Overview
Effortlessly blending the
old and the
new, Tokyo is a city that defies definition.
Cutting-edge technology glitters beside
ancient temples, flashing
neon lights bathe
kimono-clad women, and
shining skyscrapers tower above stunning
Shinto shrines.
At first glance a city crowded by
cars and
hurrying commuters, Tokyo has spots of tranquility and
beautiful detail that amaze and astonish. Home to over 12 million people, this is a city with a history and a heart that
captivates every visitor.
This
sprawling megalopolis on the Pacific coast of Honshu is on the largest of the 6,800 Japanese islands.
In 1590, the city was founded as
Edo, the capital of the
shoguns, the succession of hereditary absolute rulers of Japan and commander of the Japanese army. Edo boasted its own vibrant culture, the celebrated ‘floating world’ of pleasure quarters, theaters and cherry blossoms, immortalized in the Japanese woodblock prints of the time.
Following the fall of the shoguns in 1867 (and the restoration of the power of the Emperor), the city was renamed Tokyo, the
Eastern Capital, heralding its rebirth as a
dynamic modern city and the showpiece of a rapidly modernizing country.
Despite the catastrophic
1923 earthquake and near obliteration during WWII, Tokyo rose from the ashes.
Now a bewildering amalgamation of districts and
neighborhoods, Tokyo still thrives as a coherent whole, due to the extraordinarily
efficient network of
rail and
underground lines that crisscross and encircle the city. These are
Tokyo’s arteries, transporting legions of businesspeople, office workers and students from the suburbs and depositing them in vast stations. Two million people a day pass through
Shinjuku Station alone.
The towering
business districts swarm with soberly dressed corporate warriors and the demure young secretaries known as ‘office flowers’. The
architectural anarchy and sheer crush of humanity assaults the senses. Amid the frenzy of
consumerism, brash
electronics outlets are crammed next to refined
upscale boutiques and hordes of
giggling schoolgirls swoon over pop idols and the latest fashions in
glitzy emporiums.
Downtown,
old neighborhoods cluster around
antiquated shopping arcades and the clatter of the
temple bell echoes across the rooftops. Here, the rhythms of the seasons are still observed. Tokyoites flock to ring in the
New Year at the venerable
Shinto shrines and springtime brings a flurry of flower-viewing parties and picnics under the
cherry blossoms.
Traditional festivals punctuate the humid summers and the
spirit of the old Edo also survives in the neon-bathed entertainment districts: modern-day ‘floating worlds’ of
karaoke and
cinemas, shot
bars and
bathhouses. Traditional
kabuki theater thrives alongside
opera,
ballet and symphonic performances, and Tokyoites are passionate about
sumo,
baseball and now, thanks partly to the 2002 World Cup,
football.
With the latest figures estimating an incredible
60,000 eateries in Tokyo and home to the
world’s largest fish market, food is an obsession even closer to Japanese hearts. From bowls of steaming ramen noodles to delicate slices of sashimi, chefs compete to offer the freshest produce, and presentation is elevated to an art form.
Visiting the city is a pleasure at any time, except perhaps the
sweltering heat of summer (July and August). While winter in the city is cold and crisp,
spring (March to May) is the highlight of the year for many, with the arrival of delicate
cherry blossoms inspiring sakepicnics in the city’s parks and avenues. Autumn (September to November) sees the oppressive summer heat give way to balmy days and golden leaves.
But avoid
Golden Week (late April-May) and
New Year (late December-early January), the two most important festivals in the Shinto calendar, because the
city closes down. But with
festivals celebrated almost every week, whenever you visit there is always something of the old Japan to experience.
Thanks to the determination of the Japanese government to attract foreign visitors, Tokyo is becoming ever
easier to navigate. A recent redesign of the subway map makes traveling on the city’s excellent public transport extremely easy.
English signage is good and getting better, while learning a few basics in Japanese will go a long way to help navigate the sprawling city’s streets.
With recent statistics heralding an unprecedented
rise in tourist numbers, Tokyo is inspiring more western visitors than ever before. Hurtling towards the future while respecting its past, this
unique city and the people that live there offer visitors an experience they will never forget....
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