Your Guide to - Japan National Tourist Organization

10
Explore Japan
Tokyo & Vicinity
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 Imperial Palace
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
TOKYO SKYTREE
©TOKYO-SKYTREE
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
Asakusa, 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