Page 12 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

10  INTRODUCING T OK Y O
GREAT DAYS IN TOKYO

In little more than 400 years Tokyo has as well as taking in the city’s famed
grown from being an impoverished fishing futuristic architecture. They are designed
village to arguably the world’s largest to give a broad flavor of Tokyo and
metropolis. These itineraries sample the illustrate how this vibrant city preserves
traditional sights of Edo (see p27), such its past while striding boldly into the
as the Imperial Palace and its moats, and future. Prices mentioned include cost
the historically important Sumida River, of travel, food, and admission fees.

watch Japan’s public broad-
caster produce TV programs,
and catch live broadcasts as
well. The muse um includes a
kids play zone, a 3D theater
and a “Children’s Sphere”, where
kids can watch TV shows and
even meet the characters who
appear in them. After, take the
JR Yamanote Line from Shibuya
to Harajuku Station and walk
along Omotesando-dori to
Maisen (see p133), for a great
Akihabara, or “Electric Town,” lined with high-tech stores lunch of tonkatsu (deep-fried
pork cutlets) before checking
Architecture Afternoon out Crayon House (see p141),
and Electronics Take the Yurikamome Line to an excellent children’s bookstore.
Shimbashi Station, changing
Family of 4 allow at least to the JR Yamanote Line for Afternoon
¥10,000 Akihabara (see p47), the The next stop is Kiddyland (see
• A museum of the future electronics district. Enjoy a p145), a multistory toy shop.
• Majestic Rainbow Bridge tempura lunch at Tempura Take the train or subway to
Hisago (see p130). Explore the Suidobashi Station for the
• Lunch in Akihabara
area’s electronic emporiums and soaring Tokyo Dome (see p149).
• Tokyo International mangaesque buildings before Here you can watch exciting
Forum, an architectural visiting the Tokyo Anime Center baseball games (Japan’s de facto
marvel (see p47), a colorful, interactive national sport). Tickets always
space dedicated to anime culture. sell out, so book in advance.
Return to the station and take
Morning the Yamanote Line to Yurakucho, Evening
Start at the Miraikan (see p84). site of the Tokyo International Take the Toei Oedo Line to
This superbly designed Forum (see p45), one of the city’s Tochomae Station, which is
museum in Odaiba (see p77) most striking examples of post- located in the basement of the
is dedicated to science and modernist architecture. Tokyo Metropolitan Govern­
the latest in cutting-edge ment Building (see pp16–17). Its
Japanese technology. Follow A Family Day
the elevated railway across
Dream Bridge to Tokyo Big
Sight (see p84), an exhibition Family of 4 allow at least
and convention center. A ¥18,000
gravity-defying structure, the • Fun while learning at NHK
center building consists of four Studio Park
inverted pyramids standing • Toys at Kiddyland
on a deceptively small base. • Thrills at Tokyo Dome
Next, take the Yurikamome
Line to Daiba Station. Stop at • Sunset at a Shinjuku
one of the outdoor cafés at skyscraper
Decks Tokyo Beach (see p85),
where the walkways look
down onto the sandy strip of Morning
Odaiba Marine Park and the Start the day at NHK Studio Park Post-modernist masterpiece, Glass Hall,
picturesque Rainbow Bridge. (see p66), where visitors can Tokyo International Forum
Wood-block print from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849)

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