Tokyo is one of the 47 prefectures and the capital and is the largest city of Japan. Tokyo translates to eastern capital and is the largest city of Japan. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world. Japan’s bustling capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers and anime shops to cherry trees and temples.The city is famed for its vibrant food scene, and its Shibuya and Harajuku districts are the heart of its trendy teen fashion scene.Tradition collides with pop culture in Tokyo, where you can reverently wander ancient temples before rocking out at a karaoke bar.
Tokyo is not only the political and economical center of Japan, it has also emerged as a center of the world economy and culture. There are a number of attractions in Tokyo that should not be missed.
The beginnings of the city of Tokyo can be traced back as early as 1457, in the Sengoku era, when construction began on the Edo Castle. The castle itself was not considered particularly significant at the time, but its importance grew considerably once Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who was to become the first Japanese shogun, chose it as his seat of power. Ieyasu obtaining the title of shogun in 1603 marks the start of the Edo era, and the rapid ascension of the city of Edo, which is later to become the megalopolis of Tokyo. The castle itself was completed three years after Ieyasu’s rise to power.
Read More
Tokugawa Ieyasu
The Tokugawa clan ruled over Edo for two and a half centuries henceforth, until the time of the Meiji Restoration, which started in 1868. Emperor Meiji, or Mutsuhito, dissolved the Tokugawa shogunate, establishing imperial rule once more. While the emperor had been the legitimate ruler of Japan all along, the creation of the shogunate took actual control away from the Imperial Court in Kyoto. With the events of the Meiji Restoration, power has been returned to the emperor, who in turn established the Meiji Government.
Following the revolution, the capital was changed from Kyoto to Edo, where emperor Meiji was enthroned. Thus, Edo was renamed to Tokyo (Tokyo, or 東京, is written with the characters “east” and “capital”, and its name literally means “eastern capital”). With this change of status, Tokyo quickly became the site of rapid development and construction.
In 1923, an immense earthquake hit Tokyo, leveling or majorly damaging three quarters of the city. This tragedy led to the a significant change in construction materials and methods – as a result, today’s Tokyo is an earthquake-resistant city, with all buildings constructed flexibly.
Police department damaged during the earthquake in 1923
During World War II, Tokyo suffered immense casualties and damage due to American bombing. Since Tokyo – and Japan in general – had no air defense worth mentioning, air raids were a constant danger. The worst such attack happened in 1945, when several hundred of American bombers assaulted the city, and roughly a quarter of the city perished in the resulting flames. Half the city’s population evacuated as a result.
These two tragedies halted the city’s development due to the huge amount of damage which had to be repaired, but the post-war era saw the rise of a new Tokyo, no longer a capital in name only. Tokyo grew rapidly, and as a result today’s metropolitan area houses more than 13 million people, spread across 23 wards. Economically, the GDP of Tokyo’s metropolitan area is the highest in the world.
Tokyo Tower And Tokyo Skytree:
Read
Tokyo Tower is the world’s tallest, self-supported steel tower and 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower. A symbol of Japan’s post-war rebirth as a major economic power, Tokyo Tower was the country’s tallest structure from its completion in 1958 until 2012 when it was surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree. The tower’s main observatory at 150 meters is reached via elevator or a 600-step staircase, while the smaller Special Observatory reaches a height of 249.6 metres (819 ft).It was constructed of steel, a third of which was scrap metal taken from US tanks damaged in the Korean War.
Tokyo Tower,Tokyo,Japan
Below the tower stands the “Foot Town” building, which houses a variety of souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants and the One Piece Tower, an indoor amusement park. Opened on the 15th anniversary of the popular manga in 2015, the park offers a variety of shows, games and other attractions that feature characters from the series.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Skytree:
Tokyo Sky tree is the tallest building in Japan and the second tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion. A large shopping complex with aquarium is located at its base.The highlight of the Tokyo Skytree is its two observation decks which offer spectacular views out over Tokyo. The two enclosed decks are located at heights of 350 and 450 meters respectively, making them the highest observation decks in Japan and some of the highest in the world.
The Tokyo Skytree , A new television broadcasting tower and landmark of Tokyo
Tsukiji Fish Market:
Read
Tsukiji Market is a large wholesale market for fish, fruits and vegetables in central Tokyo. It is the most famous of over ten wholesale markets that handle the distribution of fish, meat, produce and flowers in Tokyo.The first market in Tokyo was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Edo period to provide food for Edo castle. Tokugawa Ieyasu invited fishermen from Tsukuda, Osaka to Edo to provide fish for the castle. Fish not bought by the castle was sold near the Nihonbashi bridge, at a market called uogashi which was one of many specialized wholesale markets that lined the canals of Edo (as Tokyo was known until the 1870s).
Tsukiji Market consists of an inner market where most of the wholesale business and the famous tuna auctions are taking place, and an outer market whose retail shops and restaurants cater to the public. A few restaurants are also found in the inner market.
Shinjuku Golden Gai:
Read
Shinjuku Golden Gai is a small area of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, famous both as an area of architectural interest and for its nightlife. It is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are just about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 200 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. In this area, shooting photograph and video on the street is prohibited.
Tokyo Disneyland:
Read
Tokyo Disneyland is a theme park based on the films produced by Walt Disney. It was opened in 1983 as the first Disney theme park outside of the United States. Modeled after Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland is made up of seven themed lands and features seasonal decorations and parades.
Meiji Shrine:
Read
Tourist in Meiji Jingu
Meiji Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located just beside the JR Yamanote Line’s busy Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll.
Kitaike pond in Meiji shrine
The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.
Tourist in Meiji Jingu
After the emperor’s death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration. An iris garden in an area of Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken had been known to visit was chosen as the building’s location.
Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 70 hectares (170 acres). This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo.
