Intriguing Tokyo - the most interesting places and the most important sights of the Japanese capital
The Japanese capital is the country's largest and richest city, but also one of the world's largest metropolitan areas. It has experienced a lot, including earthquakes or American bombings. And yet it is fascinating and full of magnificent sites, where tall skyscrapers symbolizing the huge post-war economic leap are interspersed with low-rise traditional buildings reminiscent of centuries of history. Check out what attractions and sights in Tokyo attract millions of tourists each year! Check out where the past mixes with the future, elegance with kitsch, wood with glass, and money with deities of various religions.
Tokyo- what you must see
The Japanese essence
The most important place to visit first is the Sensō-ji, the city's oldest Buddhist temple, dating back to the 7th century. It is a beautiful building dedicated to Kannon Bosatsu, a being (in simple terms, a goddess) who gives mercy, shows kindness and protects from pain and suffering. In fact, it is an entire Asakusa temple complex consisting of several structures, including: the main chram, a five-story pagoda, striking gates and pavilions. It is beautifully lit after dusk so if you have plenty of time, head here during the day and evening. Remember, too, that various spiritual ceremonies, cultural events and festivals are held here almost all year round. This is a great opportunity to approach the essence of Japanese culture.
City of neon lights
A completely different place is Ginza - a temple of money, business and expensive clothes. High skyscrapers, fashion boutiques for thousands of zlotys and exclusive restaurants are the hallmarks of this quarter. The essence of modern Tokyo and a symbol of Japan's dynamic development is also the famous Shibuya intersection, which, with its bustle, noise and fever of colors of neon signs and billboards, can be compared to New York's Time Square or London's Piccadilly Circus. If you want to fully experience the character of the place, your best bet is to go to the top floor of the train station and look at the intersection from above! There are also many places in Tokyo that may strike you as kitschy. One of them is the fashionable Harajuku quarter - this, too, is one of the unconventional faces of the Land of Cherry Blossom.
Tall symbols of the city
In 1958, the Japanese capital lived to see a radio and television tower modeled after Paris' Eiffel Tower. However, it is several meters taller than its prototype and painted in a strong red color with white additions. A new symbol of the city has become the Tokyo Skytree tower, which was commissioned dp 2012. Its size is downright impressive and seems to reflect the enormous ambitions and capabilities of the Japanese people. It reaches as high as 634 meters, making it the tallest tower in the world and the second tallest building in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is 828 meters.
The basin of attractions
Quite a few of Tokyo's interesting sites and sights can be found in Ueno, where a beautiful park dominates. Its name means Emperor's Gift, and there is indeed something of a magnificent gift to the city. Look out for the Sinoist chrams, especially the 17th century Ueno Tōshō-gū, as well as Hanazono Inari-jinja and Gojōten-jinja. An island on the pond, meanwhile, is adorned with the Benten-dō temple dedicated to Benzaiten, the protector of beauty and love. You'll also find the National Museum, which is worth a visit if you want to learn and understand Japanese history a little better. In addition, there are several smaller but equally interesting establishments: Museum of Western Art, Metropolitan Art or Museum of Natural History and Science. In between exploring more exhibitions, you can take a trip to the park - it will delight you with its cherry blossoms in spring, its abundance of flowers in summer, and its foliage colors in autumn. Also stop by the Yanaka district, which charms with its fair amount of wooden buildings. And if you dream of more wooden houses and old-style Japan, head to the outskirts, where a magnificent and extensive ethnographic park, or open-air museum of Edo era architecture, awaits you.
