Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
you'll see today what the rest of the world will get tomorrow. You may not figure out
exactly what makes Tokyo tick - and you're sure to get a little confused while trying
- but the conclusion is inescapable: Japan's powerhouse capital is a seductive and
addictive experience.
What to see
One way to ease yourself into the city is by taking a relatively crowd-free turn around
the
Imperial Palace
- the inviolate home of the emperor and a tangible link to the past.
From here it's a quick hop to
Marunouchi
which has been busily restyling itself as a chic
shopping and dining destination to rival glitzy
Ginza
.
High on your sightseeing agenda should also be the evocative
Shitamachi
area,
Tokyo's northeast quarter, where the Edo-era spirit of the city remains.
Asakusa
's
primary focus is the major Buddhist temple of
Sensō-ji
, surrounded by a plethora
of traditional craft shops. The leafy precincts of
Ueno Park
contain several major
museums, including the
Tokyo National Museum
. From here it's an easy stroll to the
charming and tranquil districts of
Nezu
,
Sendagi
and
Yanaka
, packed with small
temples, shrines and shops.
In
Kanda
you'll find the
Kanda Myōjin
, one of Tokyo's oldest shrines and home to
one of the city's top three festivals, the
Kanda Matsuri
; and across the Sumida-gawa is
Ryōguku
, home to the colossal
Edo-Tokyo Museum
and the
National Sumo Stadium
.
