This strange monument in the shape of a piano is a tribute to the song, "Isezaki Blues," made popular by Mina Aoe. She was a Japanese enka singer with a throaty voice that gave her the nickname "Queen of the Blues." Enka is a sort of ballad music usually performed by singers wearing traditional kimonos. This monument was erected after her death since she spread the name of Isezaki-cho across Japan. A switch at the bottom of the monument will play the song. -AH
Coming up the escalator from the Top Hat exit of Roppongi station you are faced with a giant spider sculpture known as Maman. It is one of a series created by Louise Bourgeois, a French-American artist and sculptor who died in 2010. Others exist at the Tate Modern in London, Kansas City, Ottawa, Bilbao, St. Petersberg, Seoul and Doha. Louise Bourgeois was known to say, "The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver." The Maman sculpture outside Mori Tower is often used as a distinctive meeting place. -AH
Nestled beneath the bustling streets of Tokyo's iconic Asakusa neighborhood lies a hidden treasure trove of nostalgia– Asakusa Underground Street. Time stands still in Japan's oldest underground shopping center, which made its debut in 1955. Step through the labyrinthine passage connected to the Asakusa metro station, where the gritty ambiance infuses the arcade with a unique charm. Explore a captivating array of shops, from inviting Japanese pubs and massage parlors to exotic eateries and psychic parlors. Immerse yourself in vintage stamps and DVD collections, and savor the rich cultures coexisting in this wonderland.