Joanna James
As the capital city of Japan and the seat of the Japanese Emperor and Government, Tokyo is a distinct, large and powerful city with much to see in terms of culture, heritage and modern educational locations. If you are visiting Tokyo here are the top five rated tourist attractions to visit.
The first fortress built where the Imperial Palace stands today was built by the Feudal Lord Ota Dokan in 1457 during the Edo period. The Imperial Palace is located in Tokyo's Marunouchi district and is surrounded by beautiful parks and walls and moats that have been there since the 17th century. There's so much to see on a visit to the palace, including the Nijubashi Bridge, Kikyo-mon Gate, the East Gardens, the Inner Gate, Fujimi-yagura and Someikan among others. It's a full day's exploration so make sure you set out early if you are staying in one of the Shibuya hotels.
Whilst stepping outside your hotel if it is Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel will take you along the shopping district of Shibuya if you are serious about shopping you need to head on out to Ginza. This is where you can buy anything you could dream of, cross the iconic large pedestrian zones, visit traditional tea shops, learn more about the old history of Ginza as it is on the intersection of five ancient roads and has always been a bustling commercial centre. In the evening when all the neon light displays come on, you can catch a kabuki show at the Kabuki-za Theatre or some Bunraku dances at the Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre.
Located in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, this temple is considered to be the most famous shrine in all of Japan. It is dedicated to the Buddhist goddess of compassion, Kannon. It is believed that the temple was constructed sometime in 645 AD even though after that, it has been rebuilt many times. You have to get through a colourful street selling wooden souvenirs, carvings, masks and kimonos to get to the shrine. When you get there make sure to see the Kaminari Gate which houses a 3.3-metre-tall red paper lantern, visit the temple doves and the famous Incense Vat.
The National Museum of Nature and Science is located in Ueno Park. It was opened in 1871 and is the oldest museum in Japan. The Museum you will visit today, however, has been completely altered and renovated. The museum is home to a massive array of artefacts both natural and scientific relevance. The highlights are the Japan Gallery or Nihonkan which displays prehistory, the history of Japan and traditional costumes and the Global Gallery or Chikyukan which displays advancements in modern technology.
After a visit to the museum head on down to Ueno Park and Zoo. It is like paradise in the middle of bustling Tokyo, especially during Sakura season. The highlight is Aqua-Zoo, which is one of Asia's largest aquariums.
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