Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

CENTR AL T OK Y O  47

y Kanda Myojin u Akihabara
Shrine Electronics District
Kanda Myojin Shrine Akihabara Electronics District
Map 3 C4. Tel (03) 3254-0753. Map 3 C4.  Akihabara stn,
 Ochanomizu stn, Marunouchi line. Hibiya line. £ Akihabara stn,
£ Ochanomizu stn, Chuo & Sobu Yamanote, Chuo & Sobu lines.
lines. Open 24 hours daily. Museum:
Open 10am–4pm Sat, Sun & public Akihabara Electronics District
hols. & _ Kanda Matsuri (Sat & Sun surrounds Akihabara Sta tion.
closest to May 15 in alternate, odd- Under the station are tiny shops
numbered years). along narrow aisles selling any
electronic device, simple or
Myojin is over 1,200 years old, complex. The market grew
although the present structure out of the ruins of World War II,
is a repro duction built after the when the Japanese army had
Tsutenkyo bridge in Koishikawa 1923 earth quake. The gate’s surplus radio equip ment it
Korakuen Garden guard ian figures are two wanted to dispose of on the
beautifully dressed archers – black market. Akihabara and
t Koishikawa Udaijin on the right electronics have
Korakuen Garden and Sadai jin on the been synonymous
left. Just inside the ever since. The focus
compound on the left
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden then changed to
Map 3 A3–4. Tel (03) 3811-3015.  is a large stone statue house hold elec tronic
Korakuen stn, Marunouchi & Nambo- of Daikoku, one of the goods, and now
ku lines. Open 9am–5pm daily. & shichi-fuku-jin (seven the emphasis is on
lucky gods). Here, as comp uters, cell
Meaning “garden of pleasure always, he is sitting phones, and video
last,” Korakuen is one of Tokyo’s on top of two huge games. On Chuo-dori,
best traditional stroll gardens, rice bales. Lions on the gate to Laox is a great source
a delightful place to spend a The vermilion shrine Kanda Myojin Shrine of tax-free goods.
few restful hours. The name itself and its beautiful Radio Kaikan, the
Korakuen comes from the interior, all lacquer and gold and site that housed the original
Chinese poem “Yueyang Castle” ornate Chinese-style deco ration, radio spare parts dealers,
by Fan Zhongyan – “Be the first are impressive. Early morning is remains with small operators.
to take the world’s trouble to the best time to glimpse the A re develop ment north
heart, be the last to enjoy the Shinto priests performing rituals. and east of the station features
world’s pleasure.” The Kanda Matsuri (see p30) is flag ship stores such as the
Construction of the garden one of the grandest and greatest Akihabara UDX and the
started in 1629 and finished of Tokyo’s festivals – come early Yodobashi Akiba Building.
30 years later. Once four times and be prepared for crowds. The Tokyo Anime Center
its present size of almost 20 Behind the main shrine is a is a showcase for the very
acres (8 ha), it belonged to the museum containing relics from latest in Tokyo’s popular anime
Mito branch of the Tokugawa the long history of Myojin. There culture. Its 3D digital theater
family. An exiled Chinese are also several small shrines, holds regular screenings, live
Scholar, Zhu Shunsui, helped hemmed in by the surrounding concerts, and other anime-
design the garden including office blocks. related events.
the Engetsukyo (full-moon)
Bridge, a stone arch with a
reflection resembling a full
moon. Tsukenkyo Bridge is a
copy of a bridge in Kyoto; its
vermilion color is a striking
contrast to the surrounding
deep green forest.
The garden represents larger
landscapes in miniature. Rozan,
a famous Chinese sightseeing
mountain, and Kyoto’s Oikawa
River are two famous geo graphic
features recreated here. In the
middle of the large pond is Horai
Island, a beautiful composition of
stone and pine trees. Colorful shop fronts and advertisements in Akihabara district

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