The Hachiko Statue is a wonderful example of Japan’s ability to turn a small story into a larger national symbol of honourable traits. There’s the Hiroshima girl who folded a thousand cranes to cure her illness caused by the atomic bomb. Her story and the cranes she made have become enduring symbols of hope among…
Category: History
Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine is one of Tokyo’s most famous historical attractions. Located amid tranquil greenery a reasonably short walk from Harajuku Station, it’s a must see on any first time visit to Tokyo. Compared to other religious landmarks in Tokyo, the shrine, aligned to the Shinto religion, is relatively new. It opened in 1920 in honour…
Sensoji Temple
If you’re looking for the biggest and best historical landmark in Tokyo, look no further than Sensoji Temple. A Buddhist landmark in Asakusa, Tokyo’s old entertainment district, Sensoji Temple is the world’s most visited spiritual site annually. The temple is also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple and Senso-Ji. The complex, which dates back to 645AD,…
Edo Tokyo Museum
The Edo Tokyo Museum in eastern Tokyo provides a comprehensive and entertaining look at the history of Tokyo. Its housed in a monolithic building by the Sumida River, that is a futuristic take on traditional Japanese warehouse design. In the museum’s comprehensive permanent exhibition, the history is brought to life through dioramas, miniature models and full-scale…
Fukagawa Edo Museum
Ever wondered what Tokyo was like in the 1800’s at the end of the Edo era? The Fukagawa Edo Museum in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa brings that period to life with a full-size reproduction of a Tokyo neighbourhood from that time. Entering the museum is like stepping into history, or at least onto the authentic set of a…
Maisen Tonkatsu
What to do with a WWII era community public bathhouse no longer in use in an upmarket Tokyo neighbourhood? Turn it into one of Tokyo’s best tonkatsu restaurants of course! That’s just what the Maisen Tonkatsu restaurant chain has done with its flagship venue in Aoyama. Established in the 1960’s, Maisen Tonkatsu is known for…
Omoide Yokocho
Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku, also known as ‘Piss Alley’, is a step back in time to Tokyo’s post-war era. It’s a small precinct of over 80 tiny food stalls in narrow alleyways just outside Shinjuku Station’s West Exit. Featuring mainly yakitori (grilled skewer) stalls, a wander through Omoide Yokocho after dark offers an atmospheric experience….