Watching over the increasingly cosmopolitan expanse of Tokyo, this lofty building is an architectural wonder. The Kenzo Tange-designed building, with its two distinctive towers, was the tallest building in Tokyo until 2006, when it lost its title to the Midtown Tower. Completed in 1990, the enormous building takes up three city blocks. Designed to look like a computer chip, the building has been called a beacon of technological advancement that embodies the contemporary vigor that the city is known for. The building itself is stunning and is topped by observation decks which afford dynamic views of the city sprawled below. The gargantuan scale of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building befits the sheer enormity of its function; it is from here that all of the 23 wards, as well as the various towns and villages of Tokyo are governed.
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.
Kabuki-za, the main kabuki theater in Tokyo since 1889, usually features two daily performances each consisting of three or four plays, and the repertoire is changed monthly. For 650 Yen, non-Japanese-speaking visitors can hire earphones that give an explanation in English. The visitor who does not have time for an entire performance can buy a ticket for the 4th floor to watch part of the show, but earphones are not available. Five restaurants provide a wide range of Japanese food and refreshments for visitors.
Built as a tribute to the soldiers and war heroes of Japan, the Yasukuni Shrine is a notable Shinto Shrine of the country. The shrine commemorates 2,466,532 people comprising of civilians and military and also including those from Taiwan and Korea who once served under the Japanese Emperor. Chinreisha, a separate shrine on the premise houses memorials for the soldiers who fought in opposition to Japan. The architecture of the wooden shrine is remarkable with green and gold embellished roofs and massive courtyards and quadrants dappled with cherry blossoms. The shrine has been a center of conflict, however, is also the hub for several festivals and events of the city. An intriguing site, the Yasukuni Shrine has garnered a lot of attention from locals as well as tourists.
The glorious Kōkyo (Tokyo Imperial Palace) is a magnificent structure in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward, nestled amid open parkland. The Fukiage, East, and Ninomaru Gardens front the palace, which is steeped in history and architectural excellence. Since Tokyo became the political and imperial capital in 1868, the Imperial Palace has served as the official royal residence. Located in what was once the inner section of Edo Castle, the seat of the Tokugawa shogun, this piece of prime real estate in central Tokyo is enclosed by walls and moats. The structure gives way to an equally elegant interior, which includes the Hōmeiden State Banquet Hall, the Rensui Dining Room and the Chōwaden Reception Hall among other sections. Only on two occasions—January 2 (New Year) and 23 February (Emperor Naruhito's birthday) do the Emperor and the Royal Family emerge and wave to the gathering crowd from behind bulletproof windows.
This Inari shrine is located in the center of Shinjuku's commercial district. Originally the Hanazono family provided their garden as a site for this shrine. Previously located near the Isetan department store, the shrine was later moved to its present site. Hanazono is unusual in that it holds an annual "festival of the fowls" (tori no ichi), which is not typically celebrated at an Inari shrine. Other than that, New Years' celebration, Flower Festival and Setsubun Festival are some of the major cultural events held here.