Tokyo — the most exciting metropolis in Asia. This
is where traditions from centuries past exist side by side with the ever-moving
elements of the latest in urban culture that radiate their own special heat and
energy.
The Imperial Palace, formerly Edo Castle, is still surrounded by its
original innermost moat. Handsome gates and old guard towers are set at intervals
around the grounds. The main entrance is approached by the elegant Nijubashi or
Double Bridge and is open to the public on special occasions. The East Garden
(Higashi Gyoen) is where the original donjon once stood. The garden is graced
with flowers and blossoms of each season, open to all as an ideal place for
relaxation.
The west side of Tokyo Station is Marunouchi, Japan’s largest business
district. Here old buildings are being replaced by new attractive buildings
with offices, shops and restaurants, which attract many visitors.
A 10-min. walk takes you to the Ginza district, famous the world over
for elegant shopping and its bright, kaleidoscopic neon lights.
From the neon bustle of the Ginza and Yurakucho districts,
turn to the spacious Ueno district where you will find Ueno Park, the largest in the city.
In early April, the park turns into a paradise of delicate pale pink cherry
blossoms and attracts numerous viewers and merrymakers. The park forms a great
center of art and culture with its many and varied museums.
Akihabara, the world's largest and most famous electronics
district has recently gained a new reputation as a mecca for Otaku, or fanatics of anime, computer
games or so-called "costume play." There are many anime related
stores where you can find animation figures, costumes and manga.
For a glimpse into Tokyo's past, the Asakusa district is the place. The many
narrow back streets, lined with old buildings and shops, sell traditional items
from kimono to hand-made combs. Asakusa Kannon Temple, with its colorful shopping
lanes, is a marvelous place to buy souvenirs. TOKYO SKYTREE is easy to access from this area.
Shinjuku, on the city's trendy west side, is home to popular
and raucous nightspots, to fine and sophisticated shopping, as well as to the
sedate Shinjuku
Gyoen National Garden.
The Shibuya district, near the tranquil Meiji Shrine and the modish Harajuku and Aoyama districts, is a popular shopping
and entertainment paradise, particularly among the young set. Shibuya is a
trendsetting hub from which the culture of youth is in continuous transmission.
The forefront of international art and fashion is fully in evidence. People-watching
from a sidewalk cafe is engaging and enjoyable.
Roppongi, filled with night spots popular with international
visitors, is rapidly developing as an artistic and cultural center. Among its
attractions are Tokyo Midtown; the National Art Center, Tokyo; and Roppongi Hills.
Odaiba, built on reclaimed land in the Port of Tokyo, featuring
an expansive shopping mall and the Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari, exciting hot spring
theme park.
Side
Trips from Tokyo
Tokyo Disney Resort®,
the most popular theme park in Japan, is in the Maihama district only 17 min. by
train from Tokyo Sta.
Mt. Takao is
599 m high and located in western Tokyo. It is rich in nature and is designated
as a national park. About an hour from the center of Tokyo, it is a popular
spot for mountain hiking.
The autumn leaves in
November and the plum blossom in
February are particularly beautiful, attracting many people to the mountain.
There is also a famous temple near the peak.
Yokohama,
Japan's second largest city, 30 min. By rail from Tokyo, is one of the first
Japanese cities that opened up to foreign residents during the Meiji Restoration(1868
-1911) and is a bustling port city with numerous historic buildings and the
spacious Sankei-en Garden.
The "Minato Mirai 21" district on the
waterfront is highly popular among younger generation, offering a most
enjoyable shopping and fantastic gourmet experience. Yokohama's China Town offers any number of excellent
restaurants.
Kamakura,
1 hr. by rail from Tokyo, is a small quiet coastal town with tranquil temples.
Once the seat of the feudal government set up in 1192, the town today still
retains much of its ancient and historical heritage. Kamakura's most famous
attraction is the giant bronze Great Buddha.
This impressive "Daibutsu" is 11.4 m. high, weighs 122 tons and sits in
the open-air.
Near Kamakura Sta. is Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. A number of Buddhist
temples, large and small, also dot the area. A leisurely stroll here slips you
back to the 12th-century Kamakura period. Whichever temple you visit, you'll be
greeted by the beautiful flowers and blossoms of the season.
Hakone,
1 hr. 30 min. by rail from Tokyo's Shinjuku Sta., is a famous hot spring resort
area set in the beautiful mountains which comprise the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National
Park. A major attraction here is the Open-Air Museum,
with hundreds of sculptures. Relaxing in one of the many hot springs is simply
a worthwhile experience. Take a pleasure cruise around Lake Ashi, offering marvelous views of Mt.
Fuji. In Owakudani, steam and sulfurous
fumes rise from crevices in the rocks.
Mt. Fuji,
at 3,776 m., is not only Japan's tallest mountain but it's the best known
symbol as well. In addition to being a favored climbing site during the months
of July and August, Mt. Fuji is the center of a wide-ranging natural recreation
zone. This includes the Fuji Five Lakes district
to the north, which offers extensive opportunities for hiking, boating,
fishing, camping, and picnicking.
The Izu Peninsula, south of Hakone, is an
important recreational area known for its hot spring resorts. The peninsula's
scenic backbone is formed by the hot spring and waterfall-rich Amagi Mountain
Range.
The Seven Islands of Izu collectively form a superb
resort area combining beautiful seascape attractions and hot springs as well as
impressive volcanic topography. Oshima Island,
for example, is a popular resort within an easy 1 hrs. 45 min. high-speed boat
ride from Tokyo, allowing for even a day trip.
Kusatsu Onsen is
one of Japan's top spa resorts, situated less than four hours from Tokyo by
direct bus link. The highly acidic spa water, which is potent enough to
dissolve a 1
coin in a week, is extraordinarily effective.
Nikko,
2 hrs. by rail from Tokyo, is both a gem of natural beauty and home to one of
the must-sees of Japanese architecture. Toshogu Shrine which
houses the mausoleum of the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, is Nikko's most
famous attraction. The complex is unusual among Japanese architectural gems for
its display of opulence and decorative complexity.
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