Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the centre of the
Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area in the world. Tokyo
has been described as one of the three "command centres" for the
world economy, along with New York City and London. The city is considered an
alpha+ world city, listed by the GaWC's 2008 inventory and ranked fourth among
global cities by A.T. Kearney's 2012 Global Cities Index. In 2012, Tokyo was
named the most expensive city for expatriates, according to the Mercer and
Economist Intelligence Unit cost-of-living surveys, and in 2009 named the third
Most Liveable City and the World’s Most Liveable Megalopolis by the magazine
Monocle. Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics and is
currently a candidate city for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
Tokyo is a marvellous mix of modern living and
old-fashioned manners, slick high-tech gadgets and cutesy cartoon mascots. It's
terribly crowded, yet can be strangely quiet. There are shrines
and stone lanterns and other traces of old Japan scattered among the
skyscrapers, swanky shopping malls and hole-in-the-wall noodle shops.
Activities
to experience only in Tokyo :
Ueno Park
Ueno Park is Tokyo's most significant cultural
centre. Its 300 acres are filled with museums, temples, shrines, natural
attractions, important institutions and several of Japan's top schools. Ueno
Park is the perfect place for dipping a toe into Japanese culture. In recent
times the park and its attractions have drawn over ten million visitors a year,
making it Japan's most popular city park.
As the home of more than 1,000 cherry blossom trees,
the park is a prime springtime sakura-watching spot for Tokyoites as well as
visitors. Other fascinating attractions in Ueno Park are the Tokyo National
Museum, Ueno Zoo, Kaneji Temple, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo Bunka
Kaikan and many more.
Sumo at Tokyo’s National Sumo Hall
If you happen to be in Tokyo during one of the three
grand tournaments–15-day events in January, May and September-you can catch
some of the action at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo's National Sumo Hall. Try
to be inside the arena at the start of a new round, when the rikishi parade
into the arena wearing ceremonial aprons over their loincloths, and sometimes a
former champion demonstrates some classic moves.
Yoyogi Park in Shibuya-ku
Yoyogi Park has a mellower side that's also worth
exploring — areas to the north and west, past the fountain pond and central
field. With living space so tight in this city, parks are the places for club
meetings and practice sessions and even play rehearsals, and Yoyogi draws all
sorts of talent, from horn players to hip-hop dancers to rockabilly gangs,
complete with poodle skirts and Elvis-inspired pompadours, who usually gather
by the park's east side entrance on Sundays to jam to American pop music from
the '50s.
Omotesando
Omotesando is often referred as Tokyo’s Champ Elysees.
Omotesando is a luxury retailer’s dream home. Take a stroll along the broad
tree-lined Omotesando boulevard for a spot of window-shopping and a bite-sized
summary of Japanese modern architecture. It is along this street that a growing
number of international fashion houses have commissioned Japan's most cutting
edge architects to create flagship stores. You can find many luxury-good brands
like Louis Vitton, Prada, Burberry, Chanel and Tod’s stores in Omotesando.
Walking at the Shibuya Crossing
It would be a shame to come to Tokyo and not take a
walk across the famous intersection outside Shibuya Station. On sunny
afternoons or clear evenings, the surrounding area is packed with shoppers,
students, young couples and commuters. Next, head to Shibuya Station and down
to the bustling Tokyu Food Show for an elegant array of gourmet eats and an
education in local tastes: grilled eel, tiny fish salad, octopus on a stick,
seafood-and-rice seaweed wraps and much more. There are aisles
full of beautifully packaged treats — rice crackers, mochi cakes, jellied
confections. And there is also a pickle counter.
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At Tsukiji Fish Market |
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Tuna auction |
Tsukiji Fish Market
Seafood does not come any fresher than at the vast
wholesale fish and fresh produce market known as Tsukiji, the world's largest,
busiest fish market has long been a favourite destination for jet-lagged
tourists with predawn hours to fill. But the main reason for going at 5 a.m. is
to catch the live tuna auctions.
It's been said that no visit to Tsukiji is complete
without a sushi breakfast. Here, you can enjoy a breakfast of top-class sushi.
If
the wholesale market smells too fishy for you, a less pungent alternative is
Tsukiji's outer market, a warren of narrow streets packed with stalls selling
fresh seafood and other specialty items, such as real wasabi. You can buy bowls
and sashimi knives there too.
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