"Keeweechic's Tokyo" Tokyo by keeweechic

Tokyo Travel Guide: 3,930 reviews and 9,308 photos

Situated between the cities of Yokohama and Chiba on a large, deep bay, Tokyo covers almost 800 square miles of the Kanto Plain in Eastern Honshu, the largest of the islands that make up Japan. Tokyo is also the capital of Japan and has more than one-tenth of the country's entire population. Over half of the major corporations of Japan have headquarters here and the city's more than two hundred colleges and universities apparently educate over half of all the students in the country. Though the city has been flattened on several occasions (during the 1923 earthquake an the 1945 war bombings), it always patches itself together to rebuild to bigger and greater things.

Part of Tokyo's look are the flashing neon and the incessant noise not to mention the clogged bumper to bumper traffic. Over 12 million people are squashed into minute apartments. Still, if you get away from the frenzy of the major roads and disappear into the tranquil backstreets where wooden houses are fronted by neatly clipped bonsai's and niches filled with ancient temples and shrines, you will see a very different side of ones first impression of Tokyo.

A city of 24 hr shopping and vending machines, a festival is held virtually every day of the year. Residents regularly visit their local shrine or temple and religiously observe the passing seasons. Right in the centre of the daily madness lies the Imperial Palace - home to the Emperor.

There is a legend which says that a giant catfish sleeps beneath Tokyo Bay, and its wriggling can be felt in the hundreds of small tremors that rumble the capital each year. Around every seventy years, the catfish awakes which results in the kind of major earthquake seen in 1995 in Kobe. The city is apparently well overdue for the Big One.

Tokyo was my first experience of an Asian country and I just loved it. We were fortunate to be staying with friends who took us around and we didn't have to try and get around the language barrier. Everything seemed very expensive, even down to MacDonalds in the Ginza. It was wonderful walking through the city seeing some of the women wearing traditional kimono's. At night the lighting effects were stunning.

There is a lot in this page but there are many many more things to see and do in both in Tokyo and out of Tokyo.

Photos which are taken by myself and all headings are copyright and digitally marked. Please do not use them without permission. Thanks. (c) keeweechic 2001-2006 (copyright)

Intro Updated Aug 17, 2006
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (31)

More Shopping Shopping (2)

AKIHABARA, a world famous district with hundreds of shops for electric appliances both new and used. IT is said to be... more travel advice

The Ginza Shopping (2)

The best and probably the most expensive shopping area in Japan. You will find excluse and very high quality stores... more travel advice

Asakusa Kannon Temple Things to Do (12)

Asakusa Kannon Temple is also known as Sensoji Temple. For those interested in the spiritual side of life, visit this... more travel advice

Edo Castle Things to Do (12)

Edo Castle with its moats and fortifications was the residence of the Tokugawa Rules for 265 years and after 1868 the... more travel advice

Transportation (5)
See All The Rail Pass
Warnings and Dangers (3)
See All Weather
Nightlife (2)
See All Shibuya

Comments (95)

Reply
- Report abuse
CliffClaven Apr 7, 2006 at 4:16 AM

Authoritative
Reply
- Report abuse
budapest8 Apr 2, 2006 at 11:34 PM

Sadly I only spent 2 and a half hours in Tokyo, and they were spent in transit at Narita en-route from Soul back to HK. You always have good tips and pics. Tim.
Reply
- Report abuse
Siddha3th Aug 27, 2005 at 6:06 AM

Fairytale-like, with those beautiful photographs of the ancient parts of the city :)
Reply
- Report abuse
Maline May 7, 2005 at 7:40 AM

Nice to read your tips on tokyo and about local customs. Seems you enjoyed your time there. Good!
Reply
- Report abuse
Cruefan Apr 1, 2005 at 12:30 PM

I was amazed by the wealth of information I was able to find on your pages, well done and thank you.. Cheers
Reply
- Report abuse
matcrazy1 Apr 1, 2005 at 12:20 PM

A lot of great suggestions and beautiful pictures. Very exocit for me... Great tip on festivals and yen - dollar exchange.
Reply
- Report abuse
Gypsystravels Sep 8, 2004 at 10:02 AM

Thank U!! These pages are fantastic as always!! I'll be heading this way in February and I always visit your pages for information. I may bother you soon with some specific questions though!
Reply
- Report abuse
dr.firas Aug 5, 2004 at 2:18 AM

So the Jappanese Eiffel tower beats the Parisian one, ha ha ha Great trip, I envay you in a good way you've been to Tokoyo :-))
Reply
- Report abuse
muddybok Feb 14, 2004 at 9:37 PM

Very nice Tokyo page. I just can't wait for my very own Tokyo page to be setup.
Reply
- Report abuse
alza Nov 15, 2003 at 8:10 PM

My dream right now is Koyasan, the sacred city south of Osaka. When I go, I'll remember what I learned about Japan from our talks. thanks!