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Tokyo Japan

INTRODUCTION

Tokyo is a city unlike any other in the world. The greater metropolitan area is actually one of Japan’s 47 prefectures (similar to states in the United States), it’s the seat of Japanese government, although many do not consider it the official capital, and the home of the Imperial family, the longest unbroken Imperial line in the world. The metropolitan region is divided into several wards, of which the city of Tokyo is one.

With almost 13 million residents at the turn of the 21st century, the city Tokyo is one of the largest in the world. The Greater Tokyo metropolitan area claims more than 35 million residents, more than the population of the country of Canada, earning recognition as a megacity. As such it has the highest gross domestic product of any city in the world, and is one of the most expensive places to live.

It is Japan’s nucleus for politics, economics and cultural sightings. Tokyo has hills, mountains and plateaus; also, the volcanic islands in the Pacific, Izu and Ogasawara Islands also are part of Tokyo.

HISTORY

Tokyo began as a small village, in what was established as Musashi province in the 7th century. In 628, one of the earliest Buddhist temples in the country was founded in the district now known as Asakusa, in north eastern Tokyo.

In 864, the land was covered in volcanic ash when nearby Mount Fuji erupted over 10 days. Fuji would erupt again in 1083.

During the change from Imperial to military rule of the Minamoto shogunate of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), legendary warrior Edo Shigetsugu set up camp in the area surrounding what is now historic Edo Castle (also called Chiyoda Castle).

The village of Edo was established shortly there after. Life was primarily based around fishing and agriculture. At the time, the primary staple of the Japanese diet, and currency, was rice, and the rich soil of the region was ideal.

During the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), Edo grew. Following the demise of the Edo clan in the early 15th century, Edo Castle was constructed in 1457 under the watchful eye of Ota Dokan, a descendant of the Minamoto clan.

In 1570, growing interest in the foreign Christian faith led to the establishment of the Edo Archbishopric.

Edo castle changed hands several times and by the late 1500s had been abandoned. With the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, however, the castle was given to Tokugawa Ieyasu, as part of a give that included several provinces. Tokugawa chose Edo Castle as his home base.

After he came to ultimate power after the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu was made shogun (in 1603). Edo castle would become the permanent home of future Tokugawa shoguns and the seat of military government for the remainder of the Edo Period. The grounds were expanded, but the development would not reach completion until 1636, long after Tokugawa’s death in 1616. The castle is so important and popular that the founding is celebrated every October 1.

Tokugawa founded the popular Buddhist temple Sengaku-ji in 1612. The temple became one of the three most important temples in the city during the early Edo era.

By the turn of the 18th century, Edo had become the fastest growing city in the nation, and one of the fastest growing in the world. The population reached one million, and the city became the economic and cultural center of Japan.

Edo Castle once again came to popular attention in 1701, when a modest country daimyo called daimyo Asano Naganori drew his sword in the Corridor of Pines (part of Edo castle) in an attempt to kill court official Kira Yoshinaka. The details remain unclear, but it is widely accepted that a corrupt Kira insulted Lord Asano, who then drew his sword. According to law, it was forbidden to draw one’s sword in government offices, and Lord Asano was sentenced to death. Asano’s retainers, having become ronin on the death of their master, waited one year before attacking Kira’s mansion and taking his life with the same blade used by Lord Asano to end his own life. Kira’s head was taken to the well on the grounds of Sengaku-ji, washed and presented to Lord Asano’s grave behind the temple. The ronin were arrested, tried and sentenced to death for the murder. They are now buried on the temple grounds next to their former lord.

The story of the 47 Ronin, as it has come to be known, became the most talked about tale of the day, giving rise to several plays depicting the story. It is still one of the best loves tales from feudal Japan, and is regularly presented in film and kabuki theatre. The temple now houses a museum preserving several artifacts used in the raid on Kira’s mansion, articles of clothing and statements written and signed by those involved, including the temple’s receipt for receiving Kira’s severed head. The site remains one of the most popular in Tokyo, receiving countless visitors. It has also become a popular lunch spot for nearby businesses.

Edo was again covered in volcanic ash when Mount Fuji erupted in 1707. Fortunately, no lava was released, but the ash covered the land for miles, wreaking havoc with crops and leading to flooding due to sediment buildup. The volcano was active for about two months, but has been dormant since.

By the late 1700s, foreign trade had caught the attention of the Americas.

Throughout the 19th century, Sengaku-ji was expanded and the gates were rebuilt. A statue of Oishi Kuranosuke, leader of the Ako ronin, was placed at the front gate, and the morning bell was installed.

Japan was changed forever in 1852, when US Navy Commodore Mathew Perry sailed his “Black Ships” into Edo Bay. The shogunate sent him on to Nagasaki, the only port then open to foreign trade. Perry refused to leave and threatened to attack the relatively secluded nation with his more advanced, modern western arms. Perry was allowed to land.

Japan’s concessions to the foreign trade demands of Commodore Perry led to resentment and unrest. The nation had been largely closed to foreigners for two and a half centuries, and now felt that its leaders were falling prey to an unsettling western influence. In 1859 a western style naval academy was established in Edo, in an attempt to modernize Japan’s navy.

In 1860, the first foreigner made an ascent to the summit of Mount Fuji, from a base in Edo. In 1873, fire consumed the bulk of Edo Castle, and the site was rebuilt.

During the Meiji Restoration of the 1860s, Edo castle became the home of the Imperial Family. The grounds were reduced, with much of the land given to the city for urban development.

In 1866, Tokugawa Yoshinobu claimed the title of Shogun, but never took up residence in Edo Castle. Yoshinobu restructured the shogunate in an attempt to regain its status, but too many Japanese were fearful of western influence and the corrupt rule of previous shoguns.

The situation came to a head in 1867, with the onset of the Boshin War. By the end of the war in 1869, the shogunate was abolished and power restored to the Imperial family, who took up residence in Edo Castle.

Edo was renamed Tokyo (meaning Eastern Capital) in 1868.

In 1869, the young Emperor Mutsuhito (later known as Emperor Meiji) moved to the city. The castle officially became the Imperial Palace, and a settlement was established at Tsukiji for foreigners. The following years saw an increase in westernization, leading to the modernization of the Imperial army. Thousands of westerners flooded Japan, bringing with them modern science, technology and, of course, the English language.

The economy began to shift, the rising merchant class gaining greater influence on national culture. Tokyo became the commercial center and Japan rose to the top of Asia’s commercial marketplace, relying heavily on import/export.

Edo castle was destroyed by fire in 1873, and the Emperor moved to Akasaka Palace.

These events increased tensions with many nationals, culminating in the Satsuma Rebellion on 1877, in which several samurai from the Satsuma domain in southern Japan, many of whom fought to restore power to the Emperor, rejected the Emperor’s rapid modernization of the country. The events were popularized in the movie The Last Samurai, staring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe.

The increased communication with the western powers brought great change to the capital. Among the earliest of the lasting changes was the establishment of the first rail line in 1872. The city now boasts the most extensive metro rail system in the world, with nearly 1600 above ground and subway stations throughout the city.

The police force was established in 1874.

Shinjuku station opened in 1885. The station would grow into the largest in the world.

Tokyo officially became the City of Tokyo in 1889.

The now historic Tokyo Station opened in 1914. Construction was modeled after a station in Amsterdam. The station would come to national attention again, when the Prime Minister was assassinated at the entrance in 1921.

In 1920, Emperor Meiji was enshrined in the Meiji Jingu, in Yoyogi Park. The complex houses a garden, memorial hall and museum open to the public yea round.

Tragedy struck the city in 1923, when the Kanto region suffered a massive earthquake registering 8.4 on the Richter scale and causing more than one billion dollars worth of damage.. More than 100,000 lives were lost, including 38,000 crowding into one park in downtown Tokyo killed in a single fire. Almost two million were left homeless.

Tokyo declared a state of martial law in response to riots on wide spread violence following the aftershocks. The city took the opportunity to rebuild a modern capital.

In 1932, Tokyo absorbed several surrounding communities, greatly expanding its region and population.

In 1943, the city of Tokyo merged with Tokyo Prefecture, forming the Tokyo Metropolis.

The 1945 bombings of the Second World War heavily damaged the station, but it was rebuilt to only two stories instead of the original three. The bombings cost an estimated 200,000 lives and much of the city was destroyed. The city slowly rebuilt.

In 1964 Tokyo was host to the XVIII Summer Olympic Games. The now famous Nippon Budokan hall was built for the event, and now hosts international performances including the Beatle’s first performance in Japan in 1966. Since then, popular recording artists from Led Zeppelin to Beyonce have performed here.

The latter half of the 20th century saw increased growth in the city. Several high rise towers were constructed, including the Sunshine 60 complex, at the time the tallest building in eastern Asia. Shinjuku Station became the largest and busiest station in the world, housing many shops and processing three million passengers daily. The Tokyo International Airport opened in 1978, becoming the Narita International Airport in 2004. It is now the fourth busiest airport in the world. In 1991, the Tokyo Government Offices (also known as Tax Tower) opened in Shinjuku, at the time the tallest building in the city. The tower offers two observation decks on the top floor.

Shinjuku station was the site of a terrorist attack in 1995, when the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult released cyanide gas in a toilet. The device was found by staff and disaster was prevented.

Tokyo in the new millennium boasts the largest metropolitan economy in the world, making the city a major player in global economics. The capital is a world leader in industrial development, automotive manufacture and high technology. The economy is further supported by agriculture and a growing tourism industry.

While Tokyo is the most expensive city in the nation, it can be relatively inexpensive to visit. A growing trend is home vacation rentals, in which an apartment can be rented for less than the cost of a Hotel.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

The climate in Tokyo varies; there are four seasons. The summer months of June through August are very hot and humid. There is a rainy season that lasts from late June until mid-July. Spring, from March to May is the most popular time to visit Tokyo, when the climate is most comfortable. The days are warm during this time, but a coat or a jacket will be necessary in the early mornings and in the evening.

ATTRACTIONS

If amusement parks are what you enjoy, then check out Disneyland? in Tokyo. There is also an indoor theme park called Sanrio Puroland?, where Sanrio characters like hello kitty take you on an adventure; this is geared toward smaller children.

Odaiba? is an area of Tokyo atop an artificially created island in Tokyo Bay. It is known as a top location for couples on dates in addition to those looking for a well endowed entertainment zone, as it boasts a plethora of activities for everyone. Carnival rides, restaurants, shopping and plenty of interesting people-watching awaits the visitor to Odaiba. The Oedo Onsen Monogatari? is worth special attention if you are interested in unwinding at a traditional Japanese bath house and hot spring. The interior transports you to an older Japan of several centuries ago, while offering you numerous bathing experiences in both hot and cold water. Onsen in general are enjoyable to people of all ages and should be visited when in Japan (this one is especially family-friendly).

Tokyo also has various museums to fit various visitors’ tastes. There is the Tokyo National Museum?, the oldest one in Tokyo. This museum has a Japanese Gallery, an Asian Gallery, the Gallery of Horyuji Temple Treasures?, and more. Another gallery that may be of interest is the Natural Museum of Western Art.

LODGING

Grand Palace Hotel-This 3 Star Hotel has six restaurants onsite. It is near public transportation for easy access to all of Tokyo.

Park Hotel Tokyo-The luxurious 4 Star hotel offers great views of the city.