Tokyo
As the world's most populous city (over 37 million people - 2014), and Japan's capital, Tokyo is a huge city full of things to do and all the various aspects that makes up Japanese culture as it is today.
In Tokyo you will find the very old (temples etc) mixed with the very new (technology, maid cafes, bright lights etc) making it a fascinating place to explore.
Tokyo at night
Tokyo
Tokyo at Night
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is now the cheaper but not as high cousin as the Sky Tree, this Eiffel Tower-inspired building is an iconic part of the Tokyo skyline.
View from Tokyo Tower
Me on the Tokyo Tower
Perspex Floor in the Tokyo Tower
Me on the Tokyo Tower
Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo National Museum
The Tokyo National Museum is located in the heart of Ueno Park - one of the largest parks in Tokyo.
Tokyo National Museum
Ancient Samurai Swords in the Tokyo National Museum
The museum houses an impressive collection of items from all parts of Japanese history, giving you a rich appreciation for the country's past. It will take you a good half day to walk around all the collections.
Tokyo National Museum
Ueno Park
Shrine in Ueno Park
Ueno Park is one of the largest parks in Tokyo. It has lovely open green spaces, shrines, temples, and even fair ground rides.
Ueno Park
Ueno Park
Ueno Park
Ameya Yokocho Market
Ameya Yokocho Market
Ameya Yokocho Market is close to Ueno Park, and is a lively part of Tokyo. Walk around this market street for all sorts of shopping, including food and clothes.
The seafood here is particularly good as it's very close to the fish market.
Ameya Yokocho Market
Ameya Yokocho Market
Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya Crossing
This is one of the most famous crossings in the world. Every time the green man appears 1000's of people cross this multiple pedestrian crossing, and somehow they never seem to walk into each other.
Shibuya Crossing
My advice is to walk across the crossing to experience the mayhem, then go to the Starbucks on the crossing and watch it from above from there - it's an amazing thing to see!
Harajuku
Harajuku District
The Harajuku District on Takashita Street is famous for its bright colours, and the colourfully dressed Harajuku girls. Take a walk down here for some good shopping, restaurants, and the chance to see Harajuku girls walking around.
Harajuku District
Harajuku District
Harajuku District
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park is another one of Tokyo's large and beautiful parks. The main attraction in Yoyogi Park is the Meiji Shrine, which can be found in the centre of the park after a relatively short but beautiful walk.
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park
Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine is one of the largest and most beautiful temples in Tokyo. Entrance into the temple is free of charge.
Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine
The Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace
Tokyo's Imperial Palace is a beautiful set of buildings to walk around. To walk around the outside is free of course and you can get plenty of beautiful photos.
You can book on a tour to go inside. This has to be done in advance, so talk to your hotel about this if you wish to go inside. I believe that this is free, but I never did it so can't say with 100% certainty.
Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tsukiji fish market is a lively part of Tokyo full of fresh sea food. It's best to get there early in the morning (5am!) to see the auction for all the large and wonderful sea food. As it gets later in the day the market becomes less and less interesting. Unfortunately I only got there late in the day so my photos here don't really do it justice.
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tsukiji Fish Market
Asakura Choso Museum
Asakura Choso Museum
The Asakura Choro Museum is the former home of Japanese sculptor Asakura Fumio (1883-1964). The house is now home to a large collection of his work.
Asakura Choso Museum
As well as housing a large collection of the artists work, the museum is a fascinating insight into what a traditional large (a rarity in itself in Tokyo!) home would have looked like. It's a beautiful building inside and out.
Asakura Choso Museum
Asakura Choso Museum
Asakura Choso Museum - Rooftop Garden
The museum's rooftop garden makes the museum worth visiting on its own. The view of Tokyo from the roof is beautiful, and the garden itself is very pleasant to walk around.
Asakura Choso Museum - Rooftop Garden
Asakura Choso Museum - Rooftop Garden
Asakura Choso Museum - Rooftop Garden
Maid Cafes
Maid Cafe
Maid cafes are a phenomenon found primarily in Japan, and in Japan mainly in Tokyo. They are restaurants themed around cosplay, with the waitresses dressed up in maid costumes, treating the customers as masters - with the maids acting subservient.
Maid Cafe
This may sound a bit strange, but it is a very popular place to visit in Japan, and very in tune with their more modern culture (anime etc). The clientele are a wide mixture, with men, women, couples, locals and tourists. It's a very friendly atmosphere, and a lot of fun - but also a bit crazy to non-locals.
Ice Cream from a Maid Cafe
The menu is typically hot and cold drinks, ice creams and other snacks. It's expensive, but it's worth it for the experience.
Gonpachi Restaurant
Entrance to Gonpachi
I wouldn't normally put an individual restaurant on here, but such was the experience I had at Gonpachi both times I went that I wanted to add it to the site.
The restaurant is the restaurant Quentin Tarantino used as his inspiration for the Crazy 88 scene in Kill Bill - Gonpachi is near identical to it and when you're sat in there you do feel like you are in the film.
Gonpachi
Gonpachi
Me in Gonpachi
Gonpachi
Gonpachi
Gonpachi
Not only was the decor and the atmosphere in Gonpachi great, the food was also out of this world, and by Tokyo standards not that expensive either.
Food at Gonpachi
Food at Gonpachi
Sky Tree
Sky Tree
Sky Tree is the worlds tallest freestanding broadcasting tower with an observation deck, and is one of the newest additions to the Tokyo skyline.
It offers amazing views of the whole city. It's not cheap though, and also if you go anytime other than first thing in the morning you will be queuing for quite some time.
View from Sky Tree
View from Sky Tree
Sensoji Temple
Me at the entrance to Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple is one of the biggest temples in Tokyo. It's free to get in, and there is a large complex to walk around. It's a beautiful place to visit, but like most temples it's very busy most of the time.
Entrance to Sensoji Temple
One of the reasons why Sensoji Temple is so popular is that there is a large tourist shopping area on the walk from the entrance to the temple to the temple itself. This shopping area is impossible to miss, and is a great place to do your souvenir shopping. You will find almost everything here, including kimonos.
Shopping at Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple
Anthony Carlile