TOKYO:

General Information

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and its largest city in terms of area and population. There are nearly 12 million people residing an area of about 837 square miles. Part of its beauty is that it is a study in contrasts. The old and new, the large and the small, the ancient and the modern exist side-by-side; in harmony.

Location-Climate

Tokyo is located on the Kanto Plain on the east coast of central Honshu. It is bordered by Chiba Prefecture on the east, Saitama on the north, Yamanashi on the west, Kanagawa on the southwest and by Tokyo Bay on the southeast. The four seasons are distinctly apparant. Summer gets quite hot with temperatures in the ninety’s while winter temperatures can occasionally reach freezing but average in the 40s. Spring is usually quite pleasant, however the rainy season usually lasts about three to four weeks in May and June. Autumn is usually quite nice with comfortable temperatures and dry weather. However, Tokyo is subject to an occasional typhoon.

Modern Tokyo:

Tokyo was virtually destroyed during the bombing raids of World War II. In a relatively short period of time, the city has has been rebuilt and emerged as one of the major economic, cultural and technological centers of the world. Tokyo is made up of many districts and has no real center. Each district has its own community feel to it and they are all build around a subway or train station. Many of these districts have been in existence for hundreds of years, while some have sprung up within the last 30 years. A dramatic growth spurt in the early 1960s occured as the city prepared for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

• Shinjuku holds the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices and is an entertianment haven for the working middle class.
• Akasaka, Aoyama, Harajuku and Shibuya districts are showcases for contemporary design and architecture. Akasaka is also an expensive entertainment district.
• Harajuku has become the main place to meet for teenagers and young adults but in stark contract it is also the site of the Meiji Shine built in graceful Shinto architecture.
• Shibuya is a major shopping district.
• The Ginza district is the most common area for after-hours entertainment and rents are the highest in the country. The Ginza is also the fashion center of Japan. Regardless of your status, you can usually find an appropriate place to dine and drink in the Ginza.
• Roppongi is the most popular district for foreigners(gaijin) with restaurants, bars and nightclubs saturating the district.
• Akihabara is world famous as an electronics center packed with numerous discount stores.

In a perfect example of old blending with the new, you will probably eventually stumble across The Imperial Palace which sits amid the massive office building, museums, department stores and appartments that are modern Tokyo.

Transportation

Public transportation in Tokyo is quite efficient. You can set your watch by knowing the arrival or departure time of a train. However they are usually quite crowded. The entire city and its surrounding areas are laced throughout with subway and rail lines. You can pick up a subway map in any station.

Air transportation is provided through Haneda and Narita International Airports. Haneda, located just south of the city, handles all domestic flights into and out of the city with some international flights, primarily to other Asian cities. Narita, which is about 65 miles west of the city, is the main International port.

Travel by automobile can be a trying experience. The traffic is constant and rush hour lasts about 20 hours per day. Japanese roads are not laid out in a grid but usually follow old trails and footpaths. Learning your way around Tokyo, or most any city for that matter, can be a real adventure. When driving, be sure to allow plenty of time for traffic.