Japan
Hokkaido & Northern Honshu
+ Sapporo
Central Honshu
+ Tokyo
Sights
Western Honshu & Shikoku
+ Kyoto
Kyushu & the Southern Islands
+ Nagasaki
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
The Japanese capital, with a population of some 12 million, is a vast, seemingly endless metropolis, merging seamlessly with neighbouring towns. It has no real centre, but a number of neighbourhoods, each with its own character.
Tokyo was little more than a village by the name of Edo until 1603, when it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. Kyoto, the then capital, was marginalised as a result, allowing Edo to grow substantially during the period of Japanese isolation (the Edo period) until the Meiji Restoration. The new Emperor Meiji adopted Edo as his capital in 1868 and renamed it 'Eastern Capital', or Tokyo. Modernisation became the watchword then, a theme that has continued to this day - and indeed it is 'modernity' that is one of the most interesting characteristics of Tokyo today.What can you do in Tokyo? Everything. There are a few historic sights that have survived earthquakes and warfare, and plenty of museums; but the main thing is to experience the city itself, with its fabulous shops and restaurants, its nightlife, its fascinating fish market, the highlife in Shinjuku and Ginza, and lowlife in Kabukicho and Roppongi.
The comprehensive metro system, in conjunction with local trains, provides the best way of getting around town.
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