About Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo, as the capital of Japan with its 12 million inhabitants is a city full of energy, and an excellent choice for learning Japanese Language it is a place that is constantly moving and changing. Within only a few years of development, this big city has become a role model for economic miracle. The city of Tokyo is spread over 1’700 square kilometres and consists of several smaller cities. Thanks to the metro, the train and the helpful inhabitants, transportation within the city is still quite comfortable and fast. The moving and ever changing life as well as the modern architecture with its skyscrapers in contrast to the traditional little shops and typical restaurants along the streets have always been fascinating the tourists.
Tokyo is the capital and most populous city of Japan with about thirteen million inhabitants. It is the seat of government of the country and it is the home of the Japanese Imperial Family. It is a mega city, a major global city and the largest metropolitan economy in the world. Tokyo is a major international finance center and it houses the headquarters of some of the world's largest insurance companies, investment banks, and the country's publishing, broadcasting and transportation industries.
Tokyo is the largest hub for Japan’s ground, air and rail transportation. Tokyo has the most extensive urban railways in the world and an equally extensive network of surface lines since rail is its primary mode of transportation. Tokyo has many trains, subways, buses and taxis for its numerous inhabitants! Airports are also available for international and domestic flights. However, you will never lose sight of many people who would rather walk on Tokyo’s busy streets!
The city of Tokyo has a rich mix of its traditional culture and its modern way of life. The city might have undergone an urban renewal over the decades but it still keeps a lot of its traditional architecture and heritage in tact. The city is proud of its various museums showing different facets of the Japanese culture. Four national museums can be found in Ueno Park; the country’s largest museum and specializing in Japanese art is the Tokyo National Museum, the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art which holds over forty thousand Japanese and foreign films and collections of Japanese modern art, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Museum of Science and the public zoo can all be found in the park. Performing arts is also part of the Japanese culture and Tokyo has many theaters showing different productions. Traditional forms of Japanese drama like kabuki and noh in addition to modern dramas, can be seen in private and national theaters. Musical organizations and symphony orchestras perform traditional and Western music in Tokyo’s numerous venues and the city also holds concerts of Western rock and pop music, and modern Japanese music in arenas and intimate locations. The Japanese language is really worth studying it so you understand the theatre and musicals better.
Tokyo is home to many different festivals such as major annual events like the Sanja Festival at the Asakusa Shrine and the Sannō Festival at the Hie Shrine. The biennial Kanda Festival features a parade of thousands of people and elaborately decorated floats. Over a million people go to watch the enormous fireworks over the Sumida River every year on the last Saturday of July. Tokyo residents and visitors gather together for picnics in some of the city’s parks once the sakura or cherry blossoms bloom in spring.
Tokyo has also a wide range of restaurants offering the best in Japanese cuisine! Sake, sushi, rice, miso and sashimi are just some of the staples in Japanese food. Japanese cuisine has developed over time and is a product of its people and environment. The reputation of Japanese dishes as healthy food with low calories is probably related to the long life of the Japanese people. Learn some Japanese words so you can order these delicacies.
Tokyo has been a witness to the progress of the city and its people. It is an interesting place to visit and to explore. Come to Tokyo and enjoy its many sights, sounds and traditions!
