Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Best Places To Visit In Tokyo

By Rick Kushin

Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, has a great number of interesting sights available for all tourists. Within Tokyo, there are already tens of prefectures and little towns. The variety offered is mind-boggling, from its people, to the places and things that will catch your attention from day one.

Tokyo has many interesting places located within the city, all of which are world famous for what they offer. Areas like Shinjuku, Akihabara, Harajuku and Shibuya are firsts on many visitors' list of must see Tokyo locales. They are filled with the colors and sights of Japan and leave you wanting more each time you visit.

Shinjuku has the train station with the highest traffic of the whole world. It is at the heart of an area that has both commercial and business buildings. You can find the biggest local and global companies in Shinjuku, next to a hub of restaurants, bars and clubs for the merry makers.

Because of this, you can find everything modern life has to offer in Shinjuku. The widest selection of food one can find in Japan is located in the area, while Kabukicho in Shinjuku is the hub of the country's nightlife. In the day, shop your heart out in the many quirky shops and malls near the station, and rest your legs in the vast Gyoen Imperial Gardens.

Shibuya is the hotbed of hip fashion and people in Japan. For the greatest number of beautiful people, this is the place to be. But there are many things to do apart from people watching, such as endless rows of the best shopping strips, with famous middle range restaurants. Shibuya also has the busiest road intersection in the world, right outside its train station.

A few stations away from Shibuya, Harajuku is a smaller version of Shibuya, but with a nice quiet upscale feel to it. One can lounge in the outdoor cafes sipping coffee, while enjoying a nice stroll along streets lined with unique independent fashion boutiques. The ancient culture of Japan can be found a stone's throw away at the Meiji Shrine, where one can join thousands others in praying for divine blessings.

A great example of this fusion is that of the cosplayers that have a strong community presence in the area. They are mostly made up of Japanese anime fans, who don colorful costumes that resemble the characters in animation films or manga comics. Cosplayers can mostly be seen on Sunday afternoons on the Harajuku Bridge next to the train station.

Akihabara is another famous section within Tokyo. It is the home to millions of otakus, who are named thus to represent their fascination with manga, anime and electronic gadgets and toys. But it is not exclusive to them, as electronics can be bought at attractive prices, such as computers, the latest gadgets and cameras. With Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku and Akihaba showcasing the different sides of Japanese culture, the country is never short of surprises and attractions for the visitor.

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