Attractions

Tokyo

Introduction

The capital of Japan

Tokyo is the capital of Japan. At over 12 million people in the official metropolitan area alone, Tokyo is the most populated urban area in the world. It is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, consisting of 23 central city wards and multiple cities, towns and villages west of the city center. The Izu and Ogasawara Islands are also part of Tokyo.

This huge, wealthy and fascinating metropolis brings high-tech visions of the future side by side with glimpses of old Japan, and offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors.

The city's history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa, and in many excellent museums, historic temples and gardens. Contrary to common perception, Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.

Shopping

Anyone who loves shopping knows that Tokyo is one of the most renowned shopping cities in the world. It should come as no surprise that Japanese people love style and fashion as designers from around the globe know that Tokyo is a hot spot for their label to be featured. It is here that well-established Japanese shops and famous brand names like Gucci, Chanel, Armani, Louis Vuitton, and others stand side by side on the various blocks that make up the center of the Ginza shopping area. Tokyo also serves as a hub of artistic ingenuity as art galleries and purely Japanese modern architecture are visible throughout the entire city.

Tokyo's varied sightseeing districts double as shopping districts, many of them with their own character and specialties.

Shinjuku - One of Tokyo's largest shopping and entertainment districts.
Shibuya - Center of youth fashion.
Omotesando - Features many international fashion brands.
Harajuku - High fashion boutiques and branded shops make this area a hot spot for pop culture and new, cutting edge styles.
Ginza - Tokyo's premier upmarket shopping district.
Marunouchi - Upscale shopping next to Tokyo Station.
Ikebukuro - Large department stores and electronics chains.
Odaiba - Houses hundreds of stores and entertainment facilities perfect for all types of shoppers.
Tokyo Solamachi - Shopping at the base of the Tokyo Skytree.
Roppongi - Upscale shopping in the middle of the city.
Sugamo - The Old Ladies' Harajuku.
Akihabara - Electronics mecca and center of Otaku culture.
Kappabashi - Restaurant supply and everything related to cooking (except food).

Other specialized shopping districts found around Tokyo include Jimbocho, located north of the Imperial Palace, which is known for a high concentration of book publishers and book stores; and Ochanomizu (one stop from Akihabara Station on the JR Sobu Line) which is a haven for shoppers looking for musical instruments and sports equipment.

Those interested in food markets should head to the Tsukiji Fish Outer Market, which is also one of Tokyo's highest rated tourist attractions.

History

Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small fishing village in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.

Tokyo Attractions

Shinjuku

As Japan’s largest entertainment area, you can discover the latest fashion, try gourmet from the world, and buy the grocery and electronic equipments. You can also enjoy bar and dance show for nightlife.
Shinjuku Subnade

Shinjuku Subnade is the largest underground shopping street in Shinjuku area. Visitors can find latest fashion trends of clothing, footwear, accessories and have delicious food.

Shibuya

Shibuya is major entertainment area in Tokyo and is a center for youth fashion and culture. Fashionable cafés, bars, dining spots and many shopping stores for youth fashion can be found here.
Harajuku

Harajuku is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles. The focal point of Harajuku's teenage culture is Takeshita Street and its side streets.

Nakano

Nakano is well known as a mix of residential, shopping mall, and business areas. It is a hidden place for the one who wants to enjoy shopping with reasonable price and for Otaku to find their treasures.
Shimokitazawa

Also known as Shimokita, with its numerous cafes, unique fashion and music outlets, Shimokitazawa is popular with students, trend-setters and artsy populations.

Namja Town

Namja Town is an indoor theme park which features carnival-style games, a haunted house, a line of character mascots exclusive to the park, and dumpling from all Japan and dessert from the world.
Kiba Park

A large, multi-purpose park. Always occupied by people strolling and throwing baseballs, it features open space for events, tennis courts, playgrounds, museum, walking jogging paths and BBQ facilities.

Hibiya Park

This Japan's first public Western-style park has wide open spaces, beautiful landscaping and flower beds bloom with colorful seasonal flowers throughout the year, making the park a place of relaxation.
Yoyogi Park

One of the largest city parks in Tokyo. It has picnic areas, bike paths, cycle rentals and public sport courts, makes the park a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities.

Edo-Tokyo Museum

The museum is dedicated to the history of Tokyo. It exhibits Tokyo's Edo period, culture and history, and follows the city's progress through the Meiji and Showa periods up until recent years.
Aoyama Spiral Building

A complex cultural building focusing on the subject of the fusion of life and art. The Spiral Garden displays contemporary works of art and The Spiral Hall holds many high-visibility events for the forward looking.

Decks Tokyo Beach

Decks Tokyo Beach is the first real entertaintainment facility built on the artificial island of Odaiba, featuring various fashion stores, cuisine restaurants and multiple indoor theme parks.
Sumida River Cruise

Enjoy a boat ride, seeing famous sites and passing beneath bridges on the journey along the historically significant Sumida River. The cruise gives you a different view from your daily life.

Ghibli Museum

With the concept of "Let's become lost children together", the museum houses various exhibits describing the animation process, a play space and movie theater showing a short film.
Sanrio Puroland

An indoor theme park hosts various live events, musicals, parades, restaurants, attractions, and theme rides using popular characters such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Cinnamoroll and many more.

Ueno Park

With cherry blossoms and lotuses, the park is regarded as being one of Tokyo’s most beautiful. Inside there are temples, shrines, pagodas, and also a pond, a zoo and some of Japan’s finest museums.
Sensoji Temple

The oldest, most popular temple in Tokyo. People believe that Asakusa Kannon has ability to bestow benefits. It was the epicenter for development of Edo culture, and these traces still remain today.

Odaiba

A popular Tokyo hotspot for shopping and entertainment including shopping centres, museums, sports facilities and office buildings. It also features distinctive Fuji TV Studios Building.
Tsukiji Fish Outer Market

The traditional fish wholesale and retail market for fresh seafood, kitchen tools, restaurant supplies and groceries. Delicous food such as fresh sashimi, sushi or rice bowl are must try.

Meiji Shrine

One of the Japan's most popular shrines. It welcomes millions of people for the year's first prayers. The evergreen forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in Tokyo.
Omotesando Hills

A large shopping and residential development. As a landmark in Omotesando, It is well known for its wealth of designer shops and boutiques, and stylish architectural style.

Roppongi Hills

As one of Japan's largest integrated property developments, the complex features offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, cafés, a hotel, art museum, a few parks, observation deck and more.
Tokyo Midtown

Tokyo Midtown is modern, shiny and luxurious, and art peeps around every corner. It’s also a great place to spend a day in the luxurious side of Tokyo.

Hamarikyu Gardens

Tokyo’s most historic landscape garden. It features seawater ponds, cherry blossom, autumn leaves and a teahouse. It has atmosphere of tranquility which allows you to relax and enjoy wonderful scenery.
Tokyo Disney Resort

This them park and vacation resort is immensely popular among domestic and international visitors, and its two theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, are among the world's most visited.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

One of Tokyo’s landmarks and is often visited by tourists for its free observation decks. Go up to one the observation deck for an amazing view of Tokyo.
Shinjuku Gyoen

One of Tokyo's largest, most popular parks, and best places to see cherry blossoms. It functions as an oasis with the spacious lawns, meandering walking paths, gardens, lakes, teahouses, etc.

Omotesando

As Tokyo's Champs-Elysees, it is a stylish and trendy street where fashionable boutiques and popular restaurants stand side by side. In addition, you can find museums and galleries interspersed.
Rikkyo University

Member of the "Big Six" grouping of prominent private universities. The spacious campus features a group of historic red brick buildings which are important cultural properties and is a pleasant place to walk.

Daikanyama

Daikanyama is home to a wide variety of fashionable boutique shops and sidewalk restaurants and cafes. Dotted with embassies and homes of foreigners, the area has the atmosphere of a foreign country.
Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo Imperial Palace is the residence of the Japanese Imperial Family. Filled with gardens, ancient stone bridges, and museums, the palace is a beautiful, historical, and important cultural landmark in Japan.

Kabuki-za

Kabuki-za is Japan’s most famous and grandest Kabuki theatre for the traditional kabuki drama form. It was reconstructed recently and reopened in April 2013 with a skyscraper that stands above it.
Ginza

Ginza is one of the most luxurious shopping, dining and entertainment districts in the world. People in modern fashion gathered Ginza and high-class atmosphere was cultured.

Akihabara

Akihabara is the largest town selling all kinds of electronic appliances and devices with low price and duty free in Japan. It is also a center of Japanese otaku and anime culture.
Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge is an elegant looking bridge and features in many day and night time pictures of Tokyo. The bridge features three primary colored lights which change seasonally, for special occasions.

Oedo Onsen Monogatari

Oedo Onsen Monogatari is a natural hot spring them park, built resemble the old city of Edo. Visitors can also be dressed in their yukata, and dine, shop, play games and have fun in Edo style.

Attractions in Japan