Page 109 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

F AR THER AFIELD  107

9 Odaiba 0 Sengaku-ji Temple
Daiba Sengakuji Temple
£ Yurikamome monorail from  Sengaku-ji stn, Toei Asakusa line.
Shinbashi stn to Odaiba-kaihinkoen Museum: Tel (03) 3441-5560. Open
stn; Rinkai line to Tokyo Teleport. 9am–4:30pm (Oct–Mar: to 4pm). &
4 from Hinode Pier 11:25am–6pm,
every 40–50 mins. National Museum
of Emerging Science and Innova tion: This is the site of the climax of
Tel (03) 3570-9188. Open 10am–5pm Japan’s favorite tale of loyalty
Wed–Mon. Closed Dec 28–Jan 1. & and revenge, re told in the play
Chushingura and many movies
When the west started to force (see p59). Lord Asano was sen-
Japan to open up in the 1850s, tenced to death by seppuku (see
the shogunate constructed a p58) for drawing his sword when
series of daiba (obstructions) The futuristic Fuji TV headquarters, Odaiba goaded by Lord Kira. Denied the
across Tokyo harbor to keep the right to seek revenge, 47 of
foreigners’ powerful “black ships” and a shopping mall, Aquacity. Asano’s retainers (or ronin), led
out. Odaiba (sometimes known Located in Aomi, is the National by Oishi Kura nosuke, plotted in
as Daiba), an island almost Museum of Emerging Science secret. In 1703, they attacked
blocking the mouth of Tokyo and Innovation, better known Kira’s house and beheaded him,
Bay, takes its name from these. as Miraikan, with interactive presenting the head to Asano’s
The spectacular route to Odaiba robots, bio-technology, and grave at Sengaku-ji. They in turn
is via the Yurikamome monorail, ecological exhibits. were sentenced to seppuku and
which climbs a loop before join- At Aomi station is the Palette are buried here. Inside the temple
ing Rainbow Bridge high over Town development, where the gate and up the steps is the well
Tokyo Harbor. In Odaiba the main attraction is Venus Fort, a (now covered with wire) where
mono rail is the best way to travel shopping mall with a stunning the retainers washed Kira’s head.
around; most places, though, are interior that re-creates an 18th- Farther ahead on the right are
within a short walk of each other. century Italian town at twilight. the retainers’ graves. Back at the
The first station, Odaiba-Kaihin- Palette Town also includes base of the steps is a museum
Koen, leads to Tokyo’s only beach. Toyota’s City Showcase with a with artifacts from the incident
Nearby is the Daisan Daiba massive display area, and state- and statues of some of the 47.
Historic Park, with the remains of-the-art driving simula tors. In
of the origi nal obstructions. A the History Garage are cleverly
short walk west is Decks Tokyo displayed cars from the 1950s q Ebisu District
Beach with seven floors of restau- to 1970s. Nearby is Future World Ebisu District
rants and shops plus Joypolis, with a short virtual drive into
a huge Sega center full of the the future. Right beside all this is  Ebisu stn, Hibiya line. £ Ebisu stn,
latest elec tronic games. In front a large Ferris wheel. Wanza Yamanote line. Tokyo Metropolitan
of Decks is the station for water Ariake building has shops and Museum of Photography: Tel (03) 3280-
buses from Hinode Pier. Behind restaurants and is connected to 0099. ∑ syabi.com & Yebisu Beer
it is the headquarters of the Kokusai-Tenjijo Seimon station, Museum: Tel (03) 5423-7255. Open
11am–7pm Tue–Sun. (Last adm 30 mins
Tokyo landmark, Fuji TV. Nearby as is Tokyo Big Sight (or Tokyo before closing and for tours till 5:10pm).
are a cinema complex, Mediage, International Exhibition Hall).
The completion in the mid-1990s
of Yebisu Garden Place, a com-
Tuna Fish Supplies
mercial and residential center,
Toyosu market specializes in maguro (tuna) from as far away as New brought this area to life. The
Zealand and the North Atlantic. Japan consumes about 30 percent of Tokyo Metropolitan Museum
the annual global 1.7 million ton tuna catch, and eats 80 percent of of Photography, to the right of
its tuna raw, as sashimi, which requires the best cuts of fish. Suppliers the entrance, has a permanent
can demand prices of up to 10–20 times that of the lower-grade collection of work by Japan ese
tuna. The Pacific Ocean’s South and foreign photographers. In
Blue Fin tuna, a favorite for the center are a Mitsukoshi store,
sashimi, is endangered. In bouti ques, two cinemas, a the-
spite of efforts to manage tuna ater, and restaurants, including
numbers, the Blue Fin tuna Chateau Restaurant Joël
population has been declining
steadily. The Japanese fish ing Robuchon, a French establish-
industry has come under a ment that looks like a 19th-
great deal of scrutiny, with century chateau. To the left of
other governments exerting Mitsukoshi is the small Yebisu
pres sure on Japan to keep a Beer Museum with exhibits and
Rows of frozen tuna for sale closer eye on its activities. videos about beer world wide
and in Japan, and free samples.

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