Back to Japan Main Directory

Listing Your Business!

Convert Any Currency into Japanese Yen

Check Availability & Prices of Lodging!

Tokyo Tourism Information
Posted; May 17, 2008

 

Tokyo Top 10 Attractions - You will just love sight seeing in Tokyo. Enjoy all that you can and first you must go to The Tokyo Tower, which is open the hours: Mar 16-Jul 31, Sep 1-Nov15: 9am-8pm daily; Aug 1-31: 9am-9pm; Nov 16-Mar 15: 9am-7pm and can be contacted at +81(0)3 3433 5111. It was built in 1958 and is taller than the Eiffel Tower. For another great outing there is The Ueno Park and it is open the hours: 24 hours daily and can be contacted at: +81 (0)3 3201 3331. This is Tokyo’s largest park and it has museums, a zoo, boat rentals on a lake and much, much more. For a day of fun try the Tokyo Disneyland. It is complete with Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. There is so much to do and see such as parades, shows and firework displays.

You must visit The Tokyo National Museum, which is open the hours: 10am-5pm Tue-Sun and can be contacted at: +81 (0)3 3822 1111. This museums houses Japan’s archaeology and art. Also try The Asakusa Shrine, which is open the hours: 6.30am-5pm daily and can be contacted: +81 (0)3 3844 1575. You will just love visiting this attraction.

Tokyo Tower
4-2-8 Shiba-Koen
Minato-ku
Tokyo, 105-0011 Japan
The Tokyo Tower is open the hours: Mar 16-Jul 31, Sep 1-Nov15: 9am-8pm daily; Aug 1-31: 9am-9pm; Nov 16-Mar 15: 9am-7pm and can be contacted at +81(0)3 3433 5111. It was built in 1958 and is taller than the Eiffel Tower. There are two observation decks that you can get some great views of the city of Tokyo. This is a must see while you are in the area.

Tokyo Disneyland
1–1 Maihama, Urayasu-shi
Tel: (047) 354 0001 or (045) 683 3333
Website: www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdr/index_e.html
Tokyo Disneyland is complete with Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. There is so much to do and see such as parades, shows and firework displays. The new DisneySea Park is also a great adventure for everyone. You will spend the day enjoying all there is to do and see at this park.

Meiji Jingu Shrine
1-1 Kamizono-cho
Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo, 151-0053 Japan
The Meiji Jingu Shrine is open hours: 5.40am-5.20pm (spring & autumn); 4am-5pm (summer); 6am-5pm (winter) and can be contacted at: +81 (0)3 3379 5511. It was opened in 1920 in remembrance of the Emperor Meiji who died in 1912. It is a wonderful example of the Shinto architecture. You will want to spend some time looking around.

Ueno Park
Ueno Koen
Taito-ku
Tokyo, 110-0007 Japan
The Ueno Park is open the hours: 24 hours daily and can be contacted at: +81 (0)3 3201 3331. This is Tokyo’s largest park and it has museums, a zoo, boat rentals on a lake and much, much more. For a great day this will keep you busy for hours.

Tokyo National Museum
13-9 Ueno Koen
Taito-ku
Tokyo, Japan
The Tokyo National Museum is open the hours: 10am-5pm Tue-Sun and can be contacted at: +81 (0)3 3822 1111. This museums houses Japan’s archaeology and art. There are three buildings filled with wonderful Japanese works of art that you won’t want to miss, in fact you will spend hours admiring all of it.

Asakusa Shrine
2-3-1 Asakusa
Taito-ku
Tokyo, 111-0032 Japan
The Asakusa Shrine is open the hours: 6.30am-5pm daily and can be contacted: +81 (0)3 3844 1575. It received the name Sanja-sama (the shrine of the 3 gods) due to an old legend and you will just love visiting it. It is the most famous shrine in the Tokyo area.

Imperial Palace
Kokyo Gaien
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, 100-0002 Japan
The Imperial Palace is open the hours: Inner grounds: Jan 2, Dec 23: 9.30am-3pm; outer grounds: 24 hours daily and can be contacted at +81 (0)3 3213 1111. It is the residence of the Emperor and Empress of Japan since 1868 you will just love looking around the inside and the grounds of this fantastic building. Only on these two days does the family appear and wave to the crowd, January 2 (New Year) and December 23 (Emperor Heisei's birthday).

Flowers and Diamonds
Kasai Rinkai Park
6- Rinkai-cho, Edogawa-ku
Tokyo, 134-0086 Japan
The Flowers and Diamonds is open the hours: 10am-8pm Mon-Fri; 10am-9pm Sat, Sun & holidays and can be contacted at+81 (0)3 3686 6911. It is Japan’s largest Ferris Wheel. It takes 70 minutes for the 68 cars to make one full rotation. If you are not afraid of heights you definitely want to ride on this.

Shinjuku Gyoen
Naito-cho
Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, 160-0022 Japan
The Shinjuku Gyoen is open the hours: 9am-4.30pm Tue-Sun (park); greenhouse opens 11am-3.30pm daily early April (for cherry blossoms) and early November (for chrysanthemums) and can be contacted at: +81 (0)3 3350 0151. This place has 1,500 cherry blossom trees and greenhouse too. You will love seeing the tea ceremony houses and all the tropical plants.

Daibutsu (Kotoku-in Temple)
4-2-28 Hase
Kamakura, Kanagawa-ken Japan
The Daibutsu (Kotoku-in Temple) is open the hours: 7am-5pm daily and can be contacted at +81 (0)467 22 0703. This has a great statue of Buddha that sits outside the temple. It used to be inside the main building but unfortunately the facility was swept away in a huge tidal wave so that is why the statute now sits outside the temple.

TOKYO JAPAN MUSEUM

Tokyo Museums - You may wish to take an entire day or at least a few hours to visit some of these fine museums in Tokyo. One of the areas finest museums is the Edo-Tokyo Hakubutsukan (Edo-Tokyo Museum). This gives visitors a glimpse into the history of Tokyo and its culture. The shoguns and post-war reconstruction and the Nihombashi ‘Bridge of Japan’ are all displays in this fantastic look into the city’s past. All of this information will make you really appreciate the Japanese culture and customs. It is a history lesson in itself.

For the art lover in you please visit the following museums. The Tokyo National Museum houses fantastic pieces of Japanese art all through the ages. You will also want to see the National Museum of Western Art and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, which both have very nice exhibits. A day spent in these wonderful environments will fill your cultural appetite.

For another very interesting museum try the ship-shaped Museum of Maritime Science. It is filled with hands on exhibits and display and shows visitors all about the life on the sea. You will also want to visit the zoo for an afternoon. The Tokyo Zoo is open: Tues–Sun 0930–1630 for a fun filled day with the animals.

You will love spending time in the Museums in Tokyo. There is so much to learn and to appreciate inside these buildings and you will be extremely glad that you took the time to do so. We encourage you to take in as many as you can while you are visiting. There are so many museums in the Tokyo area and you will probably need a couple of visits to get them all in, but try to see a much as you can while you are there.

Edo-Tokyo Hakubutsukan (Edo-Tokyo Museum)
1–4–1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku
(03) 3272 8600.
Website: www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/museum-e/guide.htm
Opening hours: Tues, Wed, Sat and Sun 0930–1730, Thurs and Fri 0930–2000.

Ueno Koen (Ueno Park)
Taito-ku, Tokyo
(03) 3828 5644.
Opening hours: Daily 0500–2300.

National Museum of Western Art
(03) 3828 5131.
Website: www.nmwa.go.jp
Opening hours: Tues–Thurs, Sat and Sun 0930–1700, Fri 0930–2000.

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
(03) 3823 6921.
Website: www.tobikan.jp/eng
Opening hours: Tues–Sun 0900–1700.

Tokyo National Museum
(03) 3822 1111.
Website: www.tnm.jp
Opening hours: Tues–Sun 0930–1700.

Tokyo Zoo
(03) 3828 5171.
Website: www.tokyo-zoo.net (Japanese only)
Opening hours: Tues–Sun 0930–1630.

Museum of Maritime Science
3–1 Higashi-yashio, Shinagawa-ku
(03) 5500 1111.
Website: www.funenokagakukan.or.jp (Japanese only)
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 1000–1700, Sat and Sun 1000–1800.

TOKYO TOURS

Tokyo Tours - No matter how you like to see the city there is a tour with you in mind. If you prefer to take a bus and let the guide take you around then you can call Hato Bus (tel: (03) 3435 6081 website: www.hatobus.co.jp/english), JTB Sunrise Tours (tel: (03) 5796 5454; website: www.jtb.co.jp/sunrisetour) and Japan Gray Line (tel: (03) 3433 5745; website: www.jgl.co.jp/inbound/index.htm). These are guided tours so that you will have the opportunity to ask questions as you tour the city. This is one of the best ways to learn the most about the area.

There are also boat tours that you can go on. The Tokyo Cruise Ship Company (tel:(03)-3841-9178;website: www.suijobus.co.jp/english) and the Vingt-et-Un Cruises (tel: (03) 3436 2121) and Symphony Cruises (tel: (03) 3798 8101; website: www.symphony-cruise.co.jp) also have tours on the water. What a wonderful way to see the city of Tokyo.

If you like to walk about and explore then try the Tokyo Tourist Information Office (tel: (03) 3201 3331) provides a leaflet, ‘Walking Tour Courses in Tokyo’. This way you can see the city on your own two feet so bring comfortable shoes.

There are plenty of other Tours of Tokyo available and we know you will find one that you like. It is important that you feel comfortable no matter which type of tour you decide to take. The whole point is to enjoy seeing all the attractions this exciting city has to offer. We know you will enjoy everything about Tokyo.

Hato Bus
(03) 3435 6081
website: www.hatobus.co.jp/english

JTB Sunrise Tours
(03) 5796 5454
website: www.jtb.co.jp/sunrisetour

Japan Gray Line
(03) 3433 5745
website: www.jgl.co.jp/inbound/index.htm

The Tokyo Cruise Ship Company
(03) 3841 9178
website: www.suijobus.co.jp/english

Vingt-et-Un Cruises
(03) 3436 2121)

Symphony Cruises
(03) 3798 8101
website: www.symphony-cruise.co.jp

Tokyo Station

Inside Tokyo station, built with red bricks, is a large commercial area with event halls, shopping area, coffee shops and restaurants.

Access. •JR Bullet Train-Tokaido Line, Yamanote Line, Chuo Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Sobu Line, Yokosuka Line, Narita Express, the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Keiyo Line are available at Tokyo Station. •10-minute walk from Otemachi sta. on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.

Maru Building

Newly renovated Maru Building houses businesses, shops, restaurants and event facilities. It is directly connected with Tokyo station and other train stations.

Access; •Connected with JR Tokyo station, Subway Tokyo station, Otemachi station, Nijubashimae station. • * 1-minute walk from Marunouchi South Exit. * Connected with Marunouchi undergrand Central Exit. * Connected with Tokyo Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line

* 2-minute walk from Nijumashi-mae sta. on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

* 3-minute walk from D-1 Exit of Otemachi Sta. on the Toei subway Mita Line.

* 4-minute walk from No. 7 Exit of Tokyo sta. on the JR Keiyo Line.

* 5-minute walk from A5 Exit of Otemachi sta. on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line

* 8-minute walk from A3 Exit of Yurakucho sta. on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line

* 9-minute walk from Forum Exit of Yurakucho sta. on the JR.

Marunouchi

Formerly thought of as an office area, this area has changed to a tasteful street with various kinds of brand-name shops.

Access; •Short walk from Marunouchi Central Exit and Marunouchi South Exit of Tokyo sta.

Tokyo International Forum

It is an event hall where you will find arts and entertainment in addition to convention and exhibition.

Access. •1-minute walk from Yurakucho sta. on the JR

•5-minutes walk from Tokyo sta. on the JR

•5-minutes walk from Ginza sta. and Hibiya sta. on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line; •5-minute walk from Nijubashimae sta. or 7-minute walk from Hibiya sta. on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line. •7-minute walk from Kyobashi sta. on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. •7-minute walk from Hibiya sta. on the Toei subway Mita Line.

Kokyo Galen

Also called Imperial Plaza, this garden is well-known to the people of Tokyo.

Access; •About 5-minute walk from Nijubashimae sta. on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line •About 5-minute walk from Sakuradamon sta. on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line. •About 10-minute walk from Tokyo sta. or 8-minute walk from Yurakucho sta. on the JR.

Higashi Gyoen

A National historic park that keeps the remains of Edojo (Edo Castle). It is open to the public.

Access. •From the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Takebashi, about 2 minutes' walk, from each subway Otemachi, about 7 minutes' walk

Hibiya Koen (Park)

The first western-style park in Japan, which opened its door to the public in 1903. The large fountain by Hibiya-Mon is a symbol of this park.

Access. •8-minute walk from Yurakucho sta. on the JR 2-minute walk from Kasumigaseki sta. on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Chiyoda Line 2-minute walk from Hibiya sta. on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.

National Diet Building

A grand, chalk-colored building southwest of the Imperial Palace. It was built in 1936. In front of the fa_ade, there are statues of three great statesmen, Ito Hirobumi, Ookuma Shigenobu and Itagaki Taisuke.

Access. •2-minute walk from Kokkaigijidomae sta. on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Chiyoda Line. •3-5 minute walk from Nagatacho sta. on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line.

TOKYO JAPAN THEATRES

Tokyo Theatre - The theatre in Tokyo is interesting to say the least. You can see an opera or a musical, dance show or ballet. You will also want to see some of the different shows in the area too. AtThe Kabukiza Theatre has a lot in the way of entertainment and it is a very popular place to go. There are very dramatic costumes and the shows have a lot of stunning effects. The actors are all male.

The National Theatre also has Kabuki performances and have at least eight or nine performances per year. Another great entertainment that you will want to see is the Noh. It is the oldest form of theatrical drama in Japan and all the performers are male and they also have performances at the National Noh Theatre. For spectacular and romantic musical revues go to the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater. These performers are all female.

You will also want to visit the Tokyo IMAX Theater for a great entertainment on the screen. With top-notch films this is a wonderful experience. The Tokyo Dome also offers rock concerts and sporting events throughout the year and it has seating for 56,000 people. Check to see what is happening while you are in the city. There is a lot of offerings in the city of Tokyo. You will enjoy all the wonderful shows that the area has to offer. Be sure to call ahead and find out what is playing while you will be visiting. You will want to get your tickets early before the shows sell out as they most always do.

Kabukiza Theatre
Tokyo, Japan
The program changes every month
Reservations:Phone: 03-5565-6000

National Noh Theater
4-18-1 Sendagaya
Shibuya-ku
Tokyo, 151-0051 Japan
+81 (0)3 3423 1331

National Theater
1-1-1, Hon-machi
Shibuya-ku
Tokyo, 151-0071 Japan
+81 (0)3 5351 3011

Tokyo Takarazuka Theater
Takarazuka Revue
Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03-5251-2001

Tokyo Dome
1-3 Koraku
Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo, 112-0004 Japan
+81 (0)3 5800 9999
 

Tokyo Opera City
3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku
Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, 163-1490 Japan
+81 (0)3 5353 0770

Tokyo IMAX Theater
5-24-5 Sendagaya
Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 151-0051 Japan
+81 (0)3 5361 3030

Katsushika Symphony Hills
3-331-1 Tateishi
Katsushika-ku
Tokyo, Japan
+81 (0)3 5670 2222

TOKYO JAPAN NIGHTLIFE

 

Tokyo Nightlife - There are no less than 80 different clubs in Tokyo so you will have so much fun just deciding which one to go to first. The minimum drinking age is 20 so get out and enjoy as many of these fantastic places that you can.

Get dressed up and go out on the town and try one of the clubs in the area. The Castillo is a really fun disco where you can dance the night away. Or try Salsa Sudada for dancing to the Latin sounds this place is a lot of fun. Do you like Rock and Roll? Try the Rolling Stone for a fun night out. If you are really ready to hit the scene try the Velfarre. It has a strict dress code so wear your finest attire and be prepared to pay a high cover charge at the door. This place is a disco palace and will keep you dancing throughout the night. (pic. of 2 hot Tokyo babes)

Perhaps you are the gambling type? The city has the Tokyo Dome for you where you can play the games and try your luck. As you can see there are many different places to go to when the sun goes down in Tokyo. At each of these establishments be prepared to have a really good time. Don’t worry if you like a quieter place to grab some food and a drink there are numerous restaurants also. Plenty of places for you to just relax and close out a busy day in. Tokyo has it all. Just be sure that you enjoy all that Tokyo has in the way of things to do after dark.

Castillo
6–1–8 Roppongi
Tokyo, Japan
The Castillo is a fantastic disco. It is a place for all who love to dance. There is a dance floor that gets packed with people so be prepared to have a lot of fun. There is a decent sized bar so you will have a chance to get a drink when you need one.

Salsa Sudada
7–13–8 Roppongi
Tokyo, Japan
The Salsa Sudada is a great place to head out for a drink or two and listen to some Latin music. Wear your best outfit and you better wear your dancing shoes so you can show off your greatest dance steps. You’ll want to spend all night at this fine place.

Rolling Stone
3–2–7 Shinjuku
Tokyo, Japan
The Rolling Stone is the place to go if you like rock and roll. There is live music and a rocking crowd of people. Be prepared for quite a crowd so don’t go here if your not in the mood for fun. There are lots of good times to be had at this place.

Velfarre
7–14–22 Roppongi
Tokyo, Japan
The Velfarre has a couple of levels to its establishment and it is just one huge disco palace. This place gets really crowded and there is lively music. As you enter you will have to pay a high cover charge. Dress really nice as they adhere to a strict dress code.

Tokyo Dome
1–3 Koraku, Bunkyo Ku
Tokyo, Japan
The Tokyo Dome is a casino that is open to non-members. There is a dress code that must be followed so best to dress smart and jacket and tie are required for men. This is wear you can play the slots and try your luck for a night of fun in Tokyo.

Blue Note
6–3–16 Minami-Aoyama
Tokyo, Japan
The Blue Note is the place that you will wish to go if you love to sit and hear some great jazz sounds. This place gets top international acts and there is room to sit and relax. You will enjoy the music and the atmosphere for a wonderful night out.

TOKYO JAPAN CULTURE

Tokyo Culture - Tokyo is Japan’s capital and the center of fashion, politics, literature and more. Everywhere you look Tokyo is right up there with the best in terms of cultural events and exhibits. Some of the cultural pursuits for their area are sado (Japanese tea ceremony) and ikebana (flower arrangement). You will enjoy learning all about these and taking part in them too. There are even classes for them located around the city. The Japanese culture is so fascinating and you will want to learn so much more.

Get out and enjoy all of the Museums for a very wonderful learning experience. There are so many of them you couldn’t possibly see them all in one visit to the city. Dine in the restaurants on the Japanese cuisine and spend hours around the people and learn their customs. It will amaze you as you learn the Japanese way of life. Then hit the jubilant nightlife where there is fun and dancing all night long.

You will see why the Japanese love their tranquil thoughts of life and how they manage all their daily duties. It is different, yet beautiful and you will not only appreciate it you will want to learn a whole lot more about it. Just ask the people they will teach you how to dress in kimono if you like. Take part in the cultural events that are all around the city. You can find out more about hem by calling the tourist office or stopping in for a visit. There are different events all year long.

Japan Stats & General Information

Tokyo, formally Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and, unique among the prefectures, provides certain municipal services characteristic of a city, as defined by Japanese law.

Because it is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, as well as the home of the Japanese Imperial Family, Tokyo is the de facto capital of Japan. The name Tokyo literally means eastern capital.

The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, although each administratively a city in its own right, constitute the area informally considered as the "city of Tokyo" and are collectively one of the largest cities in the world with a total population of over 8 million people. The total population of the prefecture exceeds 12 million.

The Greater Tokyo Area centered on Tokyo but also including Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world with a population of over 35 million people It has been the world's most populous urban area since between 1965 and 1970, and despite Japan's overall declining population, is still growing.

Tokyo has the largest metropolitan gross domestic product in the world for a city.

Tokyo is a major global city and mega-city. The name "Tokyo" refers variously to Tokyo Metropolis (the prefecture) as a whole, or only to the main urban mass under its jurisdiction (thus excluding west Tama and Izu and Ogasawara Islands), or even the whole of Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Yamanashi prefectures, depending on context.

History of Tokyo

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokyo was originally a small fishing village named Edo. In 1457, Ōta Dōkan built Edo Castle. In 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo his base and when he became shogun in 1603, the town became the center of his nationwide military government. During the subsequent Edo period, Edo grew into one of the largest cities in the world with a population topping one million by the 18th century. It became the de facto capital of Japan even while the emperor lived in Kyoto, the imperial capital.

After about 263 years, the shogunate was overthrown under the banner of restoring imperial rule. In 1869, the 17-year-old Emperor Meiji moved to Edo. Tokyo was already the nation's political and cultural center, and the emperor's residence made it a de facto imperial capital as well with the former Edo Castle becoming the Imperial Palace. The city of Tokyo was established, and continued to be the capital until it was abolished as a municipality in 1943 and merged with the "Metropolitan Prefecture" of Tokyo.

Central Tokyo, like Osaka, has been designed since about the turn of the century (1900) to be centered around major train stations in a high-density fashion [citation needed], so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level and with their own right-of-way. This differs from cities in the United States, such as Los Angeles, that are low-density and automobile-centric. Though expressways have been built, the basic design has not changed.

Tokyo went on to suffer two major catastrophes in the 20th century, but it recovered from both. One was the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, and the other was World War II. The fire-bombings in 1945, with 75,000 to 200,000 killed and half of the city destroyed, were almost as devastating as the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt, and showcased to the world during the 1964 Summer Olympics. The 1970s brought new high-rise developments such as Sunshine 60, a new and controversial airport at Narita (well outside Tokyo), and a population increase to about 11 million (in the metropolitan area).

Tokyo's subway and commuter rail network became one of the busiest in the world as more and more people moved to the area. In the 1980s, real estate prices skyrocketed during an economic bubble. The bubble burst in the early 1990s and many companies, banks, and individuals were caught with real estate shrinking in value. A major recession followed, making the 1990s Japan's "lost decade" from which it is slowly recovering.

Tokyo still sees new urban developments on large lots of less profitable land. Recent projects include Ebisu Garden Place, Tennozu Isle, Shiodome, Roppongi Hills, Shinagawa (now also a Shinkansen station), and the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station. Buildings of significance are demolished for more up-to-date shopping facilities such as Omotesando Hills. Land reclamation projects in Tokyo have also been going on for centuries. The most prominent is the Odaiba area, now a major shopping and entertainment center. Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.

Various plans have been proposed for transferring national government functions from Tokyo to secondary capitals in other regions of Japan, in order to slow down rapid development in Tokyo and revitalize economically lagging areas of the country. These plans have been controversial within Japan and have yet to be realized.

Geography and administrative divisions

Politics of Tokyo

The mainland portion of Tokyo lies northwest of Tokyo Bay and measures about 90 km east to west and 25 km north to south. Chiba Prefecture borders it to the east, Yamanashi to the west, Kanagawa to the south, and Saitama to the north. Mainland Tokyo is further subdivided into the special wards (occupying the eastern half) and the Tama area stretching westwards.

Also within the administrative boundaries of Tokyo Metropolis are two island chains in the Pacific Ocean directly south: the Izu Islands, and the Ogasawara Islands, which stretch more than 1,000 km away from mainland Japan. Because of these islands and mountainous regions to the west, Tokyo's overall population density figures far under-represent the real figures for urban and suburban regions of Tokyo.

Under Japanese law, Tokyo is designated as a to (都), translated as metropolis. Its administrative structure is similar to that of Japan's other prefectures. Within Tokyo lie dozens of smaller entities, most of them conventionally [citation needed] referred to as cities. It includes twenty-three special wards (特別区 -ku) which until 1943 comprised the city of Tokyo but are now separate, self-governing municipalities, each with a mayor and a council, and having the status of a city. In addition to these 23 municipalities, Tokyo also encompasses 26 more cities (市 -shi), five towns (町 -chō or machi), and eight villages (村 -son or -mura), each of which has a local government. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is headed by a publicly elected governor and metropolitan assembly. Its headquarters are in the ward of Shinjuku. They govern all of Tokyo, including lakes, rivers, dams, farms, remote islands, and national parks in addition to its famous neon jungle, skyscrapers and crowded subways.

The twenty-three special wards

The special wards (tokubetsu-ku) of Tokyo comprise the area formerly incorporated as Tokyo City. On July 1, 1943, Tokyo City was merged with Tokyo Prefecture (東京府, Tōkyō-fu) forming the current "metropolitan prefecture". As a result of this merger, unlike other city wards in Japan, these wards are not part of any larger incorporated city.

Each ward is a municipality with its own elected mayor and assembly like the other cities of Japan. The wards differ from other cities in that certain governmental functions are handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The special wards of Tokyo are as follows:
Skyscrapers in Shinjuku.

* Adachi
* Arakawa
* Bunkyō
* Chiyoda
* Chūō
* Edogawa
* Itabashi
* Katsushika

* Kita
* Kōtō
* Meguro
* Minato
* Nakano
* Nerima
* Ōta
* Setagaya

* Shibuya
* Shinagawa
* Shinjuku
* Suginami
* Sumida
* Taitō
* Toshima

The term "Central Tokyo" today may refer to all of the 23 special wards, to all but the outermost special wards, or only to the three centrally located wards of Chiyoda, Chūō and Minato.

Western Tokyo

To the west of the special wards, Tokyo Metropolis consists of cities, towns and villages that enjoy the same legal status as those elsewhere in Japan.

While serving a role as "bed towns" for those working in central Tokyo, some of these also have a local commercial and industrial base. Collectively, these are often known as the Tama Area or Western Tokyo.

Cities

Twenty-six cities lie within the western part of Tokyo:

* Akiruno
* Akishima
* Chōfu
* Fuchū
* Fussa
* Hachiōji
* Hamura
* Higashikurume
* Higashimurayama

* Higashiyamato
* Hino
* Inagi
* Kiyose
* Kodaira
* Koganei
* Kokubunji
* Komae
* Kunitachi

* Machida
* Mitaka
* Musashimurayama
* Musashino
* Nishitōkyō
* Ōme
* Tachikawa
* Tama

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has designated Hachiōji, Tachikawa, Machida, Ōme and Tama New Town as regional centres of the Tama area, as part of their plans to disperse urban functions away from central Tokyo.

Districts, towns and villages

The far west is occupied by the district (gun) of Nishitama. Much of this area is mountainous and unsuitable for urbanization. The highest mountain in Tokyo, Mount Kumotori, is 2,017 m high; other mountains in Tokyo include Takasu (1737 m), Odake (1266 m), and Mitake (929 m). Lake Okutama, on the Tama River near Yamanashi Prefecture, is Tokyo's largest lake.

* Hinode
* Mizuho
* Okutama
* Hinohara

Islands

Tokyo has numerous outlying islands, which extend as far as 1850 km from central Tokyo. Because of the islands' distance from the administrative headquarters of the metropolitan government in Shinjuku, local offices administer them.

The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands and form part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The islands in order from closest to Tokyo are Izu Ōshima, Toshima, Niijima, Shikinejima, Kozushima, Miyakejima, Mikurajima, Hachijojima, and Aogashima. Izu Ōshima and Hachijojima are towns. The remaining islands are six villages, with Niijima and Shikinejima forming one village.

The Ogasawara Islands include, from north to south, Chichi-jima, Nishinoshima, Haha-jima, Kita Iwo Jima, Iwo Jima, and Minami Iwo Jima. Ogasawara also administers two tiny outlying islands: Minami Torishima, the easternmost point in Japan and at 1,850 km the most distant island from central Tokyo, and Okino Torishima, the southernmost point in Japan. The last island is contested by the People's Republic of China as being only uninhabited rocks. The Iwo chain and the outlying islands have no permanent population, but host Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel. Local populations are only found on Chichi-jima and Haha-jima. The islands form the village of Ogasawara.

National Parks

Four national parks lie within Tokyo:

* Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, in Nishitama and spilling over into Yamanashi and Saitama Prefectures.

* Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park, around Mount Takao to the south of Hachiōji

* Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which includes all of the Izu Islands

* Ogasawara National Park. As of 2006, efforts were being made to make Ogasawara National Park a UNESCO natural World Heritage Site.

Cityscape

Architecture in Tokyo has largely been shaped by Tokyo's history. Twice in recent history has the metropolis been left in ruins: first in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and later after extensive firebombing in World War II. Because of this, Tokyo's current urban landscape is one of modern and contemporary architecture, and older buildings are scarce.

Tokyo also contains numerous parks and gardens. Panoramic view of Tokyo is seen from Marunouchi.

Tokyo lies in the humid subtropical climate zone (Koppen climate classification Cfa), with hot humid summers and generally mild winters with cool spells. Annual rainfall averages 1,380 mm (55 inches), with a wetter summer and a drier winter. Snowfall is sporadic, but does occur almost annually. Tokyo is an example of an urban heat island; the city's population is a significant contributor to its climate. Tokyo has been cited as a "convincing example of the relationship between urban growth and climate". Tokyo also often sees typhoons each year, though few are strong. The last one to hit was Fitow in 2007.

Tokyo was hit by powerful earthquakes in 1703, 1782, 1812, 1855 and 1923. The 1923 earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 8.3, killed 142,000 people.

Economy

Tokyo Stock Exchange
Nikkei 225

Tokyo is one of the three world finance "command centres", along with New York and London. Tokyo has the largest metropolitan economy in the world. According to a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Tokyo urban area (35.2 million people) had a total GDP of US$1,191 billion in 2005 (at purchasing power parity), ranking again as the largest urban agglomeration GDP in the world..

Tokyo is a major international finance center, houses the headquarters of several of the world's largest investment banks and insurance companies, and serves as a hub for Japan's transportation, publishing, and broadcasting industries. During the centralized growth of Japan's economy following World War II, many large firms moved their headquarters from cities such as Osaka (the historical commercial capital) to Tokyo, in an attempt to take advantage of better access to the government. This trend has begun to slow due to ongoing population growth in Tokyo and the high cost of living there.

Tokyo was rated by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the most expensive (highest cost-of-living) city in the world for 14 years in a row ending in 2006. This analysis is for living a Western corporate executive lifestyle, with items like a detached house and several automobiles.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange is Japan's largest stock exchange, and second largest in the world by market capitalization and fourth largest by share turnover. In 1990 at the end of the Japanese asset price bubble, it accounted for more than 60% of the world stock market value.

Tokyo had 8,460 ha (20,900 acres) of agricultural land as of 2003, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, placing it last among the nation's prefectures. The farmland is concentrated in Western Tokyo. Perishables such as vegetables, fruits, and flowers can be conveniently shipped to the markets in the eastern part of the prefecture. Japanese leaf spinach and spinach are the most important vegetables; as of 2000, Tokyo supplied 32.5% of the Japanese leaf spinach sold at its central produce market.

With 36% of its area covered by forest, Tokyo has extensive growths of cryptomeria and Japanese cypress, especially in the mountainous western communities of Akiruno, Ōme, Okutama, Hachiōji, Hinode, and Hinohara. Decreases in the price of lumber, increases in the cost of production, and advancing old age among the forestry population have resulted in a decline in Tokyo's output. In addition, pollen, especially from cryptomeria, is a major allergen for the nearby population centers.

Tokyo Bay was once a major source of fish. Presently, most of Tokyo's fish production comes from the outer islands, such as Izu Ōshima and Hachijōjima. Skipjack tuna, nori, and aji are among the ocean products.

Tourism in Tokyo is also a contributor to the economy.

Demographics

Population of Tokyo By area

Tokyo
Special wards
Tama Area
Islands

12.6 million
8.64 million
4 million
27,000
By age²

Juveniles (age 0-14)
Working (age 15-64)
Retired (age 65+)

1.433 million (12%)
8.507 million (71.4%)
2.057 million (16.6%)
By hours³

Day/Night

14.667 million
12.017 million
By nationality

Foreign Residents

353,8264, as of June 1, 2007.

Over eight million people live within Tokyo's 23 wards. During the daytime, the population swells by over 2.5 million as workers and students commute from adjacent areas. This effect is even more pronounced in the three central wards of Chiyoda, Chūō, and Minato, whose collective population is less than 300,000 at night, but over two million during the day. The entire prefecture has 12,790,000 residents in October 2007 (8,657,000 in 23 wards), with an increase of over 3 million in the day. Tokyo is at its highest population ever, while that of the 23 wards peak official count was 8,893,094 in the 1965 Census, with the count dipping below 8 million in the 1995 Census. People continue to move back into the core city as land prices have fallen dramatically.

As of 2005, the five most common foreign nationalities found in Tokyo are Chinese (123,661), Korean (106,697), Filipino (31,077), American (18,848) and British (7,696).

The 1889 Census recorded 1,389,600 people in Tokyo City, Japan's largest city at the time.

Transportation
JR Yamanote Line

Transportation in Greater Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient trains and subways run by a variety of operators, with buses, monorails and trams playing a secondary feeder role.

Within Ōta, one of the 23 special wards, Tokyo International Airport ("Haneda") offers mainly domestic flights. Outside Tokyo, Narita International Airport, in Chiba Prefecture, is the major gateway for international travelers.

Various islands governed by Tokyo have their own airports. Hachijōjima (Hachijojima Airport), Miyakejima (Miyakejima Airport), and Izu Ōshima (Oshima Airport) have service to Tokyo International and other airports.

Rail is the primary mode of transportation in Tokyo, which has the most extensive urban railway network in the world and an equally extensive network of surface lines. JR East operates Tokyo's largest railway network, including the Yamanote Line loop that circles the center of downtown Tokyo. Two organizations operate the subway network: the private Tokyo Metro and the governmental Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation. The metropolitan government and private carriers operate bus routes. Local, regional, and national services are available, with major terminals at the giant railroad stations, including Tokyo and Shinjuku.

Expressways link the capital to other points in the Greater Tokyo area, the Kantō region, and the islands of Kyūshū and Shikoku.

Other transportation includes taxis operating in the special wards and the cities and towns. Also long-distance ferries serve the islands of Tokyo and carry passengers and cargo to domestic and foreign ports.

Education in Tokyo

Tokyo has many universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools. Many of Japan's most prestigious universities are in Tokyo, the University of Tokyo being the most prestigious of all. National universities located in Tokyo include Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo Institute of Technology and University of Tokyo. There is only one public university (i.e., not national): the Tokyo Metropolitan University. Keio University and Waseda University, top private universities in Japan, are located in Tokyo. Tokyo also has a few universities well-known for classes conducted in English. They include International Christian, Sophia, Waseda University, and Temple University Japan. For an extensive list, see List of universities in Tokyo.

Publicly run kindergartens, elementary schools (years 1 through 6), and junior high schools (7 through 9) are operated by local wards or municipal offices. Public high schools in Tokyo are run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education and are called "Metropolitan High Schools". Tokyo also has many private schools from kindergarten through high school.

Culture and Sports

Tokyo has many museums. In Ueno Park are four national museums: Tokyo National Museum, the country's largest museum and specializing in traditional Japanese art; the National Museum of Western Art; and the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, with its collections of Japanese modern art as well as over 40,000 Japanese and foreign films. Also in Ueno Park are the National Museum of Science and the public zoo. Other museums include the Nezu Art Museum in Aoyama; the Edo-Tokyo Museum in the Sumida Ward across the Sumida River from the center of Tokyo; and the National Diet Library, National Archives, and the National Museum of Modern Art, which are located near the Imperial Palace.

Tokyo has many theaters for the performing arts as well. These include national and private theaters for traditional forms of Japanese drama (like noh and kabuki) as well as modern dramas. Symphony orchestras and other musical organizations perform Western and traditional music. Tokyo also hosts modern Japanese and Western pop and rock music at venues ranging in size from intimate clubs to internationally known arenas like the Nippon Budokan.

Many different festivals occur throughout Tokyo. Major events include the Sannō at Hie Shrine, the Sanja at Asakusa Shrine, and the biennial Kanda Festivals. The last features a parade with elaborately decorated floats and thousands of people. Annually on the last Saturday of July, an enormous fireworks display over the Sumida River attracts over a
million viewers. Once cherry blossoms, or sakura, bloom in spring, many residents gather in Ueno Park, Inokashira Park, and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for picnics under the blossoms.

Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan is known internationally for its youth style and fashion.

Cuisine in Tokyo is internationally acclaimed. In November of 2007, Michelin released their guide for fine dining in Tokyo, garnering 191 stars in total, or about twice as many as its nearest competitor, Paris. Eight establishments were awarded the maximum of three stars (Paris has 10), 25 received two stars, and 117 earned one star. Of the eight top-rated restaurants, three offer traditional Japanese fine dining, two are sushi houses, three serve French cuisine.

A Sumo match at Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

Sports in Tokyo are diverse. Tokyo is home to two professional baseball clubs, the Yakult Swallows (Meiji-Jingu Stadium) and Yomiuri Giants (Tokyo Dome). The Japan Sumo Association is also headquartered in Tokyo at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan sumo arena where three official sumo tournaments are held annually (in January, May, and September). Football (soccer) clubs in Tokyo include FC Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy 1969, both of which play at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chōfu. Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics. National Stadium, also known as Olympic Stadium, Tokyo is host to a number of international sporting events. With a number of world-class sports venues, Tokyo often hosts national and international sporting events such as tennis tournaments, swim meets, marathons, American football exhibition games, judo, karate, etc. Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, in Sendagaya, Shibuya, is a large sports complex that includes swimming pools, training rooms, and a large indoor arena.

Tokyo in popular media

As the largest population center in Japan and the location of the country's largest broadcasters and studios, Tokyo is frequently the setting for many Japanese movies, television shows, animated series (anime), and comic books (manga). In the kaiju (monster movie) genre, landmarks of Tokyo are routinely destroyed by giant monsters such as Godzilla.

Some Hollywood directors have turned to Tokyo as a filming location for movies set in Tokyo. Well-known examples from the postwar era include Tokyo Joe, My Geisha, and the James Bond film You Only Live Twice; well-known contemporary examples include Kill Bill, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Lost in Translation.

Sister Relationships

Tokyo has eleven sister cities:

* Flag of the People's Republic of China Beijing, China
* Flag of Germany Berlin, Germany
* Flag of Egypt Cairo, Egypt
* Flag of Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia
* Flag of Russia Moscow, Russia
* Flag of Australia New South Wales, Australia
* Flag of the United States New York City, United States
* Flag of France Paris, France
* Flag of Italy Rome, Italy
* Flag of Brazil São Paulo, Brazil
* Flag of South Korea Seoul, Republic of Korea

In addition, Tokyo has "partnership" agreements with London, Auckland, Paris, and Rome. Many wards and cities within Tokyo also maintain sister-city relationships with other foreign cities.

Travelers Digest

• 75C's Gallery - Tokyo 2004 - Numerous Tokyo travel pictures with descriptions.

Travelers Digest Lodging Search Engine

Preferred date of arrival: January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2009 2010 Preferred date of departure: January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2009 2010 Number of Rooms 1 2 3 4 Number of Adults 1 2 3 4 (per room)

Read Our;  Global Reviews  &  Our Special Interest Articles

Advertise with Travelers Digest!
We give your business the visibility it deserves!

Recommended Businesses & Locations

Make Travelers Digest your Homepage
Bookmark US   Contact Us   Privacy Policy