CONTENTS

       CHAPTER 1

       Introducing Tokyo

       The Capital of Cool

       The World’s Ultimate City

       From Edo to Tokyo: The Shogun’s Capital

       Tokyo’s Colorful Festivals

       Tokyo’s Cutting-Edge Architecture

       The World’s Trendiest City

       A Foodie Mecca

       CHAPTER 2

       Central Tokyo

       Tokyo’s Central Districts

       Tokyo Station and Marunouchi

       The Imperial Palace

       Ginza

       Tsukiji Market and Kabuki-za

       Hamarikyu Garden

       CHAPTER 3

       Eastern and Northern Tokyo

       Tokyo’s Eastern and Northern Districts

       Akihabara

       Asakusa and Senso-ji

       Tokyo Skytree and Asahi Beer Hall

       The Sumida River

       Ueno

       Kiyosumi Garden

       CHAPTER 4

       Southern Tokyo

       Tokyo’s Southern Districts

       Roppongi

       Tokyo Tower

       Daikanyama, Ebisu, Meguro and Shinagawa

       Odaiba

       CHAPTER 5

       Western Tokyo

       Tokyo’s Western Districts

       Omotesando and Harajuku

       Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park

       Shibuya

       Shinjuku

       CHAPTER 6

       Around Tokyo

       Side Trips Around Tokyo

       Yokohama

       Kamakura

       Hakone and Mount Fuji

       Nikko

       Photo Credits

      INTRODUCING TOKYO

       THE CAPITAL OF COOL

      Tokyo is a city of wonderful and often bemusing contrasts and contradictions. Traditional Japanese gardens and ancient temples sit at ease in the shadows of towering skyscrapers. The conservative suits that fill the subway at rush hour can often be punctuated by a colorful kimono. There is a set way of doing almost everything, yet fashion-wise absolutely anything can go. The list goes on. The Japanese like to think of themselves as being unique (sometimes a touch too much), but thanks to a patchwork of districts, each with its own personality, not to mention an unorchestrated blend of new, old, home-grown and imported, their capital is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive cities on the planet.

THE WORLD’S ULTIMATE CITY

      Metropolis. Mega city. Call Tokyo what you will, but there is no disputing the status of Japan’s capital as one of the world’s great cities. Just over 13 million people call Tokyo home, nearly 35 million if you count the neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba, which with Tokyo make up the most common definition of the Greater Tokyo area, an unbroken urban sprawl that spreads mile upon mile west, north and east from the center of Tokyo.

       Japan is a pioneer in the field of robotics. Honda’s humanoid Asimo robot, pictured here performing at the Miraikan in Odaiba (page 78), can talk, dance and even kick a football. Do not be surprised to soon see robots working as home helpers, receptionists and performing many other roles in Tokyo.

      Tokyo’s current place in the world, only 70 years after the city was all but decimated by war (90 after it was leveled by an earthquake), is nothing short of miraculous. From a business perspective, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has become

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