A megalopolis of supreme magnitude, Tokyo is a bona fide monster. One trip is seldom sufficient to appreciate the city for what it is. Not one homogeneous region but rather, a cluster of districts or special wards, known as “ku” in Japanese. In fact, the administrative hegemony of Tokyo covers a full 23 wards, 26 city districts (”shi”), 5 towns (”machi”) and 8 villages (”mura”). As such, to the Japanese and especially to urban planners, Tokyo is not so much a city but a metropolitan prefecture.
With local governments that have regional autonomy and in turn, administer a number of crucial functions, the organization of Tokyo and indeed Japan, is neat and tidy. To the local populace and venerable residents that is, but to visitors, Tokyo in particular can seem like a labyrinthine web. This is a city, or metropolitan prefecture after all, with over 12 million people. So is Tokyo complex? Yes. It certainly can confuse and confound at first impression. The key is to portion the city as you plan your trip from the safe confines of your home. Tokyo is best seen as a set of districts, much like the boroughs of London and New York City.
Hotels in Tokyo range from affordable to ultra-luxe - you just have to know where to look.
Adachi City is a ward within the northeast of Tokyo proper. The area is large and with a population well over 600,000, dwarfs most other districts. Adachi is primarily known as a city of parks and green space. Like other regions of Japan, settlement dates back well over a thousand years. As a result, there are a number of monuments and temple structures to visit. Tokyo Budokan is a famous martial arts with unique and innovative architecture.
The name Arakawa comes from the river of the same appellation. Both the Arakawa and Sumida rivers border the city. With an industrial feel, Arakawa nonetheless has a lot of character. Small but dense, with a population of almost 200,000, the district is chock full of historic temples, in addition to a large nature preserve.
A popular district for tourism, Bunkyo contains several reputable attractions. As the home of the world famous Yomiuri Giants baseball team and major rock concerts, the Tokyo Dome is the focal point of discussion. Adjacent Tokyo Dome City, a massive amusement and entertainment complex, also lures locals and visitors alike. If culture is more your bag, head to Nezu Shrine, Yanaka Cemetery and Gokokuji Temple.
Within Tokyo prefecture, Chiyoda has a small relative population. With just over 45,000 people, the city nonetheless yields formidable clout in Japan. Corporate firms in Chiyoda employ close to 1 million people and several government institutions of critical importance can be found here. These enfold the official residence of the Prime Minister, Supreme Court and National Diet. Major attractions of note include Edo Castle, Nippon Budokan and Tokyo Station.
Most people familiar with Tokyo will no doubt recognize Ginza as one of the premier districts of the city. A posh dream destination for shoppers, Ginza is within Chuo City proper. By far the best place to get lost in Tokyo on the weekend, the district contains swish department stores and the most avant garde fashion and electronics in Japan. As the financial heart of the country, Chuo also draws tourists to the central stock exchange. A visit to the famous Kabuki theatre is also a must.
As a district east of Tokyo central, on the periphery of the prefecture, Edogawa has a life quite foreign from the urban pace of the metropolis. A city of over 600,000 people, Edogawa is in effect, a large suburb. A very large suburb at that, with numerous parks, sports and recreation options available. Edogawa has the only indoor ice rink in Tokyo, in addition to a massive water park.
A major city district north of central on the shores of the Arakawa river, Itabashi has a mystical quality that derives from a rich cultural heritage. With over half a million people, the city name comes from the iconic plank bridge that spans the Shakujii river. Settlement here dates back to the Heian period, around the year 800. The Heian was a remarkable time in the history of Japan, namely for cultural strides made in the realm of poetry, literature and art. Much of that activity took root in Itabashi and many vestiges still remain to delight curious visitors.
Several rivers flow within the borders of Katsushika and as a result, the ward has a distinctive geographical layout. Many important landmarks here date back to the Edo period. Paramount among them are Narihira Temple, a Buddhist shrine of great historical and cultural import in Japan. With commercial districts that have yet to undergo post World War II transformation, Katsushika offers a peerless glimpse into pre-modern Tokyo.
Discover more of Tokyo in Part II of our look at the city’s special wards …
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June 29th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Wow - you have some fab pics on there along with some sound advice. Tokyo is definitely easier if you divide her into the areas you suggest.
I love your pic with Fuji in the background - beautiful.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:18 am
[...] we return with a look at the most awesome and complex city in the world, here are some impessive facts to ponder about [...]
July 10th, 2008 at 6:22 am
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