Tokyo travel pictures

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Things to see in Tokyo

The capital of Japan is the megalopolis Tokyo. It is one of the largest cities in the world and appears as an endless continuation of buildings and roads which even have been stacked on top of each other. Despite its size, the number of world famous land marks is relatively low due to the ongoing developments which does turn it into a very modern city. The best way to see Tokyo is to go to a certain area and just exploring the area when taking in some of the highlights. Many smaller temples and other interesting sights and views are not listed in guidebooks, but you just happen to go past them.

One of the most visited areas is Osakusa which is home to the beautiful Sensoji temple. This temple attracts many visitors so do expect some crowds, but it is definitely worth it. There is also a small market nearby which cater mainly to tourists. In addition there are also some streets with modern buildings, making it a perfect combination of the old and the new.

For a birds eye view over Tokyo, head to the Metropolitan government building. In each of the two towers, there is a viewing platform which allows you to see for miles (weather permitting). Both towers have different opening hours, but most of the time, there is one open. The queues are remarkably short and you should have no problem getting to the viewing floors shortly after arriving.

Besides its buildings Tokyo has several green spaces of which several are classic Japanese gardens. The best known park is Ueno park which is also home to many museums and temples making it a must-see. For the traditional Japanese gardens, Hibiya park and especially Shinjuku Gyoen are recommended. They are truly well designed outdoor spaces and continuously maintained so they are always in good condition. You will also find several small wooden bridges and artistically trimmed trees that give it that typical Japanese character.

For a combination of old buildings with a view on modern high rise buildings head over to the Imperial palace. Here you get to see the picture perfect view of a an old bridge in front of the palace on one side and on the other side part of the modern skyline of Tokyo. The palace itself can not be visited, but parts of the imperial gardens are open to everyone.

If you get bored of the city itself there are a few easy options to escape. For a more historical view of Japan, head to either Nikko or Kamakura which has several ancient temples and are much quieter than this big city. For something outdoors, consider climbing Mt. Fuji which is around 2 hours by bus away and is one of the highlights of Japan. It is a tough climb and can get crowded, but the sunrise above the clouds is worth it.

Tokyo is well connected by plane to the rest of the world and for most visitors this city will be either their first or their last stop. If you are already in Japan, the buses or the fast trains are the way to go. Tokyo has one of the best public transportation systems in the world which is easy to navigate as well, even for those who don't speak Japanese. Most trains leave every few minutes, they are quick and the majority of interesting sights in the center are linked by a direct connection. The best time to visit is probably spring or fall as summers are hot and humid and winters can be cold.

Tokyo travel photo gallery

Horyu-ji (treasury).	Kuroda memorial hall.	Library.	The Japan photo gallery includes travel pictures of Kamakura, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, Nagoya, Nara, Osaka and Tokyo.
Kanei-ji temple.	Kanei-ji temple.	Bell of the Kanei-ji temple.
Small Buddhist temple.	Torii gate in Ueno park.	Traditional Buddhist temple.
Stone lanterns.	Statue.	Small stupa in Ueno park.
Torii gate of Toshogu shrine.	Toshogu shrine in Ueno park.	Toshogu shrine.
Benzaiten temple.	Benzaiten temple near Ueno park.	Pagoda of Benzaiten temple.
Takamori Saigo.	Chuo dori.	Torii gate.
Asakusa dori.	Temple near Asakusa dori.	Skytree.
Asakusa cannon temple.	Gate of Sensoji temple.	Pagoda of Sensoji temple.
Pagoda of Asakusa cannon temple.	Old part of Tokyo, Asakusa cannon temple.	Souvenir shops near Sensoji temple.
Modern Asakusa dori.	Old gate.	Old building in modern Tokyo.
High rise buildings in Tokyo, Japan.	The outside of the Tsukiji fish market.	Skyscrapers.
Busy street.	Typical street scene.	Busy crossing.
People crossing an intersection.	Traditional Japanese shop.	Pond in Hibiya park.
Hibiya park.	Japanese garden in Hibiya park.	Ministry of Justice.
Gate to the grounds of the Imperial palace.	Moat of the Imperial palace.	Bridge leading to the Imperial Palace.
Skyscrapers.	Skyline.	Kokyo Gaien.
High rise building near central.	Shibuya crossing.	Many people on Shibuya crossing.
Torii gate belonging to the Meiji shrine.	Pond in the park near Meiji shrine.	Drums for the rice wine.
Torii gate.	Gate of the Meiji shrine.	Meiji shrine.
The Meiji shrine.	Courtyard of the Meiji shrine.	French formal garden.
Shinjuku Gyoen park.	Traditional Japanese garden.	Office towers rising above the park.
Shinjuku Gyoen national garden.	Pond with the Taiwan pavilion.	Traditional Japanese garden.
Shinjuku Gyoen park.	Taiwan pavilion in Shinjuku Gyoen national garden.	Zigzag bridge in Shinjuku Gyoen national garden.
English landscape garden.	Small bridge in the traditional garden.	Pond in Shinjuku Gyoen park.
View over the high buildings from the Metropolitan government building.	The city seen from the top of the Metropolitan government building.	Imperial Palace.
Outer wall of the Imperial Palace.	Entrance gate.	Large building in the Imperial Palace.
Gate in the Imperial Palace.	Moat of the Imperial Palace.	Wooden building in the Imperial garden.
Japanese garden with a pond.	Blossom on a tree in the Imperial Palace garden.	Business district near central.