Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

F AR THER AFIELD  105

6 Rikugi-en Garden
Rikugien Garden
 Komagome stn, Namboku line.
£ Komagome stn, Yamanote line.
Tel (03) 3941-2222. Open 9am–5pm
daily. &
Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, grand
chamberlain of the fifth shogun,
constructed this gar den in
seven years, starting in 1695.
Yanagisawa had a well-earned
The aquarium at Sunshine City, Ikebukuro District reputation for debauch ery, but
he also managed to build this,
4 Arakawa Tram By the station’s south entrance one of the finest Edo-era stroll
Line is the flagship store of Seibu, gardens. Iwasaki Yataro,
perhaps the country’s most
Arakawa Tram Line Mitsubishi’s founder, oversaw its
innovative department store, Meiji-era renova tion. The design
 Edogawabashi stn, Yurakucho line. with boutiques of up-and- re-creates 88 landscapes in
Sumida River trips: n (03) 5608-8869. coming designers and a large miniature from famous waka
basement food market. To the (31-syllable poems), so the
In 1955, 600,000 people a day west of the station is the large view changes every few steps.
were riding the dozens of tram Tobu department store with a Near the entrance is a weeping
lines that crisscrossed the city. similar set-up. cherry that is beautiful all year.
Now the 13 km (8 miles) The Sunshine City complex, Numerous paths and seats
Arakawa line is one of only two including the Sunshine 60 offer opportunities to enjoy
that remain. The others were tower, is a short walk east of the the views. Bush warblers and
eliminated as old-fashioned station. It is built on top of what turtledoves are among the
in the modern ization for the was Sugamo Prison, where birds that can be heard here.
1964 Olympics. seven Class-A World War II war
The Arakawa tram line runs criminals, including the prime
from Waseda in the west to minister, Hideki Tojo, were
Minowabashi in the east and convicted and hanged. The
costs ¥170 for each trip, short or Ancient Orient Museum, on the
long. Near the Waseda end of 7th floor of the complex, has
the line is the quiet stroll garden collections from Egypt, Iran, and
of Shin Edogawa. There are few Pakistan. A huge Sunshine City
outstanding sights en route, sign points down an escalator;
but the pleasure of this tram just before here, investigate the
ride lies in seeing a quieter, Tokyu Hands store for home
residential side to Tokyo. A short furnish ings and kitchen gadgets.
walk from Arakawa Yuenchimae Down the escalator is Amlux
stop, past tightly packed, tiny Toyota, five stories packed with
houses, is a modest amuse ment cars, where you can sit in any
park, Arakawa Yuen Park; model. In Sunshine 60 there
Sumida River tourboat trips is also a planetarium, an
leave from here. Oppo site the aquarium, and a rooftop Manicured shrubs around the lake at
Arakawa Nanachome stop is outdoor viewing platform. Rikugi-en Garden
Arakawa Nature Park.
Living in Small Spaces
5 Ikebukuro Land, and therefore housing, is very
District expensive in Japan. The average
home costs 7–8 times the family’s
Ikebukuro District yearly income, and space is at a
premium. A traditional design has
 Ikebukuro stn, Fukutoshin,
Marunouchi & Yurachuko lines. £ closets for storing rolled-up futons;
Ikebukuro stn, Yamanote & many in the morning the bedding is
other lines. swapped for a low table at which the
family sits cross-legged to eat meals.
More and more families are opting for
With the second-busiest train a semi-Western style with raised beds,
station in Japan (after Shinjuku), table, and chairs, resulting in homes
Ikebukuro is a designated being even more cramped.
fukutoshin (sub center) of Tokyo.

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