|
 This map shows the mainland portion of Tokyo. Colors indicate the 23 Special Wards and Western Tokyo. Reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay (such as Odaiba) has been omitted for clarity. The islands cannot be shown at this scale. Click on the map to enlarge it.
This map shows the mainland portion of Tokyo. Colors indicate the 23 Special Wards and Western Tokyo. Reclaimed land on Tokyo Bay (such as Odaiba) has been omitted for clarity. The islands cannot be shown at this scale. Click on the map to enlarge it.
Tokyo is northwest of Tokyo Bay, and is about 90 km east-to-west and 25 km north-to-south. It borders Chiba Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the west, Kanagawa Prefecture to the south, and Saitama Prefecture to the north. It also consists of two island chains in the Pacific Ocean directly south -- the Izu Islands which are almost parallel to the Izu Penninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Ogasawara Islands which stretch more than 1,000 km away from mainland Japan.
Under neon jungle, skyscrapers and crowded subways.
Tokyo is also part of the Chiba.
The 23 special wards
The 23 special wards (tokubetsu-ku) of Tokyo comprise the area formerly known as Tokyo City. Each ward is a local municipality with its own elected mayor and assembly, differing from an ordinary city in that certain governmental functions are handled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. As of September 1, 2003, the official total population of the 23 wards combined was about 8.34 million, with a population density of 13,416 persons per square kilometer.
 Shinjuku by night.
Shinjuku by night.
 Shibuya, considered the center of Japanese youth culture, boasts one of the world's busiest pedestrian crossings, the scramble crossing in front of the Hachik? exit of Shibuya station.
Shibuya, considered the center of Japanese youth culture, boasts one of the world's busiest pedestrian crossings, the scramble crossing in front of the Hachik? exit of Shibuya station.
The term "central Tokyo" today may refer to the 23 wards, the area within the Yamanote Line loop, or to the three "central wards" of Chiyoda, Chuo and Minato. While the generally-accepted center of Tokyo is the Imperial Palace, there are a number of major urban centers where business, shopping, and entertainment are concentrated. These include:
 Nishi-shinjuku skyscrapers
Nishi-shinjuku skyscrapers
Shinjuku — Tokyo's capital where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is located. It is best known for Tokyo's early skyscrapers since the early 1970s. Major department stores, camera and computer stores, and hotels can be found. On the east side of Shinjuku Station, Kabuki-cho is notorious for its many bars and nightclubs.
Marunouchi and Otemachi — The main financial and business district of Tokyo has many headquarters of banks, trading companies, and other major businesses. The area is seeing a major redevelopment with new buildings for shopping and entertainment constructed in front of Tokyo Station's Marunouchi side.
Yurakucho — Major shopping and entertainment district with department stores, upscale shops selling brand-name goods, and movie theaters.
Shinbashi—By being the gateway to Odaiba and having the new Shiodome Shiosite complex of high-rise buildings, this area has been effectively revitalized.
Shinagawa — In addition to the major hotels on the west side of Shinagawa Station, the former sleepy east side of the station has been redeveloped as a major center for business.
Shibuya — A longtime center of shopping, fashion, and entertainment, especially for the younger set. Shibuya is also home to some of Tokyo's largest and newest nightclubs.
Ikebukuro — Anchored by the Sunshine City (which was once Tokyo's tallest building) hotel and shopping complex, this is another area where people gather due to the various train lines shooting out of Ikebukuro Station.
Ueno — Ueno Station serves areas north of Tokyo from where many people commute. Besides department stores and shops in Ameyoko, Ueno boasts Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, and major national museums. In spring, Ueno Park and adjacent Shinobazu Pond are prime places to view cherry blossoms.
Odaiba — A large, reclaimed, waterfront area that has become one of Tokyo's most popular shopping and entertainment districts.
Kinshicho — Major shopping and entertainment area in eastern Tokyo.
Nagatacho - The political heart of Tokyo and the nation. It is the location of the Diet, government ministries, and party headquarters.
Akasaka - Upscale commercial district next to Roppongi, Nagatacho, and Aoyama.
Aoyama - An upscale neighborhood of Tokyo with parks, an enormous cemetery, expensive housing, trendy cafes, and international restaurants (includes the subway station Omotesando).
West Tokyo
 Satellite photo of Tokyo taken by NASA's Landsat 7.
Satellite photo of Tokyo taken by NASA's Landsat 7.
West of the 23 wards, Tokyo consists of cities, towns and villages which enjoy the same legal status as those elsewhere in Japan. While serving a role as "bed towns" for those working in central Tokyo, some of these also have a local commercial and industrial base. Collectively, these are often known as "West Tokyo."
Cities
Akiruno
Akishima
Chofu
Fuchu
Fussa
Hachioji
Hamura
Higashikurume
Higashimurayama
Higashiyamato
Hino
Inagi
Kiyose
Kodaira
Koganei
Kokubunji
Komae
Kunitachi
Machida
Mitaka
Musashimurayama
Musashino
Nishi-tokyo
Ome
Tachikawa
Tama
Districts, towns, and villages
The far west is occupied by the district (gun) of Mount Kumotori, is 2,017 m high; other mountains in Tokyo include Mount Takasu (1737 m), Mount Odake (1266 m), and Mount Mitake (929 m). Lake Okutama, on the Tama River near Yamanashi Prefecture, is Tokyo's largest lake.
Hinode
Mizuho
Okutama
Hinohara Village
Islands
 The Izu Islands, to the south, are part of Tokyo.
The Izu Islands, to the south, are part of Tokyo.
Tokyo's outlying islands extend as far as 1,850 km from central Tokyo. Because of the islands' distance from the city, they are locally run by branches of the metropolitan government. Most of the islands are classified as villages.
Izu Islands
The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands and form part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The islands in order from closest to Tokyo are:
Izu Oshima
Toshima Island
Niijima
Shikinejima
Kozushima
Miyakejima
Mikurajima
Aogashima
Hachijojima
Ogasawara Islands
Japan and at 1 850 km the most distant island from central Tokyo, and Okino Torishima, the southernmost point in Japan. These later two islands are contested by other nations as being only unihabited rocks. The Iwo chain and the outlying islands are mostly uninhabited, but there are small local populations on the three islands closer to Honshu.
National Parks
There are four national parks in Tokyo:
Chichibu-Tama National Park, located in Nishitama and spilling over into Yamanashi and Saitama Prefectures
Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park, located around Mount Takao to the south of Hachioji.
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park which includes all of the Izu Islands.
Ogasawara National Park. Efforts are being made to make Ogasawara National Park a UNESCO natural World Heritage Site.
|
As one of the major cities of the world, Tokyo has over 8 million people living within its 23 wards, and during the daytime, the population swells by over 2.5 million as workers and students commute from adjacent areas. This effect is even more pronounced in the three central wards of Chiyoda, Chuo, and Minato, whose collective population is less than 300,000 at night, but over 2 million during the day.
Population
By area (as of Oct. 1, 2003)
All of Tokyo: 12.36 million
23 special wards: 8.34 million
Tama area: 4 million
Islands: 27,000
By age (As of Jan. 1, 2003):
Juveniles (0-14): 1.433 million (12%)
Working population (15-64): 8.507 million (71.4%)
Aged population (65+): 2.057 million (16.6%)
By time (As of 2000)
Nighttime: 12.017 million
Daytime: 14.667 million
By nationality
Foreign residents: 353,826 (as of Jan. 1, 2005)
Top 5 Nationalities of Foreign Residents: Chinese (120,331), Korean (103,191), Philippine (31,505), American (18,043), British (7,585)
|
Tokyo has many tourist attractions. It would take weeks to see all the major ones. Thanks to a very convenient train and subway system (with signs in English), it is easy to visit most of these attractions. Here are only some of them (in random order).
Shrines, temples, and castles
 Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine
The Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, and Sensoji Temple are the three most popular ones in Tokyo.
Kokyo, or the Imperial Palace — Home of the Emperor and Crown Prince and their families.
Sens?-ji — Asakusa
Meiji Shrine — Dedicated to Emperor Meiji
State Guest-House
Yasukuni Shrine
Zojoji — Main headquarters of the Pure Land Buddhism (???) sect.
Tsukiji Honganji Temple — Tokyo headquarters of the Jodo Shinshu Nishi Honganji Buddhist sect.
Gokokuji Temple
Festivals and events
Tokyo holds many festivals large and small throughout the year.
Spring (March-May)
 Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa.
Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa.
Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri (azalea festival) at Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo-ku.
Fuji Matsuri (wisteria festival) at Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto-ku.
Hinode Matsuri (sunrise festival) at Mitake Shrine in Ome.
Kachiya Festival at Katori Shrine in Koto-ku.
Kanda Myojin Omikoshi Togyo at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Chiyoda-ku.
Kappa Matsuri at Ebara Shrine in Shinagawa-ku.
Kifune Matsuri at Kifune Shrine in Ota-ku.
Kurayami Matsuri (black night festival) at Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu.
Meiji Shrine Spring Festival at Meiji Shrine in Shibuya-ku.
Osunafumi Taisai (walking-on-sand ritual) at Tamagawa Daishi Temple in Setagaya-ku.
Sanja Matsuri at Asakusa Shrine in Taito-ku.
Shishi Matsuri (lion dance festival) at Nagasaki Shrine in Toshima-ku.
Takigi Noh (open-air torchlight Noh performance) at Zojoji Temple in Minato-ku.
Yayoi Matsuri ceremony by the Edo Shobo Kinen-kai (Edo Civilian Fire Fighters' Association) in the vicinity of Sensoji Temple in Taito-ku.
Summer (June-Aug.)
 Rickshaws carry tourists in front of Kaminarimon Gate of Sensoji in Asakusa
Kaminarimon Gate of Sensoji in Asakusa
Koenji Awa Odori
Asakusa Samba Matsuri
Sumida Fireworks in Asakusa and Sumida Ward
Tokyo Bay Fireworks
Jingu Fireworks
Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri
Fall (Sept.-Nov.)
Tokyo Jidai Matsuri in Asakusa
Winter (Dec.-Feb.)
Hatsumode New Year's Prayers at Meiji Shrine, Sensoji, and other major shrines and temples
Dezome-shiki Fireman's Parade at Tokyo Big Sight
Setsubun at Sensoji and other major temples
Others
Grand Sumo Tournaments in Jan., May, and Sept. at the Ryogoku Kokugikan
Tsukiji fish market
Parks and gardens
 Cherry blossoms at Ueno Park.
Cherry blossoms at Ueno Park.
Hibiya Park
Jingu Gaien
East Garden of the Imperial Palace
Meiji Shrine Inner Garden
Shinjuku-gyoen Park
Showa Memorial Park in Tachikawa
Sumida Park
Ueno Park
Yoyogi Park
Kitanomaru Park
Hama-Rikyu Imperial Gift Garden
Kiyosumi Garden
Rikugien Garden
Inokashira Park in Kichijoji
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Koishikawa Botanical Garden
Shinjuku Central Park
Komazawa Olympic Park
Kiba Park
Kasai Rinkai Park
Kinuta Park
Jindai Botanical Garden in Chofu
Flowers
 The Jindai Botanical Garden has a multitude of flowers such as the roses in this garden.
The Jindai Botanical Garden has a multitude of flowers such as the roses in this garden.
Yoshino Baigo in Ome, Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden, Hanegi Park in Umegaoka
Shinobazu Pond, Chidorigafuchi Imperial Palace moat near the Aoyama Cemetery, Sumida Park and River near Asakusa, International Christian University
Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto Ward
Nezu Shrine, East Garden of the Imperial Palace, Shiofune Kannon Temple in Ome
Roses (mid-late May)—Jindai Botanical Garden in Chofu
Horikiri Iris Garden
Hydrangeas (June-July)—Takahata Fudo Temple, Hino
Scenic views
 Rainbow Bridge (Tokyo)
Rainbow Bridge (Tokyo)
 Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
Rainbow Bridge walkway
Sunshine City Observatory in Ikebukuro
Fuji TV Headquarters Observatory in Odaiba
Shopping and entertainment
Tokyo has various shopping districts famous for specific products. Akihabara is well-known for electronics stores, Shinjuku for camera and book shops, Ginza for department stores and luxury goods, Shibuya and Harajuku for teenage fashion, and Jinbocho for used (and new) books.
Shibuya—Teen fashion
Harajuku—Street/teen fashion
Shinjuku—Cameras, computers
Omotesando—Fashion, luxury brands
Ginza—Department stores, luxury brands
Ueno
Jinbocho—Used and new books
Ameya Alley Market near Ueno
Akihabara—Electronic appliances.
Odaiba—Shopping and entertainment on Tokyo Bay
Roppongi—Nightlife area popular among foreigners
Ebisu Garden Place
Budokan—Concerts, martial arts
Tokyo Dome—Baseball, concerts
Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba—Hot spring
Chiba
See also: Tourism in Japan
|
Being the nation's center of education, Tokyo boasts many universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools. Many of Japan's most prestigious universities are in Tokyo. The most prestigious is the University of Tokyo. Other schools include Keio University, Hitotsubashi University, and Waseda University.
Tokyo also has a few universities well-known for classes instructed in English. They include International Christian University, Sophia University, and Temple University Japan.
Universities in Tokyo
 Akamon Gate at the University of Tokyo.
Akamon Gate at the University of Tokyo.
National Universities
Ochanomizu University
University of Electro-Communications
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Tokyo Gakugei University
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku
Tokyo Institute of Technology
University of Tokyo
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Hitotsubashi University
Public University
Tokyo Metropolitan University
Private Universities
Alliant International University
Aoyama Gakuin University
Asia University
Obirin University
Gakushuin University
Keio University
Kogakuin University
Kokugakuin University
International Christian University
Kokushikan University
Toyo University
Komazawa University
Seijo University
Seikei University
Shibaura Institute of Technology
Sophia University
Showa University
Senshu University
Daito Bunka University
Takushoku University
Chuo University
Teikyo University
Temple University Japan
Tokyo University of Agriculture
Tokyo University of Science
Toho University
Nihon University
Hosei University
Musashi Institute of Technology
Meiji University
Meiji Gakuin University
Rikkyo University
Waseda University
Public schools
The kindergartens, elementary schools (years 1 through 6), and junior high schools (7 through 9) are operated by local wards or municipal offices. Public high schools in Tokyo are run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education and are called "Metropolitan High Schools". [4]. For a list of high schools in Japanese, see [5].
Private schools
In addition to public schools, Tokyo has many private schools.
Private secondary schools include:
Azabu High School (Grades 7 through 12)
Musashi Junior & Senior High School (Grades 7 through 12)
|
Hotels in Japan - Tokyo >>
|
