Tokyo - Τόκιο

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The Tokyo is a city of Japan.

At a glance

Ideal period of visit

History

Tokyo Prosperity is largely associated with two people: Tokugawa Ieyasu and Emperor Meiji. In 1603, after the unification of Japan, Sugun Tokugawa made Edo (modern-day Tokyo) his base, thus beginning the Edo Period of the country's history. As a result, the city grew rapidly and became one of the largest cities in the world with a population of one million by the 18th century. It became the de facto capital of Japan and although the emperor lived in Kyoto, Tokyo was the imperial capital. In 1869, the 17-year-old Emperor Emperor Meiji moved to Edo, which he had renamed "Tokyo" ("Eastern Capital") a year earlier. Tokyo was already the political, economic, and cultural center of the nation, and the relocation of the emperor's residence there made it a formal capital.

During World War II, Tokyo was bombed with incendiary bombs. On the night of the 23rd to the 24th of February 1945, the first incendiary bombs fell in Tokyo, destroying more than 2 km² of the city. But the largest and most devastating raid took place on March 9 and 10 of the same year, when 329 B-29 aircraft, carrying out a night raid, dropped incendiary bombs of 1,667 tons in the city. The wooden houses quickly caught fire. The result of this fiery flame was the destruction of 250 thousand buildings. According to official figures, 83,000 people were killed and 40,000 injured (most of them civilians). Tokyo police reports put the death toll at about 97,000 and 125,000 injured (some sources put the death toll at nearly 200,000 [2], more than the combined damage caused by the two atomic bombs and any airstrikes). during the war in Europe). This action was codenamed "Meetinghouse".

Geography

Tokyo Metropolitan Area consists of three parts: the 23 Special Apartments (which are the former city of Tokyo), the Tama District and the islands.

The administrative structure of Tokyo is similar to that of other prefectures in Japan. Tokyo includes dozens of small entities, most of which are conventionally called cities. It includes 23 special apartments (ku) and until 1943 the city of Tokyo. Each special district elects a mayor and a council. In addition to these 23 municipalities, Tokyo also includes 26 cities (shi), five towns (chō or machi), and eight villages (son or mura), each of which has a local government. Tokyo Metropolitan Government is headed by a publicly elected governor and a metropolitan assembly. It is headquartered in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in West Shinjuku. It runs the entire Tokyo prefecture (Tōkyō-to), including lakes, rivers, dams, farms, remote islands, and national parks.

How to get there

By air

Tokyo is served by two major airports. Narita is Tokyo's main hub for international flights, but it also serves a number of domestic flights, mainly from low-cost airlines. Haneda, which is much closer to the center of Tokyo, is mainly used for domestic flights, but now serves more and more international flights, mainly on routes with heavy commercial traffic. If your final destination is Tokyo, flights to Haneda are much more convenient and economical.

By train

Tokyo is the center of the railways in Japan. Shinkansen high-speed services arrive at Tokyo Station (駅 駅 Tōkyō-eki). Most services outside of Shinkansen usually stop at Shibuya and Shinjuku stations. Ueno and Ikebukuro stations connect you with the northern suburbs and neighboring counties. There are many departures every hour from Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo.

By road

While you can drive in the city, it is not recommended, as the city may be congested, the signs can be confusing and the parking fees are astronomical. One option to consider is the cheapest 24-hour car parks in cities bordering Tokyo. For groups of 3-5 tourists traveling to Japan, a rental car to or from Tokyo that will be returned to the agency counter in another city can prove to be a great savings option compared to train or air travel.

By boat

One of the largest ports in the world, Tokyo also has inland shipping services to other parts of Japan. However, none of the international ferries to Japan run to Tokyo.

Apartments

Old Tokyo (Shitamachi)

suburbs

How to move

Subway

Tokyo has one of the most extensive public transportation systems in the world and is the most used subway system in the world as far as annual passengers are concerned. It is clean, safe and effective - but also confusing. The confusion stems from the fact that Tokyo operates several distinct rail systems - the JR East network, the two subway networks and various private lines - and different road maps show different systems. Avoid peak hours, if possible. trains become overcrowded very easily.

Tram

The Toden Arakawa Line, known as the Tokyo Sakura Tram, is a hybrid light rail / tram line in Tokyo. The Toden Arakawa line operates in northern and eastern Tokyo outside the main tourist areas. It is the only survivor of the Tokyo Toden Streetcar, but it is not the only tram line in Tokyo, as the private Tokyu Setagaya Line is also classified as a tram (dens en romen densha).

Cab

Taxis are very expensive, but can benefit groups of three or more. Also, if you miss your last train, you may have no choice.

• Tokyo Station to Akihabara Station - 2.5km - ¥ 1130

• Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station - 8 km - 00 3300

• Tokyo Station to Haneda Airport - 16 km - ¥ 7000 including express fare

By foot

In this big city with such an efficient public transportation system, walking to get from point A to point B would seem a bit silly at first glance. However, as the city is extremely safe even at night, walking in Tokyo can be a very enjoyable experience. In some areas, walking can be much shorter than taking the subway.

Bike

Bicycles are very often used for local transport, but amenities such as bike paths are rare, drivers pay little attention to bicycles and traffic can be very heavy on weekdays, so if you use a bicycle, do not be afraid to ride on the sidewalk do (they do) all).

What to see

Tokyo has a huge variety of attractions, but first on the list of most visitors are the Asakusa Temples, the gardens of the Imperial Palace (Chiyoda) and the Meiji Shrine (神宮 神宮 Meiji-jingū, in Harajuku).

Entertainment

In English Wikivoyage

What will you buy

Tokyo is one of the fashion and beauty centers in the eastern world. Items to look for include electronics, funky fashions, antique furniture and kimonos, as well as specials such as Hello Kitty goods, anime and comics, and related items. Tokyo has some of the largest electronics industries in the world, such as Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba etc.

Studies

Those interested can study traditional culture such as tea ceremony, calligraphy or martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Aikido and Kendo. There are also many language schools to help you improve your Japanese. Several universities in Tokyo cater to international undergraduate or graduate students.

Job opportunities in Tokyo

Which area to go for coffee - drink

Local drinks

Which area to go for food

Local cuisine

In which area to stay

There are thousands of hotels in the Tokyo area, ranging from cheap to very expensive. They are distributed throughout the city, with some of the most expensive and cheap almost everywhere. Many Western hotels, especially those affiliated with American hotel chains, have English-speaking staff.

Stay safe

Tokyo is probably one of the safest major cities you will ever visit and Japan is generally one of the safest places to visit in the world. Most people, including single women travelers, will have no problem walking the streets at night. However, "little crime" does not mean "crime at all", and common sense should continue to apply as anywhere in the world.

Health and precautions

Communications

Next destinations

From Tokyo, the entire Kanto area is your diamond.

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