropical and tropical plant life. The traditional Japanese Tea Garden is a spending place to relax and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of this impressive park. The gardens are open seven days a week and the entrance fee is a reasonable 200 Yen for adults and 50 Yen for infants.
Koto Kiyosumi Teien
3-3-9 Kiyosumi Koto 135-0024 Japan
Telephone: 03-3641-5892
Dating back to the Edo era, the Kiyosumi Gardens are considered to be one of the most impressive gardens to be found in Tokyo . Originally the residence of the infamous businessman Kinokuniya Bunzaemon, it later passed on to Kuze-yamatonokami, who was a lord of the Sekijuka during the Kyoho period in the early 1700s. Sometime in the late 1800s the land was acquired by Iwasaki Yataro, who was the founder of Mitsubishi, he reconstructed the garden and moved many huge rocks from all across Japan to help build a dramatic backdrop to the already rich plant life. The garden features a large pond with three separate islands constructed within it, one of the islands houses a traditional Japanese tea house. The pond is stocked with carp and turtle which have become tame over the years, and now accept food willingly from the hands of visitors to the garden.
Religious Sites
Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Kannon)
2-3-1 Asakusa Taito 111-0032 Japan
Telephone: 03 3842 0181
The Sensoji Temple is surrounded by legends, the most prolific of which concerns its original founding. Legend tells us that in 628 a pair of brothers were fishing in the Sumida River , and instead of catching a fish, they caught a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. They threw the statue back into the river, fearing to displease the goddess, but every time they started to fish again, they caught the statue. The temple was constructed to honour the goddess Kannon on the spot the brothers are said to have fished from. The main feature of the temple is the Asakusa Shrine, a large five story pagoda which is accessed through the Hozomon Gate. The temple itself is home to several annual events, which include Hagoita-ichi in December, Tokyo Jidai Matsuri in November, Asakusa Samba Carnival in August, and Sanja Matsuri in May. If you are visiting during these times, it would be well advised to visit the temple early, as it can become extremely over crowded once the day gets underway. The temple is free to enter, and open between 6am and 5pm, please note that it is only open from October to March.
Hanazono Jinja Shrine
5-17-3 Shinjuku Shinjuku Japan
Telephone: 81 3 3200 3093
The Hanazono Jinja Shrine is noted as being a particularly good example of a shrine constructed in the Inari style. It is located conveniently close to the centre of the commercial district of Shinjuku. The land and site for the shrine was originally donated by the rich and affluent Hanazono family, the spot the shrine now occupies was a part of their estate gardens. The shrine was originally located close to a large department store, but developers relocated the shrine to its new location. A particularly idiosyncratic event which takes place at the Hanazono Jinja Shrine each year is the annual festival of the fowls. Within the grounds of the shrine can be found a boisterous street market, although only usually on festival days, visitors are advised to check in advance to see if the market is in place before they visit the shrine if shopping is part of their intended itinerary.
The Arts
Kabuki-za
4-12-5 Ginza Chuo 104-0061 Japan
Telephone: 03-3541-3131
This faithfully restored theatre can be found in the Ginza district, and presents performances of traditional Japanese Kubuki. The actual building itself is something of an anomaly, being constructed of western type materials yet in a traditional Japanese architectural style. Originally the residence of the Kumamoto Clan, the building was opened as a theatre in 1889. The theatre has been destroyed no less than three times, the first time was during a fire in 1921, the second time was during the Kanto earthquake in 1923, the final time was during World War II when it was destroyed by Allied bombers. The final reconstruction in 1924 saw the building sporting its unique combination of materials and design. The theatre features performances of Kabuki, which is a form of musical pantomime art. Tickets are sold for the entire show, or for individual acts, the shorter term tickets are designed to allow the visitor to judge the performance before buying a full feature ticket.
National Museum of Western Art
7-7 Ueno-koen Taito 110-0007 Japan
Telephone: 03 3828 5131
The National Museum of Western Art combines an impressive permanent art collection with a variety of specialist or themed showings of art featuring prolific artists or artistic styles throughout the year. The permanent collection includes pieces from such prominent artists as Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Picasso and Pollock, and is widely believed to be the most complete collection of western art to be found in Japan , although it is rumoured that one particular private collection holds more value. As well as running themed exhibitions, the gallery also hosts several symposiums and series of lectures each year. Due to the fact that the opening times of the museum change depending upon which events are currently taking place, it is very highly advised that visitors telephone and check the actual opening times in advance, the main building is open daily however the tertiary buildings and event orientated galleries may not be open at normal times.
Suzumoto
2-7-12 Ueno Taito Japan
Telephone: 03 3834-5906
The Suzumoto Theatre is believed to be among the oldest surviving theatres in Tokyo . Suzumoto Theatres was especially constructed to house performances of Rakugo, a form of comic performance, in recent years the theatre has also made itself available for other types of performances. A Rakugo performance features a single comedian, who sits upon a purple cushion, and recites stories and tales to the audience, these stories will almost always come straight from the 300 classis tales told as part of a Rakuga performance. Almost no form of props are used, usually only a handkerchief, a set of pipes and a fan. The comedian will assume the parts of each character in the tale, switching from one to another as needs require. The Rakuga artist uses a particularly confusing form of Japanese, rich in innuendo and pun, and often spoken in local Japanese dialects, it takes years of training before a Rakugoka is ready to perform for the public.
Amusement Parks
LaQua
1-3-61 Koraku Bunkyo 112-0004 Japan
Telephone: 03-5800-9999
This strange mix of health spa, theme park and entertainment district can be found in the centre of Tokyo . Sometimes referred to as “ Dome City ” due to the fact it contains the impressive Tokyo Dome Stadium within its boundaries. The dome itself plays host to a whole range of sporting events, concerts and special events. The spa centres around a natural hot spring, and has been designed to be the most opulent health spa in all of Tokyo, the spa features massage and sauna facilities along with a “healing space”. The adventure activities within LaQua are world class, including a very impressive Ferris wheel, one of the largest in the world, another firm favourite is the Thunder Dolphin, an exciting roller-coaster. The shopping district contains some 70 stores, and range from franchised favourites to exotic and unique boutique shops, there are also a full range of restaurants and bars to cater for every taste.
Mega Web
Aomi 1-chome Koto 135-0064 Japan
Telephone: 03-3599-0808
This strangely named attraction is a theme park based around automotive transport, with a slogan of “Look, Ride, Feel”. Mega Web is the largest auto showroom in the world and is organised and administered by the Toyota Corporation. Mega Web covers an area of over 24,000 square metres and has a permanent display of more than 150 vehicles. Since its opening it has proven to be immensely popular and has seen more than 50 million visitors through its doors. The central part of the attraction is the Toyota City Showcase, which includes a full display of every model in the Toyota range, visitors are free to test drive any cars which catch their eye. Hybrid Wonderland is an interactive exploration environment, designed to show and teach how hybrid technology can lead to impressive results. Children are encouraged to build their own pedal assisted motorised cart among other fascinating activities. One of the newer exhibits is focused completely upon electric commuter vehicles, visitors are allowed to take a ride in several working prototypes of what may become the cars of the future.
Museums
Tokyo National Museum
13 - 9 Ueno Park Taito 110-8712 Japan
Telephone: 81 3 3822 1111
Tokyo National Museum owns the largest collection of Japanese art and historical artefacts in the world. The museum only has room to exhibit several thousand at a time, so the exhibits are rotated constantly, allowing the museum to show its entire collection once a year. The museum complex contains several restaurants and a gift shop, along with facilities aimed at those who wish to study Japanese history more closely, such as a library and photo archive. The museum is split into five separate galleries, the Honkan Gallery which contains only Japanese exhibits, the Toyokan Gallery which houses general Asian exhibits, the Heiseikan Gallery which is used as both a special event venue and also houses the impressive Japanese archaeology exhibition, the Hyokeikan Gallery which is entirely given over to special events, and the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures. Admission starts at 600 Yen for adults and concessions are available for students and younger visitors as well as senior citizens. Opening times vary throughout the week and are subject to change depending upon any special events taking place; it is advised that visitors check in advance before visiting outside normal daytime hours.
John Lennon Museum
8 Shintoshin Chuo 330-9109 Japan
Telephone: 048-601-0009
This is a very specialised museum which was opened on the 9 th of October in 2000, which would have been John Lennon's 60 th birthday. The museum is a tribute to the life and works of this famous personality, most well known for the time he spent with The Beetles, but also renowned as an artists and peace campaigner. Visitors are guided through a whole set of themed exhibits which begins with an introductory video which lays out the life of John Lennon, before the visitors move into the museum proper. The museum is made up of nine separate zones, which display a wealth of exhibits, many of which we donated by Yoko Ono from her own private collection. The museum also features a peaceful lounge, where visitors are encouraged to relax in the Lennon spirit. The interestingly named Final Room is decorated in pure white, with 29 of John Lennon's message spread around the walls, taken from his art and lyrics.
National Science Museum
Ueno Park Taito Japan
Telephone: 03-3822-0111
The National Science museum was first established in 1871 by the Ministry of Education. The museum is split into two primary areas which contain a wide range of exhibits; additionally there are two excellent outdoor attractions. The new Shinkan building houses a collection of archaeological exhibits, including several full prehistoric dinosaur skeletons such as a Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus and even a Tyrannosaurus Rex. On the first floor can be found a display entitled “Ocean's Diversity”, which is a full rendition of an aquatic ecosystem made from plaster of Paris. On the second floor is a wide variety of interactive exhibits designed instil knowledge through experience. On the third floor can be found a recreation of natural woodland, including many stuffed animals that are easily accessible for children to view and touch. In the Honkan building can be found a much more traditional set of exhibits, a more normal style of museum, of far more interest to history lovers. Outside can be found a full life-size model of a blue whale, which is a firm favourite with children, and a fully restored steam locomotive.
Historic Sites
Yasukuni-jinja
3-1-1 Kudankita Chiyoda 102-8246 Japan
Telephone: 81 03 3261-8326
The Yasukuni shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji when he visited Tokyo in 1874. During his visited he composed a poem; “I assure those of you who fought and died for your country, that your names will live forever at this shrine in Musashino”. As such the shrine is dedicated to all those who gave their lives to defend their country. The shrine is said to house almost 2,500,000 souls of men who lay down their life for their country since 1853, during several conflicts from the Boshin war through to World War II. Local people will often offer food and drink to the shrine, as they believe the best way to honour the dead is to treat them as if they are alive. These daily rituals are augmented twice each year during the spring and autumn to become major religious rituals. The Yasukini Shrine is one of the most popular religious sites in Tokyo , and is visited by almost six million people every year.
Imperial Palace
Kokyo Gaien Chiyoda Japan
Telephone: 81 33213 1111
Built on the site of Edo Castle , the current Imperial Palace sits in the centre of Tokyo , within beautifully landscape gardens. A large plaza named Kokyo Gaien can be found at the front of the Imperial Palace, and from this plaza visitors have a great view across the grounds and of the Nijubashi bridge and the Meganebashi bridge, this a pair of bridges that have been constructed to allow access to the inner grounds. The former of these two bridges was originally constructed of wood and was built with two levels; the later bridge was constructed from stone. The inner buildings of the palace are closed to the public; all other parts of the palace grounds can either be explored at will, or toured with the aid of a guide. The palace has played an important part in Japanese culture for decades and is generally believed to be a good example of traditional Japanese architecture.
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