Tokyo Sight Seeing
Tokyo is in a class of its own when it comes to sight seeing. A modern city, yet with 1000 year old gardens and temples there is an abundance of sight seeing for tourist and explorer.
Tokyo Tower – Tokyo
Soaring high in the sky, the bright international orange Tokyo Tower glows, whether its day or night. The grandness and impact can only be known by actually visiting the tower, photographs and film doesn’t do it justice. Not only does it glow a warm orange during morning and later afternoon, at night time the tower lights up, illuminating the night like a beacon.
Read more about the Tokyo Tower
Tours
Two recommended tours of Tokyo are the Himiko Ferry Tour, where you splash through Tokyo via its water ways in a boat which seems like it was stolen off the set for a Bond film.
Another and much more humble tour would be the Asakusa Rickshaw tour, where an energetic young man will wheel you around all the fascinating spots in one of Tokyo’s oldest and culturally rich areas. Rides can be either 20,30,40,50 or over an hour. And range between 2,000-3,000 yen.
http://www.asakusa-e.com/jinriki/jinriki_e.htm
Meiji Shrine
In honor of Emperor Meiji for turning Japan into a World Power and transforming the country from feudal to modern the Meiji Shrine was constructed. The grounds itself are a sprawling forest which stretches all the way from Harajuku to Shinjuku. In the midst of the forest you will find not only the awe-inspiring shrine but several gardens and museums. Meiji Shrine
Sensoji Temple
Located in North Central Tokyo is possibly the most immersing and spectacular Temple/Shrine experience in Tokyo. But we’ll let you be the judge. You’ll find not only the Sensoji Temple but two enormous gates, a five-storied pagoda, several more temples and shrines and a full traditional street market. Sensoji Temple
Shinjuku National Gyoen
Taking its place amongst the top gardens in Japan, the Shinjuku Gyoen is a delight and an experience. Tourists will be pleased to hear that admission is in fact free on weekends. During the week the fee is a nominal 200 yen making it amongst the cheapest gardens to visit.
Fees aside, not only is the Shinjuku Gyoen the largest garden in Tokyo, it has arguably the best Japanese garden, if not for the fact that due to its large size it can host a wide array of elements. But that’s only the beginning. Shinjuku National Gyoen
Imperial Palace Gardens
The former palace of the Emperor certainly is grand and imperial. Luckily for tourists there is no admission fee. However the park is closed on Mondays and Fridays, so be sure to time your jaunt accordingly. Being fit for an emperor one can only imagine what beauty and vistas await inside. The gardens certainly do not disappoint. With a stunning Japanese Garden, fields and enclosures, the recurring design element is ‘size matters’. Imperial Palace Gardens
Shibuya
Frankly speaking, Shibuya is most frequented by young women, from late teens to twenties who come here to keep up with the latest music and fashion trends. Different from Ginza which is strictly high-end shopping, Shibuya is trendy, whether it be high-end or not. Other than the hottest fashion trends, strangely or not so strangely, Shibuya has the largest network of Love Hotels in Japan, alley after alley of seedy and tacky love shacks. Shibuya
Ginza
Synonymous with shopping, Ginza is in fact the Mecca of shopping in Tokyo, with not only some of the largest department stores in the city, but streets and streets of high-end boutiques and stores. Once the sun sets and darkness falls the neon switches on and Ginza is transformed into the quintessential image of Tokyo at night, flashy. Ginza
Ameya Yokocho Market
Nothing gets you immersed into the Tokyo experience quite like meandering through a crowded, loud and energetic market. Case and point, Ameya Yokocho Market. Located in Ueno, (Tokyo’s northern most city) you’ll find the market squished between the rusting elevated rail tracks and the Yodobashi Camera electronics store. Aside from the unique atmosphere you’ll find a whole slue of goods, chiefly food and clothing, from modern to traditional. Ameya Yokocho Market
