Page 118 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

0 machines, and refrigerators.
You can still see these, but
Shiba Park and Did You Know? increasingly the emphasis is
Tokyo Tower on computers, cell phones,
芝公園と東京タワー Zojo-ji temple in and video games.
 F9  Shibakoen Stn, Toei Shiba Park is home to Brand-name goods are
Mita line a 5th-century grave available at a 3 to 10 per cent
mound, untouched discount – sometimes more.
Shiba Park used to be the
On Chuo-dori, Laox is a
by time.
EXPERIENCE Central Tokyo temple – at its center. Founded q w
famous source of tax-free
Tokugawa family’s grave yard,
goods for tourists.
and you’ll find Zojo-ji – their
in 1393, it was moved here in
1598 to protect the new capital Akihabara Electronics
spiritually from a southeasterly District
Kitanomaru Park
direction. The present building
秋葉原電気店街
dates from 1974; nearby are
北の丸公園
the Daimon (big gate) and the
Hibiya line £ Akihabara
Sanmon (great gate, 1622).
Hanzomon, Toei Shinjuku &
Stn, Yamanote, Chuo &
To the west of the park is  H4  Akihabara Stn,  F5  KudanshitaStn,
Tozai lines; Takebashi Stn,
Sobu lines
Tokyo Tower. Completed in
1958, at 1,093 ft (333 m) tall, it The city’s electronics district Tozai line
is higher than the Eiffel Tower surrounds Akihabara Station. A former ground for the
in Paris, on which it is based. Directly under the station is a Imperial Palace Guard, this
You can visit two viewpoints – bazaar of tiny shops selling area became a park in 1969.
the main one at 492 ft (150 m) any electronic device, from Before entering, walk past
and a higher one at 820 ft Christmas-tree lights to the with Tayasumon gate on the
(250 m), with more spectac- latest microchip. The market left to reach Chidorigafuchi
ular views. In 2012 Tokyo Tower grew out of the ruins of World (the west moat), one of
was usurped by the 2,080 ft War II, when the Japanese army Tokyo’s most beautiful cherry-
(634 m) Tokyo Sky Tree (p135) . had surplus equipment it blossom viewing spots. Row-
wanted to dispose of. Students boats can be rented here.
Tokyo Tower from the nearby universities Within Kitanomaru’s
" ⌂ 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato would buy the army parts and grounds are a number of
 Aka bane bashi stn, Oedo made radios to sell on road- buildings. Near Tayasumon
line # 9am–11pm daily sides or in tiny shops here. is the Nippon Budokan. Built
∑ tokyotower.co.jp Akiha bara and electronics for the 1964 Olympics martial
have been synonymous ever arts compe tition, it is now
since. Later, as the economy used mostly for rock concerts.
JAPAN’S OTAKU improved, the focus changed A short walk on is the Science
(GEEK) CULTURE to televisions, washing and Technology Museum.
Otaku is the Japanese
term for people with
obsessive interests,
particularly in anime
and manga, but also
cameras, cars, pop
stars, or electronics.
Although originally
a pejorative, like the
English word “geek,”
an increasing number
of people now self-
identify as otaku. The
subculture began in
the 1980s, coinciding
with the anime boom,
as changing social
mentalities led a
section of Japanese
society to consider
themselves outcasts. Vibrantly colored neon signs lighting up the
streets of Akihabara Electronics District
118
118-119_EW_Japan.indd 118 04/02/2019 14:54

EW Catalogue template v3.0 – 12th July 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224