Tokyo Off the Beaten Path Tips by sjvessey

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral on Hongoh-dohri, near Kanda.

Leave a Comment

The Japanese Sword Museum.

It's hidden away in a residential street just south of the Shinjuku skyscraper area, and is maybe worth a look, although I thought it was a little disappointing.

My guide book promised displays of not only swords, but various kinds of armour, which turned out to be missing. Perhaps they were refurbishing the place. And, well, unless you are really into this kind of thing, one sword looks pretty much like another.

You probably won't spend more than 20 minutes inside, at the most, although at only about 500 yen it's not that expensive. Unfortunately, photography of any kind of forbidden.

If you do decide to go, this picture shows you what to look out for at street level.

Leave a Comment

Deserted subway tunnels under the skyscrapers at Nishi-Shinjuku. Absolutely lifeless, yet in the daytime swarming with thousands of people on their way to work. This photo was taken literally 5 minutes before the whole place was sealed off for the night with big steel shutters... and guess who almost got shut in for the night as a result?!? Fortunately the PA announces the doors are closing in English, as well as in Japanese...

Leave a Comment

Sengaku-ji temple.

'This temple, known to every Japanese, was the setting for part of one of Edo's best known true stories... the tale concerns the fate of 47 ronin (masterless samurai). Their master, Lord Asano, taunted and scorned by his teacher Lord Kira, caused grave offense by drawing his sword in anger. Because the offense occurred within the castle grounds, Asano was obliged to perform seppuku (ritual suicide). On December 1, 1702, Asano's 47 retainers, in an act of revenge, decapitated Kira in his mansion on the banks of the Sumida River and carried the head through the snowy streets of Edo to their lord's grave at Sengaku-ji. Thereafter held in custody but treated with respect for their loyalty, the 47 ronin, ranging in age from five to 77 years, were ordered to commit seppuku.'

[Tokyo Insight Guide pp 183-184]

See my separate travelogue for more photos.

Leave a Comment

A typical Japanese cemetary, in Meguro.

Leave a Comment

The Japanese answer to lack of car parking space... but what do you do if you car's on the top, and there's someone else's car on the bottom, and you want to get yours down???

Leave a Comment

Ebisu Garden Place - on the south side of Ebisu station, by the Westin Hotel. A covered arcade with expensive shops, and (no doubt) expensive restaurants. A good place to come if you want to impress when you invite someone out to dinner.

Leave a Comment

Ebisu Beer Museum

Leave a Comment

Another big shopping area is Ikebukuro, which contains Tobu, the second largest department store in the world, as well as the massive Sunshine City office / shopping / entertainment complex. Plenty of other shops populate the surrounding streets, making this area a popular destination at weekends for people with money to spend.

Photo: a combination office / multi-level car showroom, with the largest of the Sun City buildings towering overhead - head up to the 60th floor observation deck for a grandstand view of Tokyo (620 yen per adult)

Leave a Comment

Spend an hour or so at the aquarium on the 10th floor of the World Import Mart, part of the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro. Open until 18:30 in the summer. 1600 yen per adult.

See my separate travelogue for more photos

Leave a Comment