The largest city in the country and the capital of Japan, Tokyo is geographically located in the center of the Japanese archipelago on Honshu, the country’s largest and most important island. Situated near the southern part of the Kanto area, Tokyo is bounded on the east by Chiba, while Yamanashi lies to the west. To the north lies Saitama, while Kanagawa is in the south. South East of Tokyo lies Tokyo Bay. Approximately 2187 sq km in area, this city is one of Japan’s 47 prefectures, and is divided into 23 city wards also known as ku, 26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages including the islands of Izu and Ogasawara.
With a rich geographical landscape that features hills, plateaus, and mountains, Tokyo is an amazing city to visit. Previously known as Edo, Tokyo was a small castle town in the 16th century. However by 1603 this city became Japan’s political center and grew into one of the world’s most populous cities. When Emperor Meiji came into power in 1868, he made Edo the capital of Japan and renamed it Tokyo which means ‘eastern capital’. Though large parts of the city were badly destroyed in the great earthquake of 1923 and during World War II, Tokyo has emerged from these disasters to become one of the most influential cities in the world.
To locals and foreigners alike Tokyo is a huge maze of streets with no real city center. Almost everything of interest in the city lies on or within the Yamanote railway line that encircles central Tokyo. In the center of this circle lies the Imperial Palace, while to the east are Ginza and Marunouchi. In the west you will find Akasaka, Roppongi, and Shinjuku, while Ikebukuro lies in the northwest of the city. To the northeast lie the districts of Ueno and Asakusa. If you look at a map of Tokyo most of the city’s major hotels, nightlife and attractions are situated near or inside the Yamanote railway line.
Getting around Tokyo can be an extremely arduous task as most of the streets are not named. Though most major thoroughfares are known, it is exploring the lesser known streets can cause quite a problem. To make matters worse Tokyo’s address system is based on a complex numerical plan that can even confuse Tokyoites as well. The most important street in the city is Meiji Dori, which follows the Yamanote railway line and runs from Ebisu through Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro. Another two popular streets are Yasukuni Dori and Shinjuku Dori, which cut across the city from Shinjuku to Chiyoda-ku. In Tokyo every district has a famous crossing or intersection. Two popular crossings in the city are the Ginza 4-Chome Crossing at the intersection of Chuo Dori and Harumi Dori, and the Roppongi Crossing at the intersection of Roppongi Dori and Gaien-Higashi Dori.
One of the best ways to navigate around Tokyo is to divide the city into tiny pieces and explore each one separately. Hibiya is the business district of the city and is home to the Imperial Palace. Nihombashi, which extends east of Tokyo Station, is the city’s financial center and home to the Tokyo Stock Exchange as well as headquarters for many major international banks and companies. Marunouchi is one of Tokyo's oldest business districts and lies south and west of Tokyo Station. Located here is the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo, Japan’s most exclusive and expensive retreat.
The extremely posh neighborhood of Ginza is the most expensive shopping area in the country. Here you will find a plethora of shops, malls, boutiques, hotels, art galleries, hostess clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants. Close by to Ginza is Tsukji which is famous for the Tsukji fish market, where you can purchase a variety of marine products.
Located in the northeast of central Tokyo is Asakusa one of Tokyo’s old districts. This neighborhood is famous for its Japanese souvenirs and the Sensoji Temple which is located here. West of Asakusa is Ueno where the city’s largest park Ueno-keno Park is located. North of this area lies Yanaka, an old fashion district with traditional homes and temples
Shinjuku lies in the west of the city and houses the country’s first skyscraper. A major business district, this area of the city is also known for its sometimes wild and crazy nightlife. Harajuku is where most of the city’s younger generation hangs out. Located here are the famous and fashionable streets of Omotesando Dori and Takeshita Dori. The Oriental Bazaar and Meiji Shrine can also be found in this part of the city. Aoyama is an easy walk from Harajuku and boasts some of the most expensive restaurants and boutiques in the city.
Just north of Shinjuku is Ikebukuro, where you will find two of the country’s largest department stores Seibu and Tobu. This area is also home to the Sunshine City Building, one of Japan's tallest skyscrapers. Akihabara is the place to shop for electrical and electronic appliances, while Shibuya is an important commuter center. The Shibuya Crossing is reportedly the country’s busiest intersection, and is often nicknamed ‘the Times Square of Tokyo.’ South of Shibuya is Ebisu, a thriving residential district with a popular nightlife, while nearby is Roppongi, Tokyo's most famous nightlife quarter outside Shinjuku. Akasaka and Shinagawa are located next on the map but offer little in terms of attractions to tourists.
The district of Ryogoku is situated east of the Sumida River and has been Tokyo's sumo town since the 17th century. This area is houses a sumo stadium and museum, as well as sumo stables where wrestlers live and train. Odaiba is the newest district in the city, and is located near Tokyo Bay. Connected to the city by the Rainbow Bridge, this area is an interesting place to visit with its many shopping complexes, futuristic buildings and a hot-spring public bath. It is also one of Tokyo’s hottest dating area.
