Tokyo is one of the most popular destinations for tourists from all around the world. This homogeneous city is known for its cleanliness, efficiency, and safety, but the city also offers a wide range of historical landmarks, shopping and retail destinations, museums, outdoor locations, sports, and entertainment activities. Whatever your tastes, Tokyo can satisfy them through its fascination with technology and the unique quirks of Japanese history and culture. Central Tokyo has a population of 8 million people but the entire metropolitan region has more than 35 million residents making it by most measures the largest city in the world.

HISTORIC RISE OF JAPAN IN WORLD AFFAIRS

Despite a long and proud history of several thousand years of independent rule, Japan was regarded as a minor power by the western world prior to the middle of the 19th century. The island nation was largely closed off to international trade and the economic benefits of the industrial revolution. This all changed after Commodore Perry opened up the economy to world commerce in 1858 and the Japanese restored  imperial rule and centralized the political, military and international policies of the nation. Within 80 years, Japan transformed itself into a modern state with a growing urban population in Tokyo and other cities. Japan defeated Russia and China in military contests, and increasingly began to come into conflict with the British empire, China, and the United States over access to raw materials and control of the Pacific region. The defeat of Japan in World War II devastated the nation but within a few decades thereafter the country rose to prominence again. Its leaders implemented democratic government and land reforms and then the country built an export driven economy that produced a prosperous standard of living for its people.  Japan faces new challenges with an aging population but remains the third largest economy in the world with the eleventh largest population, while continuing to play a major role in technology, culture, and financial matters.  

There is so much to do in Tokyo that it is difficult to decide where to start but some of the best activities to enjoy include these places:

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES

Senso-ji Temple-   The Senso-ji Temple is a large temple complex located in the northern part of the old city known as the Asakusa District. It is a Buddhist shrine with traditional style pagodas, ceremonial gates, a treasure house, bell stands, worship areas, a large incense burner, and a variety of shops selling traditional goods and herbal medicines. Originally constructed in 645 by a spiritual leader and dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, people come to the temple to light candles and make offerings to her image in the main hall.  While preserving the traditional architecture of the original temple, most of the structures on the site consist of newer buildings constructed after earthquakes and World War II bombings devastated the area. Nevertheless, the temple area is still considered sacred and attracts a wide range of devotees, local residents, and tourists throughout the year.
Imperial Palace- The Japanese shogun Ieyasu and his successors began moving many imperial activities away from the traditional capital of Kyoto in the early 1600s to the growing city of Tokyo then known as Edo. As part of this shift of control, work began on a new palace in Edo that would become one of the largest palaces in the world and a center of political power for centuries thereafter. Despite the purely ceremonial functions of Japan's emperor and its royal family today, the Imperial Palace rebuilt after World War II and the public parks surrounding it remain an important national symbol. The picturesque palace, the stone bridges leading to it, and the royal gardens are a popular stop on tours of the city for photographs.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND MUSEUMS

Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea: Japanese families and children have embraced Disney characters and amusement parks with the same fervor they show for video games, anime and Pokemon. After Disney acquired a prime waterfront site just north of Tokyo Bay in the 1980s, it opened the Disneyland and Disney Sea theme parks there in 1983 and 2001 respectively. These two theme parks attract more than 30 million visitors annually. When we visited the parks, it was startling to see how many of the pre-teen and older children were outfitted as Disney characters or were carrying stuffed animals of the Japanese Disney craze, “Duffy the Bear.” The Tokyo parks are also outstanding in design. The centerpiece of Disney Sea is a huge man made volcano located in the middle of a lake, which served as the location for several rides based on Jules Verne’s’ “20,000 Leagues under the Sea,” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” The Tokyo resort also contains replicas of unique places around the world such as the canals of Venice and even a New England fishing village. It is a short train ride from downtown Tokyo to the Disney parks and many international families and couples visiting the city include a stop there on their vacation.

Ueno Park-   For over 150 years, Ueno Park has thrived in northern Tokyo adjacent to the Senso-ji Temple as a picturesque place for people to relax, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of nature in the middle of the city.  Ironically, the park was established shortly after an important battle took place there between imperial soldiers supporting the victorious emperor and those fighting for the Tokugawa shogun. While several shrines and statues have been erected honoring the various combatants, most of the 133 acre is dedicated to passive recreation. The most important event held in the park each year is the springtime cherry blossom festival. An estimated 800 trees line the main walkway of the park and large crowds gather there for family parties to view them and celebrate the beauty of nature.  Another popular attraction in the park is Shinobazu pond where lotus flower beds, birds and rowboats share the water. Families enjoy visiting the Ueno Zoo which contains many large and small animals native to East Asia such as elephants, Hokkaido brown bears, monkeys and the always popular giant pandas.  Complementing these natural attractions are the National Science Museum with many exhibits on natural history, science and technology, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

National Museum-  The Tokyo National Museum located at the northern end of Ueno Park has a large collection of treasures, art, sculptures, cultural items, costumes, and archeological artifacts that bring to life the different periods of Japanese history. In addition to standing galleries and exhibits, there are many temporary exhibitions that focus on particular topics of interest. For example, during our visit, the museum had a whole section filled with various type of Japanese woodblock prints showing slices of life in the country from the 17th to the 19th century. Another exhibit displayed colorful kimonos and other textiles. You can also see the armor and weapons used by samurai warriors for battles and ceremonies. One section of the  museum focuses on non-Japanese art from Korea, China and other Asian cultures, and another presents burial figurines and cooking material from the traditional cultures who inhabited the island of Japan. 

SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT 

Tokyo has an excellent reputation for providing quality restaurants, futuristic entertainment, and shopping venues offering international and local brands. Two examples of locations worth exploring are: 

Ginza District- Ginza Street and the surrounding area has been the most prestigious location for shopping, dining, and entertainment  Tokyo for almost one hundred years. The street is named after the silver mint buildings once located there and today  land and buildings in the vicinity are some of the most expensive in Japan. Department stores,retail shops, and boutique outlets offering international luxury goods and boutique fashions remain important fixtures on the street. However, the Ginza district is also full of Michelin restaurants, art galleries, gourmet food stores, coffee houses, and street performers. On weekends, the main street is closed to vehicles creating a wide pedestrian thoroughfare for people to enjoy the outdoors while shopping and eating. Typical of Japan's unique culture, dozens of people flock to photograph unusual displays such as a group of decorated cats posing on a street sign outside of a fashion house.  

Akihabara District- The Akihabara District of Tokyo became a popular location for shoppers in the decades after World War II as a center for electronic shops, cameras, and communication devices. Those types of stores can still be found in the area and include everything from huge retail outlets like the Yodobashi electronics shop to small stores specializing in one product. Whatever kind of cell phone, computer, television, camera or gadget, you are interested in, it can be bought here. But Akihabara has further evolved into the center for Japanese anime and otaku culture which generally includes everything from video games, anime, cosplay, and collectibles. On one corner, there may be a 3D digital theater with concerts and anime events, and on another may be a cafe with waitresses dressed as cartoon characters or maids. With bright neon lights and unusual sights all around, it is an unique cultural and entertainment experience. For a more relaxing experience, karaoke bars offering a central stage or private rooms allow people to enjoy themselves too. 

SPORTS

Tokyo provides visitors with an opportunity to see some interesting sporting events. Three times each year, the city hosts 15 day long sumo wrestling tournaments at the 10,000 seat National Sumo Stadium. At these tournaments, the massive wrestlers try to push their opponent out of the circular ring or force them to the ground. There are a lot of rituals and ceremonies engaged in by the combatants prior to each contest, followed by some stomping and yelling, and finally an impressive collision of two giants. When there are no tournaments going on, some sumo stables allow visitors to watch practice sessions. Japanese baseball games held at the impressive Tokyo Dome or Jingu Stadium also provide a high level of play and collaborative cheering that adds to the excitement of the game.