Attractions
Sightseeing in Tokyo can bring about sensory overload if you're
not careful. Animated billboards, the buzz of a densely packed and
highly energetic population, and glittering, gleaming architecture
all compete for your attention. One thing is certain though, you'll
never be bored.
The transport system is excellent, good value, and easy to
figure out, even for westerners. However, the best way to view the
city remains the oldest way: on foot, walking the streets, taking
in the multitude of sights and sounds on your way. You'll be sure
to find plenty of unexpected treasures, from little temples on a
side streets, to the warm smile welcome of a local shop keeper.
Tokyo really does have something for everyone. Westerners
honeymooners come to cultivate romance amidst the cherry blossoms,
shoppers will find exactly what they're looking for and plenty on
top of that, and even backpackers can find a way take in the
culture without breaking the bank. The temples and museums listed
below are well worth your time, as are the vibrant districts of
Akihabara, Ginza and Shibuya.
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...
see full detailsYasukuni Shrine
To the north of the Imperial Palace lies the controversial
Yasukuni Shrine, built to commemorate the 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...
see full detailsEdo-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...
see full detailsAkihabara
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...
see full detailsSenso-ji Temple
The Asakusa neighbourhood 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...
see full detailsTokyo Disney Resort
Plenty of fun is to be had for the young and young at heart at
Tokyo's Disney Resort, virtually a carbon copy of the theme park
found in California in the United States. The resort consists of
Disneyland Park and DisneySea Park, along...
see full detailsTokyo 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
archaeological finds. The vast collection is displayed...
see full detailsTokyo Tower
This tower is modelled in the vein of the Eiffel Tower in
France, only in true Japanese style, it is more colourful and
serves a technological purpose. Tokyo Tower functions chiefly as a
television and radio antenna. At 1,091 feet (332m), it is...
see full detailsMeiji Jingu
A hop, skip and jump away from the Harajuku Station, the Meiji
Jingu is an easily accessible shrine and worthwhile stop in Tokyo.
Built as homage to the Emperor Meiji and his wife, the Empress
Shoken, this monument is located in a 175...
see full detailsKabuki-za
While there are many places in Japan from which to view Kabuki
theatre, the Kabuki-za, as the name implies, is the principal venue
for such performances and a major hub for the art form. The
building itself is an architectural wonder, using western...
see full details
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