The last installment of our guide to Tokyo’s districts moves on at breakneck speed. To better understand the city with a reputation for mass confusion, with tourists the most likely victims, it makes absolute sense to step back and view Tokyo in piecemeal fashion.
Japan after all, is a country famous for urban and district division. Prefectures, wards, towns and a myriad of other municipal partitions are the hallmarks of the country’s post World War II infrastructure overhaul. The attention to detail is almost comical at times. A city is not a city by strict definition in Japan unless it contains more than 50,000 people. Once the threshold has been breached, the area adopts a new form of municipal designation, regulations and government.
With a population so big, in such a small space, Japan’s approach may be the most innovative and brilliant of all. It may require months to decipher but hey, this is precisely what our little guide to Tokyo is all about. Just be sure to get your accommodations in order before you head there.
If you want to hang with Tokyo hipsters, Shibuya is the place to be. As a haven of fashion and nightlife revelry, it just gets no better. Head to Shibuya 109 and Omotesando Hills to shop until you drop. Area restaurants provide superb fare for gourmets and the New National Theatre is the best place in Tokyo for opera and ballet.
Another foreign embassy favourite, the Shinagawa ward provides ancient districts with a modern steel skyline. A primary port town in the Edo era, the ward now serves as a commercial and university district, with no less than seven colleges and technical schools. Main attractions include the National Institute of Japanese Literature and the Institute for Research in Human Happiness.
Whenever you gape in awe or roar with incredulous laughter at images of sardine-like train compartments in Japan, the photograph probably hails from Shinjuku station. No other train station in the world can compete with the amount of human traffic seen here on a daily basis. The ward also contains more skyscrapers than any other in Japan. For nightlife, restaurants, bars and entertainment, Shinjuku is a popular place with tourists. More foreign nationals live here than anywhere else in Tokyo. On a more nefarious note, the ward also has a reputation as the sex and brothel capital of Japan.
On the western edge of Tokyo prefecture proper, Suginami is a comfortable suburb with over half a million people. The Asagaya area is a good bet for visitors who want authentic cultural experiences while in Tokyo. The district contains a revival house with films from the glory period of cinema in Japan, in addition to bars and concert halls that vibrate with folk performances. A jazz festival held every October is one of the best in all of Japan.
Another river ward, with the Sumida and Arakawa rivers in the city limits, Sumida has many attractions of note. Start with the Asahi brewery for one, which offers a wonderful tour of the facility, with samples of course. If under the influence, a subsequent trip to the National Sumo Stadium to take in a tournament may be the perfect, if not most authentic, activity.
Toshima is one of the most diverse wards in Tokyo, with large Chinese, Korean and Filipino populations. Most tourists here focus on Sunshine City, which boasts superlative restaurants and shops. Several museums in the area are woth a visit as well. The best may be the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, an enormous facility with a concert hall and abundance of exhibitions. The Otsuka Awa Odori Dance festival in Toshima draws close to 200,000 people every year.
Taito is the ward to visit if you love parks, museums and zoos, in close proximity. A great area to bring the family, Taito boasts some of the best parks in Tokyo, with a littany of recreational options available. Ueno Zoo, part of a large museum and park complex, is one of the best in Asia and the National Science Museum is on par with the Smithsonian. The ward holds a phenomenal fireworks festival every year and a number of important and ancient Shinto shrines.
Tokyo hotels are plentiful and difficult to choose without the proper guide to save you yen.
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