All about Travels

Tokyo, Japan’s capital, is a place of vast proportions where the old and the new merge into a fabulously detailed cityscape. Upon arrival, visitors are confronted with the sheer energy that radiates from within Tokyo. Tokyo’s city center is a kaleidoscope of exotic sights and sounds. The night view brings forth a seemingly endless, delicate tapestry of Tokyo lights. In such a city there is so much to see and do, ranging from visits to shrines, temples, and excellent museums, to trips throughout the various shopping areas. No visitor will leave Tokyo disappointed.

Tokyo is a city without rival in the world. Standing on the cutting edge of the future it is a blend of high-technology and tradition. Everything about this city is so different that to try and describe Tokyo to a person who has never visited is almost impossible. For it is in almost every respect different from all other cities in the world, and is a city that you will never cease to learn about.

As the capital of the Nation Tokyo is the financial nerve center of Japan and the place where it is all happening in Asia. Having rebuilt itself from nothing, Tokyo is now one of the most expensive cities in the world and a world showcase for technology. From its roots as an imitator of other countries, it is now a world innovator in everything technological.

Tokyo has a vast array of sights, but the first items on the agenda of most visitors are the temples of Asakusa, the gardens of the Imperial Palace (in Chiyoda) and the Meiji Shrine (in Harajuku).

If you’re looking for a viewing platform, the Tokyo Tower is the best known but a rather expensive choice. Another option is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building (in effect, Tokyo’s City Hall) in Shinjuku. Its twin towers have viewing platforms that are absolutely free, and still offer a great view over Tokyo. Probably the best view would be from the World Trade Center next to JR Hamamatsucho station which, although not quite as high, is near Tokyo Tower and the waterfront making the view more interesting. A recent addition to the viewing platforms around Tokyo is Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills, Roppongi — admission is a steep ¥1500, but includes admission to the Mori Art Museum. Another good option especially at night is the Rainbow Bridge at Odaiba, whose pedestrian walkways are free.

If you are much of a shopper, the Ginza is the place for you to go. Well, it is one of the many. The district is filled with department stores, and little shops, and restaurants. At night, the lights are dazzling, not quite as neon as Vegas, but every bit as amazing. As much as I could tell, the Ginza is always bustling, night and day.

Shibuya and neighboring Harajuku are the best-known shopping areas for funky, youthful clothes and accessories. Note that, almost without exception, clothes are sized for the petite Japanese frame.

Department stores and exclusive boutiques stock every fashion label imaginable, but for global labels prices in Tokyo are typically higher than anywhere else in the world. The famous Ginza and Ikebukuro’s giant Seibu and Tobu department stores (the largest in the world) are good hunting grounds. Recently, Roppongi Hills has emerged as a popular area for high-end shopping, with many major global brands.

One of the most striking differences between walking around Tokyo and most large cities in America was that you willI never once felt unsafe. You willI never worried about walking around without knowing where you were headed, or that you might take a turn that would put you somewhere dangerous.

The city is dotted with museums, large and small, which center on every possible interest from pens to antique clocks to traditional and modern arts. At ¥500 to ¥1,000 or more, entrance fees can add up quickly. Many of the largest museums are clustered around Ueno.

Take a boat ride on the Sumida River.
Enjoy a soak in a local “sento” or public bath. Or one of the onsen theme parks such as LaQua at the Tokyo Dome (Taito) or Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba.
Go to an amusement park such as Tokyo Disneyland or the more Japanese Sanrio Puroland (in Tama), home to more Hello Kittys than you can imagine.
Check out the hip and young crowd at Harajuku’s Takeshita-Dori (Takeshita Street) or the more grown up Omotesando.
In the spring, take a boatride in Kichijoji’s lovely Inogashira Park, and afterwards visit the Ghibli Studios Museum (well-known for their amazing movies, like Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke), but you will need to buy tickets for these in advance at a Lawson convenience store.
Sing karaoke at any karaoke box in town!
Lose yourself in the neon jungle outside major train stations in the evenings. Shibuya and east Shinjuku at night can make Times Square or Piccadilly Circus look positively rural in comparison - it has to be seen to be believed.
Take a ‘Yurikamome’ monorail across the bay bridge from Shimbashi station to the bayside Odaiba district, and go on the giant ferris wheel - the largest in the world until recently.