Located in the east of the city, Tokyo Station handles a vast array of commuter trains running north, south, east and west. All trains are color-coded to match the lines on which they run. Most lines run local, rapid and express trains. Tokyo Station is also the terminal for bullet trains running to all corners of the country. Tickets for these may be purchased at all major JR stations at the Midori Madoguchi (Green Window). It is best to make a seat reservation in advance. Moreover, the imperial red building also houses a plethora of shops, eateries and even a hotel within its premises, making it a premiere attraction.
Tokyo International Forum is an excellent venue for music, theater, dance performances, cinema and art exhibitions. It consists of four buildings, each with its own venue hall. Live performances are usually staged in Hall A and Hall B. The facilities are marvelous and include a variety of restaurants that cater to a wide range of culinary tastes. Concerts are also sometimes staged in the afternoon and evening.
The National Diet Building was built in 1936. It is about 65.5 meters (215 feet) high and takes up 103 square meters (1108.7 square feet) of space. There are two free tours available: the first one is offered by the House of Representatives (this tour is not offered on Saturdays, Sundays and a holidays) and the second one is offered by the House of Councilors. In these tours, you will see the lobby, conference hall and central hall of the National Diet Building. You don’t need to book in advance if you're going with less than nine people.
Construite en 1958, la Tour de Tokyo est d'une hauteur de 332 mètres, 13 mètres de plus que la Tour Eiffel. Il y a deux observatoires pour profiter de vues panoramiques de Tokyo et, par temps clair, du Mont Fuji. L'observatoire principal est 150 mètres de haut et l'observatoire spécial 250 mètres de haut. La tour est éclairée par 164 projecteurs : orange en hiver et blanc incandescent en été. À l'intérieur de la tour, vous trouverez aussi le Musée de Cire de la Tour de Tokyo, la Mystérieuse Zone Piétonnale et la Galerie d'Art Truquée.
The vast Iwasaki estate that was founded in 1886 by the Iwasaki family is an important cultural asset, whose crown jewel is the Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens. It has a beautiful western style residence, a princely Japanese style house and extensive gardens. The craft of making ‘kinkarakawa paper'(gold leather work like paper) has almost disappeared. But if you visit the Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens, you will see this work on the garden's wall, adding further cultural significance to this landmark. The gardens are free to visit for Junior High school and Elementary school students living in Tokyo.
The elegant Akamon, a symbol of the University of Tokyo, is also an important national cultural treasure. Built to welcome Yasuhime, the daughter of the 13th generation Shogun Ienari, on her visit to the samurai Maeda Family in 1828, the gate got its name from its beautiful vermilion color, and its eaves still retain the Maeda Family crest. While you are on the grounds, pause to consider this century-old masterpiece.
Founded in 1926, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum displays a wide range of Japanese art forms in its six huge galleries. Apart from organizing exhibitions of traditional Japanese crafts, graphic design and calligraphy by contemporary Japanese artists, the museum also holds art lectures and workshops for upcoming enthusiasts. Admission prices vary as per the exhibition. For more details, check the website.
So named because of its colorful lights, Rainbow Bridge spans the bay from Shibaura Wharf to Odaiba, one of Tokyo's premier wining and dining areas. Comprising eight traffic lanes and two railways, the bridge also has a pedestrian walkway and observation towers. Inaugurated in 1993, the suspension bridge is 918 meters long with a distance of 570 meters between the two towers. Another way to see this spectacular bridge would be to travel over it on the Yurikamome monorail line departing from Shimbashi. Or you could take a cruise boat upriver from Hinode Pier to Asakusa.
Surplombant le paysage de plus en plus cosmopolite de Sumida, la Tokyo Skytree est l’une des tours les plus hautes de son genre au Japon. Reflétant le virage contemporain de la ville, elle constitue un amalgame des goûts traditionnels du pays et d’éléments d’architecture néo-futuriste. S’élevant à 634 mètres de hauteur, cette immense tour abrite de nombreuses attractions, parmi lesquelles un restaurant, un café, un aquarium et plusieurs plateformes d’observation offrant des vues imprenables sur le paysage urbain métropolitain en-dessous. Servant également de tour de diffusion, la Tokyo Skytree s’enorgueillit de figurer parmi les tours les plus hautes du monde. Spectacle de grande beauté et de luminescence la nuit, la Tokyo Skytree est non seulement un élément dominant de l’horizon de Sumida, mais aussi un majestueux symbole du visage en constante évolution de la ville.
Here is another businessman's collection (Kaichiro Nezu 1860-1940) which has become a first-rate museum. Well represented are traditional Japanese art works. The museum is well known for its 14th century painting of "Nachi Waterfall", its screens (the irises by Korin) and its tea ceremony ware. There is also an excellent collection of Song and Yuan Chinese dynasty paintings. The facility itself is breathtaking with plenty of trees, a small pond and traditional sculptures dotting the landscape. Overall, this museum is guaranteed to fill you with tranquility and awe.
Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum is home to the works of the great artist, Taro Okamoto. Magnificent sculptures and paintings fill the museum. This Museum was his house and atelier, where he created many famous artworks. Here you can also catch a glimpse of rare manuscripts, which also hosts variety of exhibitions. His strange artworks will stimulate your creativity. For a nominal price you can learn all about this visionary artist and truly learn the meaning of abstract art.
Located in Daiba and fronted by a life-sized model of a Gundam, the seven-floor Diver City Tokyo Plaza has all the leading fashion brands, such as Old Navy, Uniqlo, Lacoste, Adidas and Diesel. On the ground floor, there is a food court, and the sixth floor has more formal restaurants serving a variety of world foods. First-time visitors to Japan can take a peek in the maid café for a unique experience, or make reservations to explore Gundam Front Tokyo, a shop/exhibit dedicated to the Japanese animated TV series. More run-of-the-mill entertainment options include tennis and bowling. There is an exchange bureau, and duty free shopping is available at some stores. The restaurants stay open later than the boutiques.