Areas in Central Tokyo
Minato
Shibuya
Meguro
Chiyoda
Shinjuku
Shinagawa
Setagaya
Bunkyo
Ota
Ginza (eastern Tokyo)
Yokohama
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Ginza & Eastern Tokyo
Getting There: From Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Ginza and Hibiya lines get off at Yurakucho, Tokyo or Shinbashi
stations. From the JR Yamanote line it is just four minutes from Tokyo station.
Favorite Areas
In Japanese, "Gin" means silver, and "Za" means a market. During the Edo era, there was a silver foundry in this area.
Nowadays, the main Street in Ginza is a "Fashion designers shopping street". Shops like "Louis Vuitton",
"Gucci", "Cartier", "Salvatore Feragamo", and "Prada" have been opened in
the last 2 or 3 years, and the branch shop of large-scale shops, such as "Chanel", are scheduled in the near future.
"Namiki Dori" lies parallel to "Chuo Dori" and many fashion designers shops have opened stores in that
area. A recent decline in the land prices may influence Chuo Dori whether will become the main street or not.
Ginza is one of the largest down town areas in Japan. A lot of established stores are still loved by many people with their
rich history. Ginza lies from 1 to 8 chome with famous old and new stores lining the main street of Chuo Dori.
The center of Ginza is at the 4-chome intersection on which the Wako building stands with its famous clock tower and where
Chuo Dori, Harumi Street and Sukiyabashi meet. Famous department stores and fashion buildings line Chuo Dori up to about 1 kilometer.
Kabukiza and Harumi streets are both in this area.
Designer shops are concentrated on Chuo and Namiki Dori. Ginza is a good place to enjoy hanging out because it is a open to
only pedestrians from 12pm to 18pm on Sundays and holidays, and from 3pm to 6pm on Saturday.
Entertainment
Kabukiza
A few minutes from exit A3 of the subway Higashi-Ginza station on the Hibiya or Asakusa Lines or just a three-minute walk from
exit B1 of the subway station Ginza.
4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku.
03-3541-3131
I Enjoy kabuki theater here with performances 25 days every month. This theater is where a lot of great stage shows, from classics to modern,
have been performed. English earphone guidance (650 yen and 1000 yen deposit) is available for those who think, "Kabuki is too complicated".
The earphone guidance provides explanations such as the story outline, cast, music, clothes, and stage settings.
Shopping
Ginza
Ginza Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya Ginza branch, Wako, Matsuya Ginza headquarters, Printemps Ginza, and The Ginza headquarters, etc.
Tsukiji and Tsukishima
Tsukiji: Marunouchi or Hibiya Line, Tsukiji Station a seven-minute walk from Tokyo station.
Tsukishima: Yurakucho or JR Line, Tsukishima Station 12 minutes from Tokyo station.
Tsukiji Shijo (market) is Japan's largest market and that supports the seafood industry of Tokyo. The
market opens early in the morning. You can hear the bustling sounds of good cheer throughout the market. Tsukishima is located
on the Sumida River, which is famous for Monjya-yaki (a kind of Teppanyaki). Tsukishima sits on reclaimed land from the Sumida
River from the Meiji era, and now, about seventy Monjya-yaki restaurants line the streets.
Tsukiji Market
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Moreover, on the north side of the station Tsukudajima has been famous for its Tsukudani - fish boiled down with soy sauce- since Edo era.
Historic Tsukudajima mingles with the modern Tsukudajima though its cluster of modern high-rise buildings.
If one walks southwest from Tsukishima there is fine sea island Triton Square. Along the Sumida riverside there are many high-rise
apartments that have a great view of Tokyo Bay and the Sumida river.
Tsukiji Shijo
7 minutes from Tsukiji station on the Marunouchi and Hibiya Lines. There are actually two Tsukiji markets. Tokyo Central
Wholesale Market, Tsukiji Shijo (hall market) for the wholesale trader, and Tsukiji off-board market that is for general public.
Tsukiji off-board market is three minutes from Tsukiji station and four minutes from Tsukiji-jyogaishijyo station.
Hours : 5 AM to around noon.
Closed : twice a month on Wednesday, on holiday, and on Sunday.
Tel: 03-3541-9466
Monja Street
From Tsukishima Station. Tsukishima promotion association cooperation class 03-3532-1990.
There are about 70 Monjya restaurants along Tsukishima Nishinaka shopping street.
Harumi Island Triton Square
It is a four-minute walk from "Kachidoki" station on Tokyo Metro subway Oedo Line, exiting at the A2 a.b exit (Tsukishima Station side).
It is about 9 minutes on foot from Tsukishima station on the Tokyo metro Yurakuchou Line or subway Oedo Line getting off exit 10.
There is a shopping & restaurant street with 60 shops.
Asakusa
Get off at Asakusa station on Asakusa Line or Ginza Line from Ueno station. Asakusa is a prosperous town known as a temple
town during the Edo era. It now hosts a lot of amusement for the general public.
A large red lantern "Kaminarimon" is the symbol for Asakusa. The city center extends around Nakamise Dori that
leads to Sensoji Temple where a lot of tourists pass every day. It is a town where feelings of the "good old days: remain.
The Sanja Matsuri (one of the three major Edo festivals) is in the middle of May. The Asakusa carnival is held on the last Saturday in August.
Kaminarimon
A one-minute walk from Asakusa Station, Taito-ku. This is the main gate and entrance to the Sensou-ji Temple.
Sensou-ji Temple
A five-minute walk from Asakusa station, Taito-ku.
03-3842-0181
This is the oldest temple in Tokyo having been built in 628 for the Goddess of Mercy (Kwannon).
Asakusa Sensoji Temple
Nakamise Dori
A one-minute walk from Asakusa Station Taito-ku. Shops line an arcade shopping street.
03-3844-3350
There are shops along the shopping street that leads from Kaminarimon to Sensou-ji Temple. Historic Edo is still alive. You will find
a lot of typical Tokyo souvenirs here.
Nakamise Dori (Street)
Ryogoku
Get off at Ryogoku station on the JR Soubu Line or get off at Kuramae station on the Toei line. Sumo wrestling culture is
strongly alive in this town around the national game pavilion as Ryogoku hosts many sumo wresting events. The sumo training
rooms are scattered in the surrounding area. It is a town that has a variety of educational and historic pavilions and museums.
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Sumidagawa is very famous for its fabulous fireworks display held on the final Saturday in July. There is a boat that allows you to go
down the Sumida River to Odaiba, Kasai, and Ariake.
Kokugikan
A two-minute walk from Ryogoku station. Sumida-ku.
03-3623-5111
Sumo wrestling watching and a Sumo Museum.
Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Arena)
Kichijoji
Chuo Line Kichijoji station. Taking an express train on the JR line from Shinjuku will take about 15 minutes. Taking an
express train from Shibuya on the Keio Inogashira line takes about 17 minutes. Kichijoji has two different atmospheres on
each side of the station. The north exit puts you into a local shopping street with department stores and a variety of stores.
There is a major department store and a shopping arcade, and a lot of unique shops. The south side leads into a green area
where one can enjoy strolling and the peaceful Inokashira Onshi Park.
Inokashira Onshi
A five-minute walk from Kichijoji station or 10 minutes from Inokashirakoen station. Musashino-shi.
0422-47-6900
The park is approximately 380,000 square meters in area, opened in 1917. One can enjoy a boat ride on the pond, and the animals
in the zoo. It is also a showplace for cherry blossoms in the spring.
Mitaka no Mori Ghibli Museum
A fifteen-minute walk from Kichijoji and Mitaka station. Mitaka-shi.
0570-055777
There is a museum displaying the work of Hayao Miyazaki known for the animated cartoons "Spirited Away" and "My
Neighbor Totoro". A Miyazaki animated cartoon can be enjoyed. Call for reservations and fees.
Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro station on the JR Yamanote, Saikyou, Touhoku Main Line, Takasaki, and subway Marunouchi, Yurakuchou, and Seibu
Ikebukuro Lines. Ikebukuro is the third largest town, followed by Shibuya. The JR line runs from east to west and has department
stores and large-scale bookstores, and such including electronic shops scattered around the station. Sunshine City and popular
ramen shops are located near the east exit. There is an enhanced station underground shopping center, too.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Theater
A two-minute walk from Ikebukuro station and out the west exit. Toshima-ku.
03-5391-2111
Displays of art and culture in a ten story building on the ground floor. The concert hall accommodates up to 2000 people. An unusual
pipe organ is set up in the hall.
Sunshine City
It is an 8-minute walk from the Ikebukuro east exit. The world import mart building with an aquarium and theme park gather around the landmark
Sunshine 60 building. Restaurants, a specialty store street, hotels, theaters, and a museum are all concentrated in this area.
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