Why visit Tokyo – a city of infinite possibilities.
Introduction
Tokyo is the capital of Japan. At over 12 million people in the official metropolitan area alone, Tokyo is the core of the most populated urban area in the world, Greater Tokyo (which has a population of 35 million people). This huge, wealthy and fascinating metropolis brings high-tech visions of the future side by side with glimpses of old Japan, and has something for everyone.Tokyo is vast: it’s best thought of not as a single city, but a constellation of cities that have grown together. Tokyo’s districts vary wildly by character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda, from the hyperactive youth culture mecca of Shibuya to the pottery shops and temple markets of Asakusa. If you don’t like what you see, hop on the train and head to the next station, and you will find something entirely different.
For most visitors, the biggest part of the Tokyo experience is just wandering around at random and absorbing the vibe, poking your head into shops selling weird and wonderful things, sampling restaurants where you can’t recognize a single thing on the menu (or on your plate), and finding unexpected oases of calm in the tranquil grounds of a neighborhood Shinto shrine. It’s all perfectly safe, and the locals will go to sometimes extraordinary lengths to help you if you just ask.
Please see the video below to see some stunningly beautiful images of Tokyo, as well as the rest of Japan.
Hayaku: A Time Lapse Journey Through Japan from Brad Kremer on Vimeo.
Safety & Cleanliness
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Of the entire world's famous metropolises there is no safer city than Tokyo. Here in Tokyo you can rest assured that you are in a safe and secure environment. Street crime is extremely rare, even late at night, and continues to decrease. However, “little crime” does not mean “no crime”, and common sense should still be applied as anywhere in the world. Take the usual precautions against pickpockets in crowded areas and trains. Also be aware that theft is more likely to occur in hangouts and bars popular with travelers and non-residents. The red-light and nightlife districts can be a bit seedy, but are rarely dangerous. What is more, Tokyo is famous for its cleanliness. The most advanced waterworks treatment plants provide clean and fresh drinking water for those in the metropolis. Tokyo also has 277 parks and gardens, many of them noteworthy, including the East Garden of the Imperial Palace. These parks and gardens are the green lungs of Tokyo and offer visitors an opportunity to take a break off-site.
Transportation Hub
Public transport within Greater Tokyo is dominated by one of the world's most extensive urban rail networks of clean and efficient surface trains and subways run by a variety of operators, with buses, trams, monorails, and other modes supporting the railway lines. Walking and bicycling are much more common than in many cities around the globe. For more information please click here.