Where to Go in Tokyo

Greater Tokyo houses about 35 million people. Seen from satellite on Google Maps, the metropolitan area stretches nearly from the Pacific coast to the Sea of Japan. This can make a daunting experience for first, and even second time travelers, with a wide variety of local attractions. Here is a selection of some of my favorites. Note that all of these are accessible via the Yamanote subway line. The Yamanote is Tokyo's one looped line, and passes through all the main city centers, so if you try all these and still have time left you might try getting off at other Yamanote stops and exploring.

1. Meiji Park
This is necessary for any trip to Tokyo. Meiji Park surrounds the Shinto shrine for the spirits of the Emperor Meiji, who opened Japan to Western ideas and helped make the country into an international power. The evergreen forests of Meiji Park are one of the few places you can go in Tokyo to be surrounded by nature. They contain 365 species of trees, donated by people from all over Japan. While the park normally closes at night, the Shrine stays open on the last day of the year for the New Year's celebration, where amasake (sweet sake) is handed out by the priests while the gong is sounded 108 times at midnight. Meiji Park's main entrance is across a wide bridge from Harajuku Station on the Yamanote subway line. That brings us to stop number two, which is:

2. Harajuku
First off, Harajuku Bridge at the station is where fashion conscious teens and twenty-somethings from across the city converge every Sunday afternoon. The most cutting-edge, strange and original styles in Japan can be seen here, making it a popular destination for photographers and tourists. A short walk down the edge of the park to nearby Takeshita Avenue will take you to a neighborhood packed with clothing stores. This is a great place to buy, as the style quotient is high but the prices are much easier than those found in Ginza.

3. Shibuya
Adjacent to Shibuya Station is Hachiko Crossing, the busiest scramble crossing in the world. It is named after the famous dog, Hachiko, that returned to the station where it met its master every day, even a decade after its master had passed away. The statue of Hachiko on the station side of the crossing is one of Tokyo's favorite meeting points for natives and foreigners alike. Public musical performances often occur in this area, and a walk up Center-gai from the intersection will take you past many restaurants, clubs and towering department stores. Shibuya is one of the centers of nightlife in a city that, surprisingly, tends to go to sleep early in many neighborhoods. Excellent for hanging out with your friends.

4. Shinjuku
This is another of the busiest nightlife districts, although it mixes with places of business in towering office buildings. Shinjuku Station is a giant transportation hub, and the station itself can be a labyrinth. An important note about Shinjuku is that you can get a Japan cellphone here on your visiting visa. Ask for the store inside the station. Also, while having fun at the stores and restaurants, be careful of the red light district called Niichome (block two). This is the center for Yakuza clubs in Tokyo. Some izakaya bars in this neighborhood prey on the unwary, pushing surprisingly large bar tabs on customers; normally you can stop these places a mile away, but if you find yourself in a hard situation either call the Embassy's support line or stand up to the host and get out of there.

5. Akihabara
This is Tokyo's famous electronics and otaku (nerd) district. Finding conversion plugs for your electronics is a good excuse to come down here and spend the greater part of the day in stores like Gamers, LAOS, and Yodobashi Camera. Exploring the back streets of Akihabara you'll find arcades and stores where you can buy a variety of old software and video games. Many anime and game fans come here every time they visit Tokyo.

6. Ginza
Ginza is famous for high-scale shopping. Here you can easily purchase the most expensive clothes and souvenirs. Many more people, however, come here for the window shopping. A good place to take a date if you plan on surprising her; just make sure you're ready to shell out!

7. Ueno
Finally, Ueno is a popular and easily-accessible daytime attraction, with another of Tokyo's largest parks directly adjacent to the station on the Yamanote. Several museums are in this area, including Tokyo National Museum and the National Science Museum. Ueno Park itself contains Shinobazu pond, on an island in the center of which is a Buddhist Bentaizen Shrine. It also contains Ueno Zoo!

I hope that these travel ideas aid with your planning. Any one of these places can easily take up the greater part of a day, and as they're frequented by ordinary Japanese in addition to the tourists, you'll get to see a lot of how people actually live and play in the city. One or another of these areas is sure to strike a chord with anyone, and you'll probably find places you wish to return to again and again. Good luck!