Tokyo Area
Tokyo is a city with something for everyone. While full of quiet neighborhoods and peaceful parks, Tokyo is far from tranquil. In the center, it's a feast for the senses with throngs of people bustling through its neon lit streets and more shops, restaurants, and karaoke bars than you could ever imagine. Even though it's a city of 12,000,000 people, the Japanese have mastered the art of living in close proximity, and Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world.
Highlights of Tokyo
- Tokyo National Museum
- Meiji-jing_ Shrine
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Ueno-K_en (Ueno Park)
- Sony Building
Historical Sites
Meiji-jing_ Shrine
This Shint_ shrine is said to be the most beautiful in Tokyo. First completed in 1920, the Meiji-jing_ shrine, built as a memorial to Emperor Meiji and Empress Sh_ken, was bombed at the end of WWII. However, the reproduction is completely authentic and well-worth a visit. The website for the shrine is: www.meijijingu.or.jp.
Nicholai Cathedral
Constructed in 1891, the Nicholai Cathedral, named after the Russian Orthodox missionary St. Nicholai of Japan, is worth visiting to admire its unusual onion-shaped dome. Unfortunately, the original dome was damaged in Tokyo's 1923 earthquake; however, the downsized dome is still quite impressive.
Detached Palace Garden
This park was once a sh_gunal palace that extended into the area that has now been taken-over by the fish market. The garden area is said to be one of the finest in Tokyo and contains a large pond with a small island in the middle that is home to a traditional tea pavilion. As in all Japanese gardens, each of the bushes and trees are meticulously trimmed and shaped, and the perfection of the garden will not be lost on those who visit.
Ueno Park (Ueno-K_en)
Home to a variety of museums and temples, Ueno Park played a significant role in Japanese history as the site where the sh_gunate's fought (and lost) in their attempts to ward-off a takeover by the imperial army. The best time to visit Ueno Park is in the spring-time when the cherry-blossom trees are in full bloom.
Activities
Tokyo National Museum
For those interested in viewing some spectacular examples of Japanese and Asian art, the Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) should not be missed. With an impressive collection of 89,000 works, this is truly an art-lovers paradise. Additional information may be found at: www.tnm.jp.
Tsukiji Fish Market
A great spot to visit while in Tokyo is the Tsukiji Fish Market. Loud, smelly, and full of people rushing around to buy the catch of the day, the Fish Market is a feast for the senses. Be aware that you will likely see fish being gutted or sliced into pieces before they are even dead, but the Fish Market offers a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse of what ends up on the menu. Additional information may be found at the Tsukiji Market website at: www.tsukiji-market.or.jp.
Sony Building
Since the Japanese are known for their love any anything hi-tech, a visit to the Sony Building (located on Sukiyabashi Crossing), is a great way to get a glimpse of the more futuristic side of Japanese culture. Visitors can view new gadgets and gizmos that have not yet been released, and can have fun in the free video arcade with its virtual reality games on the 6th floor. There are also a variety of theaters and other fun things to do while there. Additional information about the Sony Building may be found at: www.sonybuilding.jp.
Places to Stay
Hostels
There are a wide variety of hostels in Tokyo. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability information, please access the following link: http://reservations.bookhostels.com/isecard.com/. You will receive $2.00 off of the reservation fee by booking through this site.
Places to Eat
Fujimamas
Located in the Harajuku district, Fujimamas serves fusion food in a building that used to be a workshop for making tatami mats (traditional woven mats often used as flooring in Japan). Additional information may be acquired by calling: 03 5485 2282 (info).
Fukuzushi
Tokyo is full of great sushi restaurants, however, this spot in Roppongi is particularly popular with the locals. The phone number for Fukuzushi's is: 03 3402 4116. However, please be aware that they do not take reservations.
Inakaya
A great place to find some grilled specialties is at Inakaya, which can be a bit expensive, but is a lot of fun. This restaurant is also located in Roppongi and can be contacted by calling: 03 3408 5040.
Getting Around
Train
There are many trains that have services into Tokyo. The Shinkansen (bullet train), is a bit pricey, but very comfortable for long distance trips and usually arrives and departs from the JR Tokyo Station. The JR line is the main train line servicing Tokyo, and if you take the JR Yamanote line (usually indicated in green) you should be able to get just about anywhere you need to go in the city.
Subway
Subway lines are usually indicated with colored circles instead of the colored lines used for the JR trains. When in a JR train station, you can often find your way to the subway by looking for the circles or by just asking a Japanese person. The Japanese love to practice their English and will often walk with you to show you where you need to go. Also, when buying train or subway tickets, if you try getting a ticket from a machine, you can always pay the difference when you arrive as there is usually a booth located at each exit with a person there to tell you how much more you owe. Therefore, when all else fails, just buy the cheapest ticket and pay the rest when you get where you're going!
Bus
Most buses in Japan offer direct services to a particular destination. There are regular buses running from Narita into Tokyo (it takes about 50 minutes), and the price is about the same as what the train would cost. Make sure that you look closely at the time your bus leaves and don't stand in line until your bus is due or you are likely to be ushered to the side by the bus attendants and told to take your luggage with you!
Taxi
Taxis in Japan are extremely clean and dependable, however, like any Taxi service, the prices can be a bit high. Be aware that the taxi drivers have a lever that enables them to close the back door for you while they are in the driver's seat, so just get in and keep your arms and legs out of the way!
Moving On
Air
The major international airport servicing Tokyo is Narita. China Airlines is the only international carrier that does not fly to Narita, so getting a flight out should be no problem. Haneda airport handles most of the domestic flights.
Bus
There are a wide variety of bus services from Tokyo to just about anywhere you need to go. Overnight buses run to Kyoto and Osaka and direct services are available to Kobe, Nagoya and Nara.
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