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About the City
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is one of the largest cities of the world with a population of 12 million. Just walking the streets of this hyperactive city can be an energizing experience. Step back from the frenetic main roads and chances are you'll find yourself in a world of tranquil backstreets, where wooden houses are fronted by neatly clipped bonsai trees; wander beyond the high-tech department stores, and you'll find ancient temples and shrines. As Japan’s center for political, economic, and cultural activities, Tokyo is, undoubtedly, one of the most advanced cities of the world.
| TRAVEL: | | The whole of Tokyo's public transport system is efficient, clean and safe – you'll find the trains
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| | | and subways the best way of getting around. Once you've got a feel for the city, buses can be
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| | | a good way of cutting across the few areas of Tokyo not served by a subway or train line. For
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| | | short, cross-town journeys, taxis are handy and, if shared by a group of people, not that
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| | | expensive.
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| ACCOMODATIONS: | | Toyko offers a broad range of accommodations to suit your travel needs – from world class
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| | | luxury hotels to affordable boutique hotels.
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| DINING: | | With at least 80,000 restaurants in central Tokyo (compared to New York's 15,000 and London's
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| | | mere 6000), you're swamped with choice. Virtually every type of cuisine is on offer, from African
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| | | to Vietnamese, not to mention endless permutations on Japanese favorites such as sushi, ramen,
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| | | tempura, and yakitori.
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| SPORTS: | | In and around Tokyo you can find almost every type of recreation known – tennis, swimming,
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| | | horseback riding, skiing, and even hang-gliding.
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| CULTURE: | | A festival is held virtually every day of the year; people regularly visit their local shrine or temple
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| | | and scrupulously observe the passing seasons. And, at the centre of it all, is the Imperial Palace
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| | | – home to the emperor and a tangible link to the past. Many of the city's highlights are free: a
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| | | stroll through the evocative Shitamachi (low city) area around Asakusa and the major Buddhist
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| | | temple Senso-ji; a visit to the tranquil wooded grounds of Meiji-jingu, the city's most venerable
| | | | Shinto shrine, and the nearby teenage shopping mecca of Harajuku; the frenetic fish market at
| | | | Tsukiji; the crackling, neon-saturated atmosphere of the mini-city Shinjuku.
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