| Tokyo, capital city of Japan since 1869, is one of the | | | | Monday and Friday. If you happen to be there on |
| most populated metropolitan cities in the world. | | | | these two days, can visit the Imperial Palace Plaza |
| Believe it or not, Tokyo City is complex, big and | | | | instead. In the garden, you can have a closed up |
| always on the move. Be warned, if you are in Tokyo | | | | view on the massive stones that built the castle |
| City for the first time, you will be greeted with the | | | | walls, visit the Museum of Imperial Collections and |
| city's saturated big concrete high rise building, very | | | | enjoy a stroll on the typical Japanese garden. There |
| wide roads, raised concrete expressways crossing | | | | are three gates to the garden and the most |
| one another. | | | | commonly used gate is the Ote-mon on the east. |
| This remarkable city is also where the old meets the | | | | The Ote-mon is closed to the Tokyo Station and this |
| young. You can be in the most modern place such as | | | | was the principal entrance to Edo Castle for more |
| Roppongi in one minute and you can wonder down | | | | than 200 years. |
| the street to experience a traditional old shrine or | | | | After visiting the Imperial Place East Garden, it will be |
| town the next moment. This is the beauty of | | | | almost half a day gone and is a good time take a |
| exploring the City of Tokyo. | | | | rest and have lunch. If you are with a tour group, |
| Greater Tokyo has 23 wards (ku), 26 smaller cities, 7 | | | | your lunch will mostly be included. However, if you |
| towns and 8 villages. To have an appreciation of its | | | | are on you own, do not worry. There are plenty of |
| size, the distance from the east to west is 88 km | | | | eateries in the city of Tokyo, ranging from |
| (55 mil) while it is 24km (15 mil) from north to south. | | | | restaurant to fast food outlet. One of the best bet is |
| The way Tokyo City is organized seems to be a bit | | | | to get into the basement of a department stores |
| complicated in terms of finding a place even with | | | | where you can find food in the basement food hall. |
| address. You are not alone as the local themselves | | | | You can visit the nearby Mitsukoshi Department |
| find it difficult as well. The best way to go about it is | | | | Store in Tokyo's Gina district where you can eat to |
| to ask for direction. In Tokyo city, there are | | | | your hearts content. Finding suitable choices of food |
| numerous koban (local police box) where you can | | | | to suit you appetite is never a problem in Tokyo |
| approach for help. Believe it or not, the policemen | | | | because there are simply too many to chose from. If |
| spent most of their time helping people finding their | | | | you are not in for Japanese food, then go for a |
| destination. The lesson here is to always bring along | | | | simple burger. |
| the location map of your accommodation. You can | | | | The next stop will probable be the most celebrated |
| get it from your hotel. | | | | district of Asakusa. Do you know what, I visited this |
| The City of Tokyo is really a big place and the best | | | | place twice when I was in the City of Tokyo. This |
| way to know this city is to have an introductory city | | | | place is famous for the Sensoji Temple (Asakusa |
| tour. You can start your day by visiting the Meiji | | | | Kannon Temple) and the colorful Nakamise walkway |
| Shrine at Shibuya ku. The Meiji Shrine sits in Yoyoji | | | | leading to the temple. The Nakamise walkway is lined |
| Park. This is one of the must-see religious sites in | | | | with many colorful stores leading up to Sensoji |
| Tokyo which was dedicated to Emperor Meiji, the | | | | Temple, Tokyo's oldest and most famous Buddhist |
| first emperor of modern Japan. During New Year, it | | | | temple. This is where you can get all your souvenirs. |
| draws a million-plus of crowds. This gives you enough | | | | The last visit on your agenda might be the futuristic |
| good reasons to pay a visit. | | | | Odaiba which has become one of Tokyo's most |
| The next place to visit is the Imperial Palace East | | | | popular areas. You can cross over to this island via |
| Garden. Along the way, you will travel past the | | | | the Rainbow Bridge and enjoy the view of Tokyo |
| National Diet Building recognized by its | | | | bay. At Odiba you can visit places like the Palette |
| pyramid-shaped dome. This building houses the | | | | Town, the Aqua City and the unusual shopping mall |
| Japanese parliament. There is a free 60-minute tour | | | | of Venus Fort. It is rather a big place with some |
| of the Sangi-in or House of Councillors or Lower | | | | wonderful parks to stroll. |
| House when the Diet is not in session. If you are | | | | That is about all for an introductory day tour for |
| interested and have sufficient time, do come back | | | | Tokyo City. To fully enjoy the beauty of this city, |
| here again. | | | | you should pick one or more places to explore. For |
| The Imperial Palace East Garden (Higashi-Gyoen) is | | | | more informationon, please visit City of Tokyo. |
| open to public but not everyday. It is close on | | | | |