Main Attractions

Imperial Palace
Japan’s Imperial Palace is regarded as the heart and soul of Tokyo, standing on a huge site that still bears the remains of Edo Castle, stronghold of the Tokugawa shogunate. The present palace was completed in 1888 and is still home to the emperor of Japan. The palace is off-limits but its grounds and surrounds provide a much-needed green open space for the city with Higashi Gyoen (East Garden), site of the Edo Castle keep, open to the public. On 2 January and 23 December each year visitors are able to enter the inner grounds and see the Imperial family make public appearances from the balcony. Guided tours of the palace are offered, but are only in Japanese, although an English pamphlet and audio guide are provided; these must be reserved in advance through the Imperial Household Agency. In spring the gardens are abloom with cherry blossom, particularly along the castle moat.

Transport: Subway to Tokyo station;

Opening times: East Garden is open daily except Monday and Friday from 9am to 4pm (until 3.30pm between November and February). Closed from 28 December to 3 January and when Imperial Court functions take place;

Admission: East Garden has no admission

Yasukuni Shrine
To the north of the Imperial Palace lies the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, built to commemorate Japanese war dead and now regarded as home to the souls of about two and a half million who perished in conflict, mostly in the Pacific War of World War II. Soldiers fought in the knowledge that their spirits would find rest and honour at Yasukuni in the after-life. The shrine has caused controversy for various political reasons over the years since it was built in 1869 in honour of supporters of the emperor, killed in the run up to the Meiji Restoration. More recently, with regard to the country’s constitution that requires the separation of State and religion, cabinet ministers have been criticised for attending anniversaries of Japan’s defeat in World War II held at the shrine. The shrine is confined behind a huge steel torii gate, opening onto a long avenue lined with gingko and cherry trees. The Worship Hall itself is a simple Shinto style building. North of the shrine is the Yushukan Museum, containing war memorabilia, some of which is disturbing and thought-provoking such as the human torpedo and kamikaze suicide attack plane.

Website: www.yasukuni.or.jp

Transport: Subway to Kudanshita Station

Opening times: Shrine open 24 hours daily. Museum open daily 9am to 5pm

Edo-Tokyo Museum
Tokyo’s museum dedicated to detailing the city’s history, art, culture and architecture through the medium of visual displays is an impressive, not to be missed attraction. Edo was the old name for Tokyo from its foundation in 1590 when it became the seat of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun. Exhibits include a replica of an ancient Kabuki theatre, maps, photographs and portrayals of the lives of the city’s merchants, craftsmen and townspeople in days gone by.

Location: 1–4–1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku

Telephone: (03) 3626 9974

Website: www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp

Transport: Train to Ryogoku Station on JR Sobu line (West Exit) or subway to Ryogoku on the Oedo line (A3/A4 exit)

Opening times: Monday to Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday 9.30am to 5.30pm; Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 8pm. Free tours given daily between 10am and 3pm

Admission: ¥600

Akihabara
Tokyo’s electronic wonderland has become world-renowned. In a small area near Chuo-dori Avenue, west of Akihabara Station, are clustered more than 250 electrical appliance and electronics shops, many of them now dealing in computer hardware and software, where expert staff can answer queries and visitors can browse through the showrooms of major manufacturers. There are duty-free shops and various events to draw the attention. The suburb has been specialising in electrical equipment since the 1940s and is now regarded as the world’s biggest and best electrical equipment enclave.

Website: www.akiba.or.jp

Transport: Subway to Akihabara Station

Opening times: Stores are open from 10am to 7pm daily

Sensoji Temple
The Asakusa neighbourhood of Tokyo draws visitors to admire the city’s oldest temple, Senso-ji, founded in AD628 with a quaint legend attached to it. The story goes that two young brothers fishing in the nearby river netted a golden image of Kan’non, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, and were inspired to enshrine it in the temple. The statuette is still inside, but never shown to the public, though pilgrims flock here every day seeking the favour of the goddess. There are also numerous festivals associated with the shrine, and a hugely popular firework display is held on the Sumida River every summer. Tourists enjoy the visit to the temple mainly because the approach is a colourful pedestrian lane, Nakamise Dori, lined with shops and souvenir stalls. Nearby, the Demboin Garden is a good spot to grab a break from the city crowds.

Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa Taito-ku, Shitamachi (downtown)

Telephone: (0)3 3842 0181

Transport: Subway to Asakusa station

Opening times: Daily 6am to 5pm

Tokyo Disneyland
Plenty of fun is to be had for the young and young at heart at Tokyo’s Disneyland, virtually a carbon copy of the theme park in California in the United States. The expected attractions like a Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain and Toontown are all included on the huge site, along with a sea park and five hotels.

Telephone: (045) 683 3333

Website: www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp

Transport: The park is reached via the JR Keiyo Line or JR Musashino Line from Tokyo Station; disembark at Maihama Station (South Exit) where there is a Disneyland Welcome Centre

Opening times: Daily 8am to 10pm (summer), 9am to 9pm (winter)

Admission: One-day passport: ¥5,500 (adults), ¥4,800 (children ages12-17), ¥3,700 (children ages 4-11). Several other ticket options are also available

Tokyo National Museum
Close to Ueno Station, enclosed in the Tokyo Metropolitan Imperial Gift Park, the National Museum boasts the largest collection of Japanese art in the world. Exhibits range from antique kimonos and delicate pottery to woodblock prints and archaeological finds. The vast collection is displayed on a rotating basis with at least 4,000 artefacts visible at any time, so the museum always has something new to offer. The museum consists of five different buildings containing numerous galleries, so one needs sufficient time to do it justice. The Imperial Gift Park also contains some other cultural institutions, including a zoo, the Metropolitan Art Museum, Bunka Kaikan Cultural Hall, the Western Art Museum and the National Science Museum.

Address: 13-9 Ueno Park,Taito-ku; Telephone: (03) 3822 1111

Website: www.tnm.go.jp

Transport: 10 minutes walk from Ueno or Uguisudani Station on the JR line

Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 5pm, depending on season; closed Mondays. On Fridays from April to November open until 8pm; Saturdays and Sundays from April to September until 6pm

Admission: ¥420 (adults), ¥130 (students), free for scholars