Tokyo Tourist-Attractions

Tokyo Tourist-Attractions information

Asakusa Kannon Shrine

Originally built in the 7th century, the Asakusa Kannon is technically the oldest in Tokyo. The shrine has been rebuilt many times however, according to the ancient pattern, with the latest being erected in the 1950s following the war. The approach to the Asakusa Kannon is a wonderfully cheerful pedestrian path lined with stalls and shops. Mostly these offer tacky souvenirs but there are some good ideas for gift shopping. Take time to browse through these stalls, while munching a skewer of yakitori from one of the food vendors. The Asakusa Kannon itself stands at the end of the road, through a large shrine gate, or torii called The Kaminarimon - the Gate of the God of Thunder - with its distinctive red lantern. The many-roofed shrine can't fail to impress. A large-scale version of wooden temples that lie all over Japan, it's beautifully decorated and definitely one of Tokyo's must-sees. Admission: free. 5 mins walk from Asakusa station on the Ginza and Toei Asakusa lines.

Sumidagawa River Trip

Departing from Hinode Sanbashi wharf near Odaiba, a boat journey up the Sumida River to the Asakusa Kannon takes about 30 minutes and is by far the most interesting way to get to the shrine. Starting in the mouth of busy Tokyo Bay, the boat route passes several curious new developments of high-rise apartments before turning into the older canals and passing through the industrial backwaters. This is a great opportunity to get a whole new perspective on Tokyo and see a side of the city you wouldn't have expected existed. Tickets: JPY660. Near Hinode station on the Yurikamome monorail.

Shinjuku

This is the Tokyo that people expect, a city of dizzying skyscrapers. Shinjuku is home to most of the tallest buildings in Tokyo while, down below, the shadowed streets are always crowded and buzzing. The train station here is famed as the world's busiest, with several million people passing through it daily - getting lost here is part of the fun - really. Shinjuku is the heart of international Tokyo, home to all the major department stores, many smaller chains and boutiques and the predictable quantities of Starbucks, McDonalds and the like. But besides the shopping and restaurants it is worth coming here simply to spend time people-watching. The sheer density of people can't fail to impress even big city visitors from London and New York, and Japan's quirkier citizens such as the trendy high school girls wearing the fashion of the moment - which can be anything from silver lipstick to foot-high platform shoes and crazily wrinkled socks - will keep you entertained. Nearby Higashi-Shinjuku meanwhile is the seedy side of the city, think flickering neon and ramen bars - just as alluring in its own way.

Tokyo Tower

Built to resemble the Eiffel Tower, the Tokyo Tower reaches an incredible 333m (1093ft) into the air. The exhibits and attractions inside are a little bit tired, more reminiscent of an ageing British coastal resort than the sophisticated French capital but you can choose whether or not to inflict these on yourself or not. The only real reason to come to the Tokyo Tower is for the views. Wait for a clear day before taking your trip as you'll be able to see all the way to Mount Fuji to the south-west and the Japan Alps that rise to the west. If it's cloudy, you'll still be able to make out the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Bay and the towers of Shinjuku mapped out around you, but the experience certainly isn't as good. Open: daily 09h00-22h00. Admission (main observatory): JPY820, adults; JPY460, children. Tel: +81 (0)3-3433-5111. Near Kamiyacho station on the Hibiya line.

The Yamanote Line Tour

As much an exercise in orientation as a sightseeing trip, the Yamanote line is brilliantly useful for getting your initial bearings in the massive metropolis. This train line runs above ground in a circle right through all the important commercial areas of Tokyo. Get on anywhere and go all the way around and you'll be rewarded with the perfect platform for viewing this remarkable city. The train passes through the commercial jungles of Shibuya and Shinjuku, the electronics paradise that is Akihabara and the heart of the business district around Tokyo Station. An hour later, you'll be back where you started with a better idea of what's where. NB: Don't try this during rush hour when the trains are so crowded that pushers (men wearing white gloves) are employed to assist you to squeeze on board.

Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine

Two lanterns mark the start of the approach to this famous landmark at the top of Omotesando, a wide, tree-lined shopping street with restaurants and shops either side. The Oriental Bazaar souvenir shop is on the left about half way down and should definitely be thoroughly checked out for gifts to take home. At the bottom of Omotesando is Harajuku, a busy shopping district with cut-price clothes and accessories, popular with Tokyo's more alternative teenagers and twenty-somethings. To the left of Meiji Jingu Mae subway station is the entrance of Yoyogi Park, where many of the above-mentioned teenagers hang out in fairly extreme fashions (which can be quite entertaining in itself) and there's a large shrine gate or torii. A well-marked route leads under the gate through the gardens to the Meiji Shrine itself. Built to commemorate the reign of the Emperor Meiji (1868-1912), the shrine is one of Japan's most famous. The gardens are particularly good, and a welcome respite from the city. Near Omotesando station on the Ginza, Hanzomo and Chiyoda lines, or Harajuku station on the Yamanote line.

The Imperial Palace and Yasukuni Shrine

The Imperial Palace lies in the heart of the business district and is a defining landmark in Tokyo geography. The palace itself is concealed within the Imperial Gardens, a green oasis in the heart of downtown Tokyo. Tourists are not permitted into the inner gardens except at New Year and on the Emperor's birthday; during the rest of the year the closest the visitor can get to the palace is the hour-long circuit round the carp-filled moat. Nevertheless it is an intensely beautiful setting and a fabulous inner city park. Tokyo station is a good starting point for the walk - the station architecture is worth a look in itself and the front faces onto the Imperial Palace grounds. The walk passes the Diet, Japan's Parliament, and various upmarket hotels. A brief detour at the northern end of the moat gets you to the Yasukuni Shrine, the controversial memorial to Japan's wartime dead. Near Tokyo station on the Marunouchi and Yamanote lines.

Ginza

Tokyo is one of the world's great shopping capitals and Ginza is the epicentre of the city's shopping experience. If you've got cash to blow and comfortable shoes, this is the place to go. Head for the area's massive department stores, start at the top and work your way down. For browsers, the food halls offer a huge range of weird and wonderful delicacies, some of which you might be keen to try - others maybe not so much. For the culturally minded, the Kabuki Theatre is located a short walk from Ginza and tickets for the gallery can be bought on the door. Radio translations of traditional Japanese theatre are provided but beware some shows last up to six hours. Bringing your own food, drink and pillow is allowed. The area is also a lively place to be at night, with numerous bars - some more salubrious than others - enticing customers in. Ginza station on the Ginza and Marunouchi lines.

Odaiba Island

This artificial island connected to the city by a monorail was something of a white elephant for decades. Created by landfill, it lay empty for years, failing to attract public or business attention. Now though, Odaiba has reinvented itself as a playground for Tokyo's citizens and on weekends it is packed out with people who come to enjoy the various ultra-modern attractions on offer. You might be wise to avoid the manmade beach when the sun's out as people flock here in their thousands to top up their tan, but the massive shopping malls and the general quirkiness of such attractions as the Tokyo Big Sight conference centre are well worth seeing. Tokyo's Maritime Museum here too is a magnificent piece of typically Japanese architectural exuberance. A massive concrete edifice in the shape of an ocean liner it traces the city's seafaring history. The pièce de résistance is the magnificent Rainbow Bridge, over a kilometre in length and complete with pedestrian walkways and viewing platforms. It's well worth making the effort to walk it.

National Sumo Stadium and Tokyo Museum

Sumo tournaments take place six times a year and are held in Tokyo's National Sumo Stadium in January, May and September. Tickets for the standing areas can be obtained by queuing on the day and if you're lucky enough to get to go you'll be treated to a unique mix of religion, culture and sport. Even if a tournament isn't going on, the building is worth a look and you could pop in to a local restaurant to try chanko-nabe, the calorific stew that constitutes the staple diet of the wrestlers. Behind the Sumo Stadium is the Tokyo-Edo Museum, depicting Tokyo's evolution from sleepy fishing port to Imperial capital to economic megalopolis. Traditional exhibits are combined with ultra-modern displays and lifesize reconstructions of parts of the city. It is an absolutely massive and absorbing complex, so a flying visit is out of the question. Museum open: Tue-Sun 09h30-17h30 (open until 20h00 Thu-Fri). Admission: JPY600, adults; JPY300, children. Information in English is supplied. Tel: +81 (0)3-3626-9974. Near Ryogoku station on the Sobu line.