Page 46 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

44  T OK Y O AREA B Y AREA

Berlin National Bank, 8 Marunouchi
was the first Western- District
style building
designed by a Marunouchi District
Japanese architect, Map 5 B1–2.  Tokyo stn, Marunouchi
Kingo Tatsuno. line. £ Tokyo stn, many lines. Tokyo
On the north Station Gallery: Tel (03) 3212-2485.
bank of Nihonbashi Open 10am–6pm daily (to 8pm Fri).
River, just before
Nihonbashi Bridge, During the Edo era, this district
is the bronze marker earned the name “Gambler’s
from which distances Meadow” as its isolation made it
to and from Tokyo are an ideal place to gamble secretly.
still measured. The In the Meiji period it was used
bridge here today by the army, who sold it to
dates from 1911. Mitsubishi in 1890. The arrival of
On the south bank the railroad increased Marunou-
Mitsukoshi’s central hall in Nihonbashi of the river, east of chi’s appeal as a business site.
the bridge, is the Tokyo Station, designed by
7 Nihonbashi Tokyo Stock Exchange, which Kingo Tatsuno and completed
District lists more than 2,000 companies, in 1914, is based on the design
and is one of the world’s top of Amsterdam station. Its dome
Nihonbashi District
five. This is a great place to see was damaged in the 1945 air
Map 5 C1–2, 6 D1.  Tokyo stn, how important commerce raids and later replaced by the
Marunouchi line; Nihonbashi stn, remains in Tokyo. The visitors’ polyhedron here today. The
Ginza, Tozai & Toei Asakusa lines; observa tion deck overlooks the original reliefs adorning the
Mitsukoshi mae stn, Ginza & Hanzomon trading floor and has interesting domes over the North and
lines. £ Tokyo stn, many lines. Tokyo exhibits comparing stock South exits are worth a look,
Stock Exchange: Tel (03) 3666-1361. markets world wide. as is the Tokyo Station Hotel.
Open 9am– 4:30pm Mon–Fri. Kite
Museum: Tel (03) 3271-2465. West of the Stock Exchange The station also houses the
Open 11am–5pm Mon–Sat. Mitsui is the Kite Museum, located small Tokyo Station Gallery.
Memorial Museum: Tel (03) 5777-8600. on the fifth floor of a well- Facing the station, the striking
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun (open known eatery, Tameikan. The Marunouchi Building is an
Mon if it is a national holiday). & restaurant’s former owner, a important local landmark,
kite enthusiast, founded the housing shops, restaurants, and
Nihonbashi, meaning “Japan’s museum which exhibits kites offices. A short walk west of the
bridge,” after the expansive from China and other Asian station over Wadakura Bridge
bridge over the Nihonbashi River countries. On the north side leads to the Wadakura Fountain
that marked the start of the five of the river near the Mitsukoshi Park, with interesting water
major high ways of the Edo store is the Mitsui Memorial features. Returning over the
period, was once the trade Museum, which has an excel- bridge, cross Hibiya-dori and
center of Edo and Meiji Tokyo. lent collection of Japanese turn right to the Meiji Seimei­
After the destruction of the 1923 ceramics and teaware. Next kan Building (1934), with its
earthquake, shops, businesses, to Nihonbashi Station is huge Corinthian columns.
and banks started relocating to Coredo Nihonbashi, an Hiroshige, the wood-block print
Marunouchi and Ginza. upmarket shopping mall with artist, was born on this site in
Although the area never a focus on women’s fashion. 1797. Beyond, the Imperial
regained its original stature, South of the mall towards Theater (see p177), founded in
it is still a thriving commercial Ginza, the National Film 1910, shows Broadway musicals
center, with dozens of bank Center (see p147) hosts regular and Japanese popular dramas.
headquarters as well as huge screenings of Japanese and
depart ment stores and smaller foreign films. There are
traditional shops. Mitsukoshi permanent exhibits
(see p138) has its main store of film equipment,
here, on Mitsukoshimae. It and other film-
started as a kimono shop in related items.
1673. Head for the basement Books, film
food market with its free posters, and
samples, and the sixth-floor archival mate-
bargain counters where you can rial are easily
jostle with Tokyo’s thrifty elite. avail able in
To the west of the store, the the center’s
Bank of Japan, built in 1896 and bookstore and
modeled on the Neo-Classical public library. Tokyo Station’s Western-style facade

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