Tokyo Pictures
Guide and Photos, Japan
A funky Ginza department store window, a rarity since much of Ginza is passé and pricey. The Apple Store should have chosen Harajuku for their Tokyo outlet. Ginza's Kabuki-za, however, is a fine, traditional spot to see Kabuki theatre.
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Main Attractions
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The Imperial Palace Gardens, Maranouchi, though regular tourists only get to see the monstrous Imperial Palace walls, moats and gardens. More or less in the centre of the city and free of charge but beware, it's free, spacious, green and tranquil - yes, full of fascination, revelation, palace views, historical artifacts and sightings of the Emperor - no.
Best in the spring or autumn for tree magic, the Imperial Palace Garden is fundamentally a walk in the park, albeit a park with serious walls.
The Garden is closed Mondays, Fridays, 23 December, 28 December - 3 January 3 and for occasional Imperial Court functions.
Nearby (walking distance) are some other worthwhile sights such as the Yasukuni Shrine; another section of the the palace gardens - Kitanomaru Park with its massive Budokan stadium, the lively Science Foundation museum, the National Museum of Modern Art and the Crafts gallery.
The west side entrance of the Imperial Palace in early April.
- Fantastic shrines and temples, particularly Meiji-Jingu (conveniently near Harajuku and Yoyogi park), Asakusa (Japan's oldest temple, Senso-Ji), Yasukuni Shrine (Japan's magnificent but controversial warrior shrine, hosting war criminal souls in addition to several million others).
Meiji-Jingu is a favoured shrine for Shinto weddings.
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City overviews from the Tokyo Tower or Shinjuku's free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1, 45th floor, with the added excitement that it sways 7m side-to-side in an earthquake.
Alternatively the new Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills is pricey to enter but offers perhaps Tokyo's best views along with some comfortable seating.
Roppongi's Mori Tower, guarded by 'Mother'.
- Yoyogi park area, near Harajuku and Shibuya, for free live music and plenty of weirdness at weekends, if it's not raining enough to blow the amps.
Street action between Yoyogi Park and Shibuya.
- Sumo wrestling, Tokyo National Museum? Disneyland? Odaiba (an artificial island in Tokyo Bay) with excellent shops, open space, beaches (don't swim) and virtual reality playgrounds courtesy of Sega.
Odaiba beach, shopping and Fuji TV headquarters on Tokyo Bay's massive island of entertainment and romance, built on water from garbage just a few year ago.
Japan Pictures: Kanazawa | Kyoto | Kawasaki Festival | Takayama Festival
Japan Travel Guide | Japan Map | Japanese Bath Etiquette
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