Attractions
Imperial Palace
Japan's Imperial Palace is regarded as the heart and soul of Tokyo, standing on a huge site that still bears the remains of Edo Castle, stronghold of the Tokugawa shogunate. The present palace was completed in 1888 and is still home to the emperor of Japan. The palace is off-limits but its grounds and surrounds provide a much-needed green open space for the city with Higashi Gyoen (East Garden), site of the Edo Castle keep, open to the public. On 2 January and 23 December each year visitors are able to enter the inner grounds and see the Imperial family make public appearances from the balcony. Guided tours of the palace are offered, but are only in Japanese, although an English pamphlet and audio guide are provided; these must be reserved in advance through the Imperial Household Agency. In spring the gardens are abloom with cherry blossom, particularly along the castle moat.
Transport: Subway to Tokyo station
Opening time: East Garden is open daily except Monday and Friday from 9am to 4pm (until 3.30pm between November and February). Closed from 28 December to 3 January and when Imperial Court functions take place
Admission: East Garden has no admission fee.
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Yasukuni Shrine
To the north of the Imperial Palace lies the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, built to commemorate Japanese war dead and now regarded as home to the souls of about two and a half million who perished in conflict, mostly in the Pacific War of World War II. Soldiers fought in the knowledge that their spirits would find rest and honor at Yasukuni in the after-life. The shrine has caused controversy for various political reasons over the years since it was built in 1869 in honor of supporters of the emperor, killed in the run up to the Meiji Restoration. More recently, with regard to the country's constitution that requires the separation of State and religion, cabinet ministers have been criticized for attending anniversaries of Japan's defeat in World War II held at the shrine. The shrine is confined behind a huge steel torii gate, opening onto a long avenue lined with gingko and cherry trees. The Worship Hall itself is a simple Shinto style building. North of the shrine is the Yushukan Museum, containing war memorabilia, some of which is disturbing and thought-provoking such as the human torpedo and kamikaze suicide attack plane.
Web site:www.yasukuni.or.jp
Transport: Subway to Kudanshita Station
Opening time: Shrine open 24 hours daily. Museum open daily 9am to 5pm (November to February); 9am to 5.30pm (March to October)
Admission: Museum: ¥800, concessions available
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Edo-Tokyo Museum
Tokyo's museum dedicated to detailing the city's history, art, culture and architecture through the medium of visual displays is an impressive, not to be missed attraction. Edo was the old name for Tokyo from its foundation in 1590 when it became the seat of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun. Exhibits include a replica of an ancient Kabuki theater, maps, photographs and portrayals of the lives of the city's merchants, craftsmen and townspeople in days gone by.
Address: 1–4–1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku
Telephone: (03) 3626 9974
Web site:www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp
Transport: Train to Ryogoku Station on JR Sobu line (West Exit) or subway to Ryogoku on the Oedo line (A3/A4 exit)
Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 5.30pm; Saturdays closing at 7.30pm. Free tours given daily between 10am and 3pm
Admission: ¥600, concessions available
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Akihabara
Tokyo's electronic wonderland has become world-renowned. In a small area near Chuo-dori Avenue, west of Akihabara Station, are clustered more than 250 electrical appliance and electronics shops, many of them now dealing in computer hardware and software, where expert staff can answer queries and visitors can browse through the showrooms of major manufacturers. There are duty-free shops and various events to draw the attention. The suburb has been specializing in electrical equipment since the 1940s and is now regarded as the world's biggest and best electrical equipment enclave.
Web site:www.akiba.or.jp/english/index.html
Transport: Subway to Akihabara Station
Opening time: Stores are open from 10am to 7pm daily
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Sensoji Temple
The Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo draws visitors to admire the city's oldest temple, Senso-ji, founded in AD628 with a quaint legend attached to it. The story goes that two young brothers fishing in the nearby river netted a golden image of Kan'non, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, and were inspired to enshrine it in the temple. The statuette is still inside, but never shown to the public, though pilgrims flock here every day seeking the favor of the goddess. There are also numerous festivals associated with the shrine, and a hugely popular firework display is held on the Sumida River every summer. Tourists enjoy the visit to the temple mainly because the approach is a colorful pedestrian lane, Nakamise Dori, lined with shops and souvenir stalls. Nearby, the Demboin Garden is a good spot to grab a break from the city crowds.
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa Taito-ku, Shitamachi (downtown)
Telephone: (0)3 3842 0181
Transport: Subway to Asakusa station
Opening time: Daily 6am to 5pm
Admission: Free
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Tokyo Disneyland
Plenty of fun is to be had for the young and young at heart at Tokyo's Disneyland, virtually a carbon copy of the theme park in California in the United States. The expected attractions like a Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain and Toontown are all included on the huge site, along with a sea park and five hotels.
Telephone: (045) 683 3333
Web site:www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp
Transport: The park is reached via the JR Keiyo Line or JR Musashino Line from Tokyo Station; disembark at Maihama Station (South Exit) where there is a Disneyland Welcome Center
Opening time: Daily 8am to 10pm (summer), 9am to 9pm (winter)
Admission: One-day passport: ¥5,500 (adults), ¥4,800 (children ages12-17), ¥3,700 (children ages 4-11). Several other ticket options are also available
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Tokyo National Museum
Close to Ueno Station, enclosed in the Tokyo Metropolitan Imperial Gift Park, the National Museum boasts the largest collection of Japanese art in the world. Exhibits range from antique kimonos and delicate pottery to woodblock prints and archeological finds. The vast collection is displayed on a rotating basis with at least 4,000 artifacts visible at any time, so the museum always has something new to offer. The museum consists of five different buildings containing numerous galleries, so one needs sufficient time to do it justice. The Imperial Gift Park also contains some other cultural institutions, including a zoo, the Metropolitan Art Museum, Bunka Kaikan Cultural Hall, the Western Art Museum and the National Science Museum.
Address: 13-9 Ueno Park,Taito-ku
Telephone: (03) 3822 1111
Web site:www.tnm.go.jp
Transport: JR Line to Ueno or Uguisudani Station
Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 5pm, depending on season; closed Mondays. On Fridays from April to December open until 8pm; Saturdays and Sundays from April to September until 6pm
Admission: ¥420 (adults), ¥130 (students), free for scholars
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Mount Fuji
The dormant volcano of Mount Fuji, 62 miles southwest of Tokyo, has been revered since ancient times and no exploration of Japan is complete without visiting the mountain that is known fondly as 'Fuji-san' by the locals. It's symmetrical cone towers 12,388ft and Mt Fuji, with its snow-crowned summit, has become as symbolic of Japan as the country's flag. Closest town to the volcano is Fuji Yoshida, from where buses leave frequently for Fuji's 'fifth stage' (the usual jumping-off point for hikes up the mountain) from outside the train station. There are six trails to the summit, of which the Kawaguchiko Trail is the easiest, quite manageable even by children and the elderly as long as they have stamina and good shoes. Overnight huts are available. Official climbing season is from 1 July to end of August - in winter snow makes the ascent too dangerous.
Telephone: 555 72 0259 (Fuji Visitor Center)
Transport: Fujikyuko bus from Tokyo's JR Shinjuku station to Kawagutiko station. From Kawagutiko, take the bus to Fuji Gogome
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Kamakura
The city of Kamakura, about 30 miles southwest of Tokyo at the base of the Miura Peninsula, was the political powerhouse of Japan in the middle ages and the seat of government for most of the 13th century. Because of its historic importance Kamakura boasts numerous monuments, temples and shrines of interest to tourists. As an added bonus the city sports some sandy beaches and good hiking trails in the nearby wooded hills. Kamakura's many sights are too numerous to detail individually, but most important of them all is the Great Buddha. This bronze statue of the seated Amida Buddha is located in the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple, and standing at almost 44ft high, it is the second largest Buddha statue in Japan after that found in the Todaiji Temple in Nara. The Kamakura Great Buddha was cast in 1252 and was originally contained in the temple hall. A tidal wave (tsunami) washed away the temple in the late 15th century, but the Buddha prevailed and since then has stood in the open.
Web site:www.kamakuratoday.com/e
Transport: JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station, or the Enoden Railway, an unusual streetcar-like train service
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Yokohama
While visiting Japan's largest city, Tokyo, it is quick and easy to pay a visit to the country's second largest metropolis as well: Yokohama can be reached in less than 30 minutes by train from Tokyo, lying south of the capital. The main reason for visiting Yokohama is to marvel at its futuristic new city center, and perhaps take a stroll through Japan's largest Chinatown. Yokohama's Chinatown, entered through four colorful gates and teeming with restaurants and shops, developed after the city became one of the first Japanese ports to be opened to foreign trade after generations of isolation ended in 1859. Chinese traders flocked to the city, establishing a cultural neighborhood. Minato Mirai is the new central city area around the harbor, characterized by the Landmark Tower, rising to 971ft. Visitors can ride to the tower's observation deck in the world's fastest elevator, traveling at 2,461ft a minute, for a view that on a clear day stretches as far as Mount Fuji.
Telephone: (0)45 441 7300 (Tourist Information Center, Yokohama Station)
Web site:www.city.yokohama.jp/en
Transport: Toyoko Line from Shibuya, JR Tokaido Line or JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo or Shinagawa Station
