Downtown Tokyo

Whats Nearby:
Akihabara
Ginza
Roppongi

Ginza, Roppongi, Akihabara, Tokyo Tower the Imperial Palace... Central Tokyo easily holds 50% of the Tokyo Experience.

One of the key distinguishing features you'll find is in the Yasaeu and Marunouchi districts (particularly in Marunouchi). Tremendously wide boulevards, lined with rows of trees and wide sidewalks abound and all very crisp, in the spirit of Japanese Cleanliness. This site you can find nowhere else in Tokyo.

Next is the vast expanse of Chiyoda Park and accompanying East Garden of the Imperial Palace. While not as big as NYC’s Central Park, it takes an hour to walk the entire perimeter.

Then there is Ginza and Roppongi, Tokyo's most high end shopping experience. Next is Akihabara, the cities’ center for electronics and fun.

Lastly there is the Tokyo Tower, offering a tremendous panorama of Tokyo. The highest building in city, at 1,091 feet, essentially it’s an orange Eifel Tower with white stripes, making it Tokyo’s centerpiece.

Marunouchi

After meandering the cramped alley ways of Shibuya and Ikebukuro, a walk down Babasaki-dori or Hibiya-dori will leave you awe-struck. To discover this much space in the city is quite a shock. And it’s not just spacious it’s terribly clean and modern. The brilliance even continues down into the subway tunnels and exits. For high-end dining check out the Marounochi Park Building.

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum Tokyo (MIMT)

The unmistakable MIMT stands out like a beacon on Babasaki-dori Ave. Its 19th century British style lends itself beautifully to the boulevards and fits in rather well giving the downtown a little English flavour. According to their website, MIMT "focuses on modern art from the middle of the 18th to the 20th century." For more info: http://mimt.jp/english/

La Boutique de Joel Robuchon

Directly behind the MIMT is a charming garden and trendy cafe Frenchly named: La Boutique de Joel Robuchon. It’s not with pretense that this cafe is so Frenchly named, their croissants rival any Parisian bakery. Aside from pastry they have a full menu with soups, sandwiches and other light eating. For more info: http://www.robuchon.jp/marunouchi/

How to get to Marunouchi

Yamanote Line Tokyo Station, Marunouchi exit.

Yaseu

While strolling the spacious boulevards is pleasant, Yaseu really does not have much to offer (Marunouchi is more spacious, cleaner and more charming), save for two enormous shopping malls, which tower above you.

COREDO Nihonbashi

A truly massive shopping mall, the COREDO has to be seen to be believed.

Daimaru

Directly to the left of the Tokyo Station Yaseu Central Exit stands the mammoth Daimaru Department store.

Ginza

Whereas Roppongi's shopping does rival Ginza's, it don't have the atmosphere and the unique streets and buildings which only Ginza has. Therefore Ginza is an essential part of the Tokyo Experience.

Tokyo Tower

Soaring 1,091 ft above ground is the Tokyo Tower. Painted bright international orange with white stripes, the Tokyo tower stands out like a beacon and can be viewed from many remote parts of Tokyo, popping in where you least expect it. Read More...

Imperial Gardens

There is more here than just The Gardens, there are four separate entities taking up just over seven square kilometers, all surrounded by a mote and high stone walls, retaining the feeling of old Edo. Read More...

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

The Korakuen has many unique features, all of which can be found around the edges of the garden, as the center is somewhat boring, a large lake with an island in the center. But don't let the boring centerpiece turn you off to visiting this Garden, it does have much to offer, you just have to do some searching. Read More...

Shiodome

Reminiscent of West Shinjuku, Shiodome is a condensed area with many ultra-modern sky scrapers. Located directly south of Ginza it’s just a short 15 minute away. Shiodome itself almost borders on the Tokyo Bay, giving easy access to the Tokyo Water Bus should you want to take a tour of the city on the water. Aside from the plazas and sky scrapers, Shiodome has several must see spots:

Hama Rikyu Gardens

Located in the shadow of the Shiodome skyline is the sprawling Hama Rikyu Gardens, its size comparable with Ueno Park and the Imperial East Gardens. But the comparison stops there as the Hama Rikyu is completely unique. Thanks in part to its huge plot of land... Read More...

Tsukiji fish market

Why would you want to go to a Fish Market? Well, it’s the biggest in the world and a very unique experience! First there is the danger and excitement of entering the market without getting run over by the constant and rushed stream of forklifts, trucks, scooters, heavy equipment. Then there is the... Read More...

Kyu Shiba Rikyu Gardens

Located just a short walk away from the Hama Rikyu, the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Gardens takes its place as one of two feudal era gardens which have survived over 300 years, from the Edo period to present day (the other is the Koishikawa Korakuen). In 1678 this land reclaimed and became the residence the ruling Tokugawa Shogun at that time. (Okubo Tadatomo) Read More...

How to get to Central Tokyo

JR Yamanote Line – Tokyo Station

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