Here are some ideas for visitors to Tokyo including parks, museums, shopping, temples and shrines. Also included are some unique cultural experiences such as sumo wrestling and karaoke.
It is easy to get around the city; the subway system, despite being one of the most extensive in the world is also renowned for its efficiency and punctuality. In fact, the subway is so reliable - on the rare occasions that a train is late, commuters are handed a note verifying this that they can show to their employer! The subway is usually so crowded during rush hour that there is a uniformed staff whose job it is to push as many people onto the train as they can.
Tokyo is a vast, sprawling city made up of many neighborhoods, but if it has a center, it is probably the Ginza neighborhood. This exclusive and expensive area has many of the city's best restaurants, shops and hotels, and it makes a good place to base yourself. In the Ginza, you can find everything from tiny shops selling crafts and souvenirs to huge department stores. One of the most popular places to visit is the Sony building, where you can try out tomorrow's electronic toys and computer games. At night, the main streets of Ginza are illuminated by dazzling displays of neon lights, putting Times Square to shame. A short distance away from the Ginza is the Imperial Palace, surrounded by beautiful formal gardens. It is still the home of the Japanese imperial family.
For the latest in electronic devices, visit the Akihabara neighborhood, which has become known as the "˜electronics district'. Most goods here are discounted, but even if you don't buy anything, it's a great area to stroll and window-shop the dozens of shops and stalls selling gadgets which seem years ahead of their time.
There are small pockets of the city where it's possible to escape from the frenetic pace for a few hours. Ueno Park is a favorite place for Japanese families to go and relax; it offers paths lined with cherry trees, a boating lake and ornamental gardens. In a corner of the park is the Tokyo National Museum, containing traditional paintings, furnishings and a room full of Samurai costumes. Dotted about the park are several shrines and statues to famous Samurai warriors.
One of the oldest neighborhoods is Asakusa, a largely residential district, with many shrines and temples in its center. The most important temple here is the Sensoji temple, built in traditional pagoda-style and founded after a statue of Buddha was found in the nearby river. Parts of the temple date back to the year 628, although most of the present complex was rebuilt after the Second World War. It's a huge labyrinth of temples, shrines and secluded pathways that wind through ornamental gardens. One of the most memorable things to do here is simply to wander around and watch the Japanese following their daily rituals. Be sure to buy a paper "˜fortune' from one of the temples - it may be a poor, medium or good one. You can see people destroy their fortune and buy another if they don't like it. The main street leading to the Sensoji temple is a pedestrian precinct lined with many small shops specializing in traditional Japanese goods like fans, dolls and kimonos.
If you are adventurous enough, there are several cultural experiences you can immerse yourself in while in Tokyo. As an alternative to expensive hotels, some visitors choose to stay at a ryokan, which is the Japanese version of a bed and breakfast. Most Ryokan offer a traditional Japanese breakfast - often eggs, seaweed and rice - a sparsely furnished room where your futon bed is kept folded up in a closet when not in use, communal hot baths and a curfew.
Tokyo nightlife is legendary, and there are several nightlife districts packed with bars and clubs. Japan of course is the home of karaoke. You can find many crowded karaoke clubs all over the city. Another unique pastime is pachinko - which is a kind of high-tech fast paced pinball. You can find pachinko parlors all over Tokyo, brightly lit, noisy and occupied primarily by businessmen on their way home. For something more relaxing, many of the bigger hotels offer tourists the chance to watch the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The tea ceremony which was first practiced by monks, is a slow deliberate ritual of serving tea, designed to induce a trance-like state. If you are in the city at the right time of year, you can visit one of the several sumo wrestling schools in the city and watch the wrestlers practicing. Sumo is virtually a religion in Japan, and the most famous wrestlers are treated like movie stars.
If jet lag hits you and you are awake in the early hours, a great place to visit in Tokyo is the wholesale fish market, which is one of the largest covered food markets in the world, supplying virtually all the city's seafood. Apart from the bustle of the market, the endless variety of fresh fish being unloaded from the ocean and the chaotic spectacle of the daily tuna auction, there are many places to get a plate of fresh sushi.
A wonderful - and free - thing to do in this expensive city is to experience a Japanese home visit. If you go to the main tourist office, they will arrange for you to visit the home of someone who lives in the city. You are given clear directions, and your host usually meets you at the nearest station to their home. It's a great way to really experience the Japanese culture and gain an insight into life in this often hectic city. The home visit is free, but it is customary to take along a small gift for your host.
