Amusement Centres

Other options Theme Parks p.180 Where else in Japan can you be a rock star, a footballer, a martial artist, a warlord or a commando for only ¥100? Game centres (geisen) can be found near virtually every train station in Tokyo and come in all shapes and sizes from the massive Joypolis in Odaiba (1-6-1…

Aquariums & Marine Centres

There are few nice aquariums. All of them are family oriented and ideal for a day out with the kids. Most offer discounts for children and seniors and are much more reasonable than museums, amusement parks or cinemas. The majority have been built in the past 15 years and feature state of the art facilities.…

Art Galleries

Other options Art p.275, Art & Craft Supplies p.276 Art is big business and every major district in the metropolis has an abundance of galleries. Art in Japan is universally appreciated, eschewing the bourgeois stigma that is associated with it in the west. You’ll see people from all walks of life strolling through museums and…

Forts & Castles

Castle aficionados will have to head out to the hills as Tokyo proper has none. The Imperial Palace (p.189) is technically a castle, but the only way you’ll get close to it is if you’re an ambassador. Due to massive Allied bombing during the war, many of the city’s castles were destroyed. Luckily, many castles…

Museums

Tokyo has more museums than most cities, and you could spend a lifetime taking them all in. Ueno Kōen alone has a cornucopia, and almost every ku has something to offer art lovers. Everything from antiquated Asian arts to cutting edge avant-garde exhibitions is on offer. The availability of English-language information varies, though the ubiquitous…

Religious Sites

At first glance, you could be forgiven for assuming that the city lacks any tangible spirituality. But indistinctly obscured amid the carbon-copy apartment complexes and massive skyscrapers, there is intense evidence of the once-pious core of the Japanese spirit. Around every corner there are tiny temples and unpretentious shrines, which are living breathing societies, with…

Theme Parks

Other options Water Parks (below), Amusement Centres p.168 Many Japanese go crazy for theme parks and even cold winter weekdays will bring mobs of people. Almost all of these parks were built during the Bubble Economy when people had money to burn and many closed down in the early 90s. The ones listed here are…

Water Parks

Other options Theme Parks (above) Water Parks are a relatively new phenomenon. In the painfully humid summer they are a perfect way to cool down. They are family oriented and have activities and pools suitable for young children. Parents need not worry about safety; there are plenty of lifeguards. Be prepared for mobs of people…

Zoos, Wildlife Parks & Open Farms

The Japanese are an animal loving people and there are some praiseworthy zoos in the Tokyo area. All of them have some form of English-language map and navigation should not be a problem. These are great places to take the kids as Japanese zoos tend to focus on the cutest animals. Ueno Zoo (p.182) is…