Welcome to Tokyo!
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Asakusa, Ginza, Imperial Palace, Kabuki-Za, Kasumigaseki (National Diet Building), Meiji Shrine, Studio GHIBLI, Sumo Stadium, Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Fish Market, Ueno Park

FESTIVALS:
Sanja Matsuri (May 17) is one of Tokyo’s most popular festivals along with the Sumida River Fireworks Festival (July 31) Chichibu-Yo-Matsuri (December 2) is celebrated at Chichibu Shrine in Saitama prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo.

Tokyo:
Tokyo, with a population of more than 12 million people, is one of the world's biggest and most dynamic cities. Once called Edo, Tokyo became the capital of Japan in 1868 with the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and remains so to this day. It is the political, cultural and economic center of Japan and home to the Emperor and his family who reside at the Imperial Palace located in the heart of this great city. Tokyo is home to numerous national treasures including shrines, temples and palaces some dating back hundreds of years; traditional Japanese-style homes; modern apartment buildings; hundreds of sky scrapers which house many of the world's corporate giants and thousands of hotels ranging from the traditional Japanese-style inn (ryokan) to five star hotels. Its public transportation network is one of the most extensive and modern in the world with trains, subways, busses, monorails and the Shinkansen - the renowned bullet train.

Tokyo is a city of many contrasts where in a single block one can see a seventy-story corporate tower next to an ancient Shinto shrine next to an apartment complex complete with clotheslines and traditional Japanese bedding hung over balconies to dry. Along Tokyo's streets and numerous train platforms there are businessmen carrying briefcases, women dressed in kimono and children wearing school uniforms. Old fashioned noodle shops maintain their clientele in the shadow of some of the world's most prestigious restaurants. The day begins early in Tokyo with public transportation starting up well before dawn. Millions travel from homes in the suburbs to the heart of the city to work - often with commutes of up to two hours one-way.

Tokyo is made up of 23 wards called 'ku' and various districts each with its own unique character.

The Ginza, famed for its shopping, is home to all of Japan's major department stores, boutiques and many international restaurants.

Just south of the Imperial Palace and next to Hibiya Park is Kasumigaseki which is the center of the Federal Government. Shinjuku was originally a suburb of the city center and provided inexpensive housing for its residents. But today it is home to the City of Tokyo's metropolitan government offices and an extensive shopping district where the biggest department stores can be found. Shibuya is a little more intimate and known for the avant-garde. Its shops offer the most contemporary fashion and home furnishings and it is home to one of the world's most expensive residential districts in the world. Harajuku is the hotspot for Japan's youth where young people sport everything from green hair to 8" platform shoes and the latest teen fashion. Akasaka is famous for its sophisticated night spots, restaurants, bars and high-end boutiques. Along with Roppongi, it is where many foreign nationals reside. Toward the outskirts of Tokyo there is what is called, 'shita-machi' or 'low town.' It is where the townspeople of Tokyo have resided for centuries and it still retains its old-world charm. Ueno Park, Japan's oldest public park (1873) covers more than 15 acres and boasts some of the nation's best cherry blossom viewing, museums, shrines temples and even a zoo. Another great spot in 'shita-machi' is Asakusa. Located on Tokyo's most celebrated waterway the Sumida River, it is home to Sensoji - the oldest temple in Tokyo.

Most people visiting Japan from abroad fly into Narita International Airport and although it is about 2 hours from the center of the city, comfortable busses and trains operate frequently between the two making the trip as pleasant as possible. Tokyo's domestic airport is Haneda which is a short ride from downtown via monorail. To find out more about touring Tokyo and Japan please visit the Web site of Japan National Tourism Organization.

ASAKUSA
Asakusa was established along Tokyo's most celebrated waterway, the Sumida River, which is where, according to legend, two fishermen found a statue of the goddess Kannon in 628. Sensoji or Asakusa Kannon Temple was built in 645 to enshrine the statue and it is the oldest in Tokyo. Its outer gate, Kaminarimon (thunder gate) is one of the most widely photographed in Japan. Between Kaminarimon and the temple’s main gate, Hozomon, is a 200 yard long corridor of shops and carts which sell religious and traditional articles. There are many events which take place at Sensoji throughout the year including Hagoita-ichi (Hagoita Market) where the traditional Hagoita (wooden paddle) used in Hanetsuki (Japanese badminton) are sold; Tokyo Jidai Matsuri – a festival celebrating Tokyo’s history and Sanja Matsuri (May 17) – one of the largest festivals in Japan.

GINZA
The Ginza, centrally located in Tokyo’s Chuo-ku (district), is an 8 block area which is home to some of the world’s finest shopping. Large department stores flank the Ginza’s center, Ginza Yon-chome, with tens of thousands of boutiques, restaurants and night clubs stretching out in every direction. The word ‘ginza’ comes from the character ‘gin’ which means silver and ‘za’ which refers to a place where legal tender was produced. During 17th century Edo (Tokyo), ‘ginza’ was the official organization of goldsmiths who minted the coins of the day.

IMPERIAL PALACE
The Japanese Imperial Palace (Kokyo), located in the heart of Tokyo in Chiyoda-ku, is the official residence of the Japanese royal family. The grounds were originally the site of Edo-jo (castle) which was established in the 14th century. In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu became the nation’s ruling shogun and moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo. Work began on expanding the castle and by the middle of the 17th century; it was the largest castle in the world. By the time Emperor Meiji ascended the throne in 1868, the castle had fallen into such a state of disrepair that the royal family temporarily resided in the Akasaka Detached Palace during renovations. In 1888 the new castle was complete and became the official residence of the Emperor. The Palace was destroyed in 1945 and then rebuilt by 1968. All that remains of the original Edo-jo are some of the stone walls and moats which surrounded the castle, the Otemon gate and scattered ruins throughout the complex. Although the castle is closed to the public, the Koukyo Higashi Gyoen (East Garden) and Wadakura Funsui Koen (Water Fountain Park) are open and many visitors enjoy strolling around the exterior of the palace to view the ancient walls, moats and bridges especially when the cherry blossom trees planted all around are in bloom.

KABUKI-ZA
Located in the Ginza, Tokyo’s Kabuki-Za (theater) was originally built in 1889 and is the city’s oldest performing arts center. It is where Japan’s traditional Kabuki theater is performed along with the nation’s other popular venues including in Tokyo, Meiji-Za, Kokuriju, Gekiji and Shimbashi Embuji; the Shin Kabuki-Za in Osaka and Minami-Za in Kyoto. The theater was destroyed several times throughout its more than 100 year history, once by fire in 1921, by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and in 1945 during the Second World War. The building was gutted, rebuilt and reopened in 1951 and since then Kabuki-za’s troop has made more than 35 overseas tours in 60 cities, in 21 countries.

KASUMIGASEKI (National Diet Building - Kokkai Gijido)
Just south of the Imperial Palace and next to Hibiya Park is Kasumigaseki which is the center of the federal government and where the National Diet Building is located. The Construction of the Diet Building began in 1920 and was completed in 1936. Both houses of the Diet of Japan are held in the Diet Building with sessions of the House of Representatives taking place in the left side and sessions of the House of Councilors in the right. Located near the National Diet Building is the National Diet Library which is the only archive of the legislative branch of the Japanese government. Starting in 2001, the government began the task of digitizing its 8.14 million books and official records.


MEIJI SHRINE
Meiji Jingu or shrine, is located in the Shibuya-ku district of Tokyo. It was created to commemorate the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken who died in 1912 and 1914 respectively. Their souls were enshrined on November 1, 1920 and Meiji Jingu has become not only a shrine of historical significance but the center for many Shinto rituals and a popular tourist destination. Over the New Year’s holidays, more than one million people visit the shrine. The entire complex consists of the Main Shrine (Noritoden), the Inner Shrine (Naihaiden), the Outer Shrine (Gehaiden), the Treasure House (Shinko) and the Consecrated Kitchen (Shinsenjo) for the preparation of food offerings. The shrine buildings are constructed in the ‘nagerezukuri’ style of architecture consisting of Japanese cypress with copper plates for the roofs. Surrounding the shrine is an evergreen forest of 120,000 trees representing 365 species which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established.

GHIBLI MUSEUM
Tokyo’s newly established Ghibli Museum is dedicated to Studio GHIBLI– commonly referred to as the Disney of the East. Founded in 1984 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata it has produced such award winning animated feature films as Princess Mononoke (1987) and Spirited Away (2001).
Thanks. By the way, the newsletter was published today seamlessly. Much obliged.

SUMO STADIUM (Kokugikan)
Sumo wrestling, one of Japan’s traditional sports, is based in the Ryogoku area of Tokyo. Traditionally, sumo tournaments were performed outdoors at shrines and temples until 1909 when Tokyo’s first sumo hall was constructed. Today, Ryogoku is home to many sumo stables (sumo-beya) where wrestlers reside and undergo strict training; restaurants which serve a popular sumo dish called ‘chanko nabe,’ Sumo Hakubutsukan (the Sumo Museum) and Kokugikan – built in 1985, it is Tokyo’s fourth permanent sumo stadium. The stadium seats more than 10,000 visitors and hosts three of the six sumo tournaments each year.

TOKYO TOWER
At 1,092 feet high, Tokyo Tower has been, since its opening in 1958, the world’s tallest self-supporting iron tower. It is 42 feet higher than the Eiffel Tower but weighs 4,000 tons less at 3,000 tons. The broadcasting signals of nine TV stations and five FM radio stations are transmitted from the Tower which has been painted orange and white to meet aviation safety regulations. Elevators take visitors up to the Tower’s two observatories: the Main Observatory which is 500 feet above the ground and the Special Observatory which is 328 feet higher. On clear days in winter, it is possible to see Mt. Fuji on the western horizon.

TSUKIJI FISH MARKET
Tsukiji Fish Market is one of the world’s largest handling more than 600,000 tons of marine products each year. More than 450 kinds of fish are marketed – more than anywhere else in the world. Tsukiji dates back to the 16th century when Tokugawa Ieyasu invited fishermen from Osaka to supply seafood to Edo Castle. What was leftover was sold by the fishermen near the Nihonbashi Bridge which became a simple ‘uogashi’ or riverside fish market. As the population of Edo grew so did the market. Wholesale merchants licensed by the Shogunate bought fish from local ports, sold it through the market, and became very wealthy. By the early 20th century, there were some 23 fish and vegetable wholesale markets located throughout the city but most were destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. The Central Wholesale Market Law was then enacted and the three official wholesale markets of Tsukiji, Kanda and Koto were founded. Today Tsukiji also handles produce and flowers.

UENO PARK
Located in the northern part of Tokyo, Ueno Koen is Japan's oldest public park and was opened to the public in 1873. It covers more than 15 acres and is home to some of Japan’s greatest museums including the Tokyo National Museum, the Orient Museum, the National Science Museum, the Shitamachi Museum, the National Museum for Western Art and the Tokyo Metropolitan Fine Art Gallery.

Other attractions include Ueno Zoo, whose greatest attraction is its panda bears; Shinobazu Pond with a central island housing a temple for the goddess of Benten; and Toshogu Shrine which was dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate.

Ueno Koen, with more than 1000 cherry trees, is one of Japan’s more popular spots for ‘hanami’ (flower viewing) and cherry blossom festivals.

* Title photo is Hibiya Koen in winter

JapanCorner 2005