Location
Eastern central Honshu, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan, ASIA Tokyo is located on the Pacific on the eastern coast of Honshu, the largest of the four main islands comprising Japan. Metropolitan Tokyo is generally defined as the four prefectures of Tokyo, Saitaima, Kanagawa, and Chiba, while the city of Tokyo proper usually refers to the 23 wards in Tokyo prefecture itself. The metropolitan area includes the major cities of Yokohama (the second largest city in Japan), Kawasaki, and Chiba. As well as rural mountain regions west of the city, the Izu Islands outside Tokyo Bay and the Bonin Islands to the southeast in the Pacific Ocean. Culture and tourism in the districts There are many districts within the greater Tokyo area and each of these holds a different appeal and point of focus. These areas range in old and new functions and attractions, from the ancient ruins of Edo Castle to the soaring heights of the Tokyo City Hall. There are many districts but since the 17th century Tokyo's most important has been Shinjuku district. Shinjuku has thriving business and a panorama of skyskrapers but most of all this is where Takashimaya Times Square is located, the home to a enormous shopping complex. |
Another district is Shibuya. Shibuya is a massive transport exchange that visitors are likely to pass through. It is a popular nightlife district that attracts young office employees and students with its laid-back atmosphere and cheaper prices. Roppongi, the third district, is lively and awake at all hours. There are many restaurants, bars and clubs and this area often houses people who have migrated to Japan to work in Tokyo. Ueno Park is named after another district, Ueno. Ueno park also known as the 'old downtown' attracts many tourists to visit the zoo, temple, shrine and concert hall. Ueno and Asakusa are Tokyo's ‘old downtown'. These districts still retain examples of the fast-disappearing architecture that once defined Tokyo. Tokyo's posh, upmarket district, Ginza is a popular area for upmarket shopping and fine dining. Many tourists like to come here and shop for this reason. Hibiya is the central business and financial district. Edo Castle and the Imperial Palace are located here along with a few lovely public parks. Akasaka is a small district that is home to a range of large hotels that are mainly serve business travellers. Ryogoku has the Edo-Tokyo Museum and has historically been where sumo wrestlers have trained and competed since the 1600s. Ryogoku's sumo stadium is one of the best places in the country to watch this popular sport.
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District map
Tokyo's area is divided into districts and is made up of many different district areas. These are: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Ueno and Asakusa, Ginza, Hibiya, Akasaka and Ryogoku. These districts are shown on the adjoining map.
Facts
Founded: c. 1150 Location: Eastern central Honshu, Tokyo Prefecture, JapanLatitude and Longitude: 35°40′N, 139°45′E Motto: Changes with each governor; currently, "My Town Tokyo." Flag: White symbol on purple field. Flower: Somei-Yoshino (a kind of cherry blossom) Time Zone: 9 pm = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); Daylight Saving Time is not observed. Climate: Temperate; winter is dry and mild, while summer is warm and humid. A rainy season occurs from mid-June to about mid-July, and September through November is the typhoon season. Average Temperatures: Winter 29–52°F (–2 to 11°C); Summer 70–83°F (21–28°C). Seasonal Average Snowfall: Snow is very rare—a single snowfall per year with virtually no accumulation. Average Annual Precipitation: 1334mm (1996 est.) Government: Tokyo Metropolis is comprised of 23 wards, 26 cities, seven towns, and eight villages. Incorporated cities all have Mayors. Legislative authority in the Metropolis belongs to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, numbering 127 members elected for terms of four years. The prefectural Governor is the principal elected official, presiding over several administrative commissions and their commissioners. Each ward elects a council and a ward head who deal with certain local matters. Weights and Measures: Metric system Monetary Units: The yen of 100 sen is issued in coins of 1,5,10,50,100, and 500 yen, and notes of 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen. About Tokyo Tokyo was known as Edo until 1868, when the Japanese imperial family was moved there from Kyoto. Tokyo is in the heart and the hub of Japan. It is the world's largest metropolitan centre. Tokyo is filled with skyscrapers, large crowds and bustling streets. This can seem daunting to visitors as well as the people who live there. Although it is this extreme landscape and energy that also makes Tokyo so appealing and attracts people to want to be there. The space is scarce and precious so Tokyo has to be economical and use space wisely. |
Some people consider Tokyo to be a concrete jungle. It is also a city of light but either way it is a super busy city with amazing architecture that doesn't go to sleep. Many parts of Tokyo are very stylish both in the wealthy and poorer areas. There are, however, poorer slums in amongst the glamour. Tokyo is the center of Japanese culture, finance and government. A bustling cosmopolitan city, Tokyo is also a major transportation hub and a world economic and industrial center. The city boasts a large number of world-class institutions of higher education, the highest concentration of universities in Japan.
Economy Tokyo is Japan's third major industrial centre with a very diverse manufacturing base. The most important industries are steel plants, manufacturing of books and electronic equipment, textiles and luxury goods. Tokyo is also Japan's most important management and finance centre. Many major corporations have large offices in Tokyo, Marunouchi being the location of many of these. The close relationship between government and business in Japan makes Tokyo a popular and necessary location. There are over 800,000 private businesses in Tokyo. Tokyo was particularly affected by the Japanese economic boom in the 1980s when the country emerged as a global financial center competing strongly with Europe and the United States. The economic improvements led to speculation, especially with real estate. Land prices soared at the time. The economy leveled out by the early 1990s, but Tokyo's real estate remained the most expensive in Japan and held a similar rank on a global scale. In the second half of the 1990s, Tokyo was again affected by the national economy—only this time it was not an economic boom but a crash. In 1999 Japan began a slow and uncertain recovery from its longest and most severe economic recession since the end of World War II. |