Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis. It is also one of Japan's 47prefectures, consisting of 23 central city wards and multiple cities, towns and villages west of the city center. The Izu and Ogasawara Islands are also part of Tokyo. Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. 

A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.

Today, Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors. The city's history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa, and in many excellentmuseums, historic temples and gardens. Contrary to common perception, Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.

One of the most popular places to visit in Tokyo is the Meiji Jingu Shrine. It was completed in 1920 to honour the Emperor Meiji. Entrance to the shrine itself is free and for a small fee you can also walk through the gardens. The western suburb of Kichijoji is home to Inokashia Park. Stroll through the park, take a look at the large numbers cherry and maple trees or visit the Ghibli Museum.

It celebrates the Studio Ghibli films, including successful movies like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. To visit the museum, you must pre-buy your ticket from a Lawson convenience store. A visit to the government offices in the Shinjuku district is a really good idea, as the 45th floor observation decks offer fantastic views of the city. And best of all, they're free!

Four of the most important national museums are in Ueno Park. The Tokyo National Museum is the country's largest museum and houses a huge selection of Japanese art. You'll also find the National Museum of Western Art, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the National Museum of Science. There's a zoo in this park too. Another of Tokyo's main museums is the Sumo Museum. It's free to get in and a good choice if you haven't been able to make a sumo tournament while in the city. Here you'll see all kinds of interesting sumo memorabilia.

One of the main shopping areas in Tokyo, Shibuya is filled with stores, restaurants, and a riot of colourful billboards and giant TV screens. Center Gai is filled with clothes and music shops, as well as arcades. For high fashion, the Ginza district is the place to go. Filled to the brim with upmarket stores and restaurants, this area is a haven for shopaholics. Akihabara is also known as Tokyo's 'Electric Town' and is a must-see for the technologically inclined. There are a huge number of shops here, selling everything from computers to video games to complicated gadgetry. It's also a good spot to find manga and anime.

You won't find a lot of older buildings in Tokyo and the city's architecture is generally done in modern or contemporary styles. Many of the older buildings were destroyed during events such as the massive 1923 earthquake and the fire bombings during WW2.

Tokyo map

One neighbourhood you shouldn't miss when visiting Tokyo is Harajuku, which is especially intriguing on Sundays. Here you'll see Japanese youth culture in all its glory, including the famous 'Harajuku girls'. It's also a great place for shopping throughout the week, with lots of clothes shops, music stores, cafés, and more. Yoyogi Park is the place where people hang out at the weekend and here you can check out street performers of all kinds.