Sights and Sounds of Tokyo

For decades Tokyo was visited mainly by business people connected with Japan's booming electronics and car manufacturing industries. Today, more and more people are coming to this huge, exciting megalopolis in order to enjoy its vast array of attractions and to experience a little of the culture that Japan offers visitors from overseas. Tokyo's infinite charms include temples, palaces and gorgeous, intricate gardens as well as a nightlife second to none. As for shopping, Tokyo is world famous for its boundless variety of shops and stores. Visitors in spring can enjoy the special bonus of seeing the fabulous cherry blossoms that attract vast crowds to the city parks. But a trip to Tokyo, at any time, is guaranteed to be a profoundly interesting and enjoyable experience.Tokyo is the point of entry for most visitors and business travellers to Japan. It is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Extraordinary, vibrant, fashionable, modern, a true metropolis, which still manages to reveal glimpses of its traditional past. Tokyo should be at the top of any Asian tourism agenda. It presents the mystique of traditional Japanese culture since the 17^th century, when the city was born. Its designation as the capital of Japan is fitting. Not only is it the biggest and most populous city in the nation, but it also represents the finest in Japanese heritage.

 

The Imperial Palace

This is the home of the Emperor of Japan. The actual Imperial Palace was a part of the Edo Castle. It is surrounded by a moat and a high wall  and occupies the most expansive square kilometre in the world. The Palace gardens and buildings are closed to the public except on Jan 2nd and Dec 23rd, when the Imperial family makes a public appearance. Three areas are usually open to the public: the Outer Garden, the Eastern Imperial Garden and Kitanomaru Park. There are tours of the Imperial Palace at other times but have to be booked in advance. The palace was destroyed by allied bombing during World War II, unintentionally. It was re built in 1968. The best gardens are definitely the Imperial Palace East Gardens. It is said that the Nijabashi Bridge is the most photographed scene in Japan.

 

The Imperial Palace East Gardens

The gardens are open to public daily except Mondays and Fridays. The gardens are maintained impeccably and are particularly beautiful in March and April – the cherry blossom seasons. There is no charge for entry.

 

 

Sensoji Temple / Asakusa

This is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa and is also referred to as Asakusa Temple. This is the oldest and most significant temple in Japan. It was built in the 7th century. Large parts of Asakusa were destroyed in the air raids of World War II. The area around the rebuilt Sensoji has regained its former popularity after the war.

 

Ueno Park

Ueno Park is a spacious public park located in the Ueno section of Taito-ku,Tokyo, Japan. In cherry blossom season, Ueno Park is Tokyo's most popular spot for outdoor hanami parties. A great place to marvel at the beauty of nature. Japan’s first public park opened in 1874 amidst more than a thousand cherry blossom trees, which are its main attraction. Its beauty during the cherry blossom season is unparalleled, and access to the park is virtually unlimited. Ueno Park is part of Taito-ku, one of Tokyo's oldest and most down-to-earth districts. The Park offers you both sides of Taito, its earthiness and its elegance, in one big green playground. It is the grandfather of all Tokyo parks, having the longest history, being one of the biggest, and packed with far more attractions than any other. Even if your stay in Tokyo is a short one, a day in Ueno Park is highly recommended. With museums of all kinds, Tokyo's biggest concentration of temples, a lotus pond, a zoo, and woodland, there is something for everyone of any age and inclination.

 

Tokyo Tower

A red and white web of sky-high steel by day, a breath-taking beacon of lights by night, Tokyo Tower is the most prominent and distinctive feature of Tokyo's cityscape. Tokyo Tower was built in 1958, modelled on the Eiffel Tower of Paris, as a TV and FM radio broadcasting tower. It serves the whole of the Kanto region (i.e. Tokyo and surrounding prefectures) in that role and in 2003 began transmitting digital signals as well. At 1093 feet it is 43 feet higher than the Eiffel Tower, but thanks to modern engineering technology it is 43% lighter in weight. Being the Tokyo's tallest structure makes Tokyo Tower the prime spot from which to view the metropolis. The Tokyo Tower provides its guests some entertainment with its Club 333 at the Main Observatory. The first floor houses an aquarium, home to 50,000 fish, the third floor is a wax museum and an attraction called the Mysterious Walking Zone, and the fourth floor a Trick Art Gallery. The experience of this tower is indeed something out of the ordinary.The Tower is best known as a tourist destination, though it is decried by some as overpriced and inconveniently located, and as having poor amenities.

 

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

It was originally intended as a garden for the Imperial family when it was finished in 1906, but it was later turned into a national park. It is now a park under the jurisdiction of the national Ministry of the Environment. Its long history stretches back at least 200 years. This excellent location is the perfect site for picnics. Springtime is especially attractive in this mixture of French, English, and Japanese garden styles, but the scenery is still splendid no matter what the season is. The gardens have more than 20,000 trees, including approximately1,500 cherry trees, majestic Himalayan cedars, which soar above the rest of the trees in the park, tulip trees, cypresses, and plane trees, which were first planted in Japan in the Imperial Gardens. A traditional Japanese tea house can be found within the gardens.

 

Yasukuni Shrine

Yasukuni shrine is a controversial shrine to Japan’s war dead, housing the souls of approx. 2.5 million people killed in the Japan wars. It has long been an issue of controversy for the international community, but it is actually a monument to honour those who perished in the many wars in which Japan was involved. The Emperor Meiji built this shrine in 1869 to honour the memory of the soldiers who died in the Boshin War. Since that time, the Yasukuni Shrine has been a place of tribute for more than 2 million soldiers involved in the succeeding Russo-Japanese War and the two World Wars. This venue also includes the Yushukan Museum, which includes the relics and wills of some of these soldiers. More than 5 million tourists visit each year not only to honour the dead, but to see the splendid architectural design of this 6.25-hectare shrine to the fallen.

 

Meiji Jingu

Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion and understanding Japan’s culture includes a visit to its temples. The Meiji Jingu is located in a man made forest in the heart of Tokyo, and dedicated to the memory of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It is a prime example of Shinto architecture. Meiji Jingu Shrine is a great contrast to the hustle and noise of Tokyo with the forest of 120,000 evergreen trees blocking out the noise of the city. The forest of 365 different species of trees covers an impressive 700,000 square-meters.

 

Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland is the most popular theme park in Japan and one of the most popular in the world. It is located in Chiba, which is part of greater Tokyo. The resort opened in 1983, comprising of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea theme parks, 5 hotels and the Ikspiari shopping complex. It is the third most annually visited theme park in the world. You can see the same disney characters, castle, mountains and performances. The seaside makes this park a bit different from the others.

 

The places to visit is endless. But you can get glimpses of their truly amazing culture even if you are there for a few days, you must visit the sights mentioned above. There are more sights to see if time permits. Some gardens, parks, shrines, temples and buildings which dot the landscape are listed here. Hamarikyu Gardens, Inokashira Park, Jindai Botanical Garden, Kasai Rinkai Park, Kitanomaru Park, Kinuta Park, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Shiba Park, Shinjuku Central Park, Yoyogi Park, Gokuku-ji Temple, Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, Zojoji Temple, Kabuki Theater, Makuhari Messe, National Diet Building.