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Introducing Tokyo
Life in Tokyo moves at a well-oiled clip, with an energy that borders on mania and an obsession with newness that seems to make all ideas quickly obsolete. Fashions begin to fade almost as soon as they are plucked from clothes hangers, and keitai (mobile phones) are traded up for each latest technological advancement. But even while throngs of tech-savvy, smartly styled Tokyoites trot through subway stations, there is a traditional side to this hyperurban cosmopolis, which may not be immediately evident.
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Beneath the conspicuous consumption of its shopping districts and shiny façades of the latest architectural achievement, Tokyo throws out unexpected glimpses of its cultural core. At a Shintō shrine across town, a young man purchases a fortune and, after reading it, ties it to a strung frame whose many paper fortunes rustle like leaves in a breeze. In a neighbourhood sentō (public bath) in Asakusa, an old woman bathes with her tiny granddaughter, much as she once did with her own grandmother.
Tokyo’s unique vitality springs from this intertwining of the new with the time-honoured old. While it’s the wellspring of Japanese pop culture, it is also a place where the patrilineage of its imperial family is a tightly held institution. It’s the city to which Japanese nonconformists flee but where individuality is often linked to an older form of small-group identity. It’s a metropolis where the pressure cooker of traditional societal mores and expectations explodes into cutting-edge art, music and inventions like the ‘boyfriend’s arm pillow’. Even pop culture like manga, as it takes the world by storm, is rooted in the tradition of Edo-period ukiyo-e (wood-block prints from the ‘floating world’). And so, as its modern gears keep turning, the basic machinery of this intriguing city remains true to its origins.
Last updated: Jun 26, 2009
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Tokyo
Recommended things to do & see
- Entertainment (119)
- Restaurants (137)
- Shopping (120)
- Sights (181)
- Hotels & hostels
Our Top Picks For Tokyo
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1 Central Tokyo
The geographical and spiritual heart of the city, Central Tokyo is home to the lofty heights of the Imperial Palace, the shopping Mecca of Ginza, the world’s largest fish market in Tsukiji and the geek capital that is Akihabara.
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2 Shibuya & Harajuku
From the craziest pop cultures and the wildest street fashions to the chicest boutiques and the trendiest night spots, always hip Shibuya and Harajuku are a mind-blowing introduction to the urban jungles of modern Tokyo.
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3 Asakusa & Ueno
For a rare glimpse of old Edo amidst a seemingly endless sea of concrete, head to the adjacent districts of Asakusa and Ueno, which retain the few scant remnants of Shitamachi or the Low Town.
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4 Shinjuku & Ikebukuro
Two of the major transportation hubs in the Yamanote or the High Town, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro assault the senses with towering buildings of steel and glass, heaving masses of commuters and maze-like cityscapes lit up by blazing neon.
Related Groups
Our favourite Tokyo Blogs (beta)
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The Capsule Hotel
Blog: Where is Rob? - 18 November 2009
Not that I have researched this at all but Tokyo must be one of the only places with Capsule Hotels, right? Well even if it isn't it was top of my list of things to do during my time in Japan.While an experience that is predominately based around sleeping shouldn't really be anything to get excited about I'm pleased I did as it was one of the most bizarre experiences I have ever had. Not to [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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Tokyo Pt.2
Blog: Where is Rob? - 17 November 2009
Back in Tokyo again. Was quite sad on the bullet as coming back to Tokyo meant my Japanese adventure was coming to an end. However at the same time I was pretty excited at the prospect of another 4 days in the amazing city that is Tokyo. After the night in the capsule hotel and Yokohamma it was nice to get back on the backpacker circuit and stay in a proper hostel again.Our first full day back in [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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Tsukiji Fish Market
Blog: Where is Rob? - 17 November 2009
Today was our last day in Tokyo, well last day of visit number one as will be coming back here again for a few days before we fly out to Bangkok.Today we got up mentally early to journey to the Tsukiji fish Market. It all kicks off there at 3am when the first catches come back but I could not be doing with that so got up at 6 and eventually managed to rock up to the Market at 7.30ish. It was well [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
