Tokio, Kanto, Japan

The largest city of Japan with 14 mio inhabitants is amazing for visitors for its size and the modern buildings (sky scrapers, towers, huge railway and underground stations) and having so much cultural traditions combined with high technology in transportation, advertising, services. The Shinjuku station is a confusing combination of train lines, underground lines and shopping districts that not only foreigners loose the orientation now and then. I stayed in the Shinjuku ward that combines shpopping, eating and bar entertainment locations. The National Garden is a very beautiful park with local and exotic plants, typical Japanese garden architecture and a Taiwan pavillion dedicated to the Japanese emperor hundred years ago. By public transport, I could easily visit other places in Asakusa, Roppongi Hills, Shibuya and Chiyoda (next to the huge Tokio main station). A day trip by local train from Shinjuku took me to Kamakura South of Tokio where a famous temple is hosting the largest outdoor Buddha statue of Japan. The trip back to Europe started at Haneda airport flying All Nippon Airways in a comfortable B787 to Vienna.

Shinjuku San-Chome shopping street

Golden Gai alley

Godzilla overlooking Central Road Shinjuku

Shinjuku Gyoen Park

Shinjuku Gyoen Pond

Shinjuku Gyoen Taiwan pavillion

Meiji shrine reception hall	Martin at Meiji temple

Meiji sake bottles	Meiji Shinto shrine

Roppongi Hills buildings	Roppongi art

Mori building and Tokio Tower	Mori art museum - Louise Bourgeois spider

Louise Bourgeois Arch of Hysteria	Mori tower outlook

Shinjuku restaurant	Yunika building in Shinjuku


Ginza High Street	Ginza Fashion department store

The Hachimangu shrine is the home of the Samurai Society and famous for its cultural heritage. A long alley leads to the area from the railway station. Only a few kilometers awa at Kotoku-in is the large Buddha statue from the year 1252. It is 11.3 m high and weighs 121 tons, made of copper. The village Hase is reachable using the Enoden railway from Kamakura Japan railways station. The train looks as of the Sixties but you use the Smartcard to pay the fare - tradition mixed with modern technology.

Kamakura Old Clock Tower	Kamakura Wakamiya alley


Kamakura Taiko bridge	Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine

Kamakura Hase Buddha	Martin with Hase Buddha

In the Tokio ward Taito-ku, the Asakusa temple district is located. It houses the Sacred Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva which is the most compassionate form of a Buddha representation. Most visitors enter through the Kaminarimon gate, walk up the Nakamise alley with lots of shops and passing the Hozomon gate to enter the area with the Asakusa shrine. Behing the temple there is a district with entertainment facilities, souvenir shops and a crafts museum.

Asakusa Kaminarimon gate	Asakusa Nakamise


Asakusa Hozomon gate	Passing through Hozomon gate

Martin at Hozomon gate	Kannondo hall

Askakusa 5-storied pagoda	Asakusa classic ladies with Sky Tree

Links

City of Tokio tourist guide

Meiji shrine

back to Kobe (2024)

Kioto (2024)

Osaka (2024)

Tokio (2019)