Holidays - A Guide to Tokyo

When deciding where to go for your holiday this year why not consider Tokyo, it is Japan's largest city and one of the busiest in the world and with its stylish shops, boutiques and use of highly modern technology you will never be lost for things to do.

Shopping in Tokyo is an experience, the numerous department stalls, the malls and of course the trendy and exclusive boutiques that Harajuku is famous for, all mean that if you enjoy shopping, Tokyo is definitely the place for you. As well as the upper market shops, you can also find very reasonably priced stores, such as the 100 Yen shops which are equivalent to our £1 shops, this could allow you to have the cheap holidays that you were after because Tokyo is an expensive place to visit, however, there are ways that can help you get around it. Tokyo is also the place to go if its electrical goods that you are interested in. Akihabara in Tokyo is a haven for anything electrical, here you can find anything from computers to air conditioners and if you are one of the many that has gotten caught up in i-pod craze then the area of Ginza would be the place to go as it has an Apple shop amongst its art galleries.

Tokyo is a place with a lot of culture and it therefore has many museums. As well as museums, shrines and temples are also common in Tokyo and are well worth a visit for their spectacular beauty. The Meiji Jingu Shrine and the Sensoji Temple are a few of the magnificent religious buildings around Tokyo that are on offer for you to visit if you were to choose Tokyo for your holidays this year.

Incredible restaurants are on offer all around Tokyo and you won't have to travel far in order to find high quality cuisine and world class drinks. Of course when travelling to Tokyo, you have to try the sushi, which is very popular and therefore widely available.

To round off the day, you could taste the very entertaining night life on offer. The night club; Velfarre offers a very exciting and appealing evening, as here you will be treated to some stylish and elegant fashion shows and be entertained by live performances from Japanese singers. The blend of light and music, create the ideal ambiance for dance and party, this is perhaps why Velfarre also hosts a Cyber Trance show.

If none of the above excites you then there are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained. If you are a fan of the more relaxing holidays then why not visit the Asakusa Kannon Onsen where you can relax whilst being pampered and enjoy rejuvenating massages. During your time in Tokyo, why not try your hand at some traditional Japanese martial arts and visit the Aikido World Foundation. If you'd prefer a less exerting activity, then there are interesting tea ceremonies held at Seisei-an and Chosho-an.

By Gill Critchley

What you must to see in Tokyo

Situated in the Kanto region on the mid-eastern part of the Honshu Island, Tokyo is the capital and the largest city in Japan. Tokyo, literally meaning 'Eastern Capital,' is also one of the 47 prefectures in the country. However, it is much popular as a metropolis rather than a prefecture. The largest of its kind in the world, Tokyo's metropolis is made up of: 26 cities, 23 city wards, eight villages, and five towns.

Once a typical village known as Edo - the city became the political center of the country when Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most powerful rulers, established his feudal government here during the 16th century. But, Tokyo got its present name when the emperor Meiji shifted his capital from Kyoto to Edo. A city of contrasts, Tokyo has now become one of the most popular destinations in the world, brimming with world-class attractions.

Tokyo has to its credit such a great number of attractions that it takes months to explore them all. One of the most popular among the city's attractions is Imperial Palace, which is still the residence of the emperor of Japan. The palace is built on a huge amazing site, where still the remains of Edo Castle can be seen. Another worth-visiting attraction here is Diet Parliament, which was opened in 1936. Equally worth mentioning is Kabuki-za Theatre, which is perhaps the most popular in the country. Opened its door in 1889, the theatre conducts daily performances.

No visit to Tokyo would be complete without taking a tour to Akihabara, also known as Akihabara Electric Town or Akiba. This area boasts of an enormous collection of electronic shops. Also, a great attraction in the city is Tokyo Tower, a soaring structure that takes after the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A marine aquarium can also be seen here. Additionally, Tokyo is home to Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market, one of the largest fish market in the world.

Other not to miss destinations in Tokyo are Shinjuku, a business area of the city with one of the biggest amusement squares in the country; Asakusa, with attractions such as Sensoji Temple and the Kaminarimon gate; Roppongi, a trendy area regarded as the international area of the city; and Odaiba, a highly developed waterfront as well as island area in Tokyo bay.

Above all, while your stay in the city, don't miss Tokyo Disneyland, an amusement park with highlights such as Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour, Fantillusion, Western River Railroad, The Mickey Mouse Review, and Meet the World.

Shrines and Temples - Each of the temples in the city is truly a sight to see. Most popular among the shrines in the area is Sensoji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple. Located in Asakusa, the temple is a Buddhist shrine, with features such as the Kaminarimon or thunder gate and a five-storied pagoda. Nakamise, a shopping street with a history of several centuries, leads to the second gate of the temple, Hozomon.

Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Shoken, is another popular temple in the city. Completed in 1920 and rebuilt after the Second World War, Meiji Shrine is home to various festivals and events.

A visit to such shrines as Sengakuji Temple, where 47 Ronin are buried; Yasukini Shrine, which commemorate Japan's war dead; and Zojoji Temple - the main shrine of Buddhist Jado sect would be a great experience.

Museums - Tokyo has a great number of museums, which among many others, are the Tokyo National Museum - the oldest as well as the largest in the country; Mitsuo Aida Museum, with a rare collection of artifacts; Edo Tokyo Museum, where on display are artifacts related to the city's history and culture; O Art Museum, a multi-purpose art museum; Mori Art Museum, showcasing contemporary Japanese art; Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum; Nezu Institute of Fine Art; the Bunkamura Museum of Fine Art; Science Museum of Tokyo, and Sompo Japan Museum of Art, housing works of Seiji Togo, a well-known Japanese artist.

Parks and Gardens - For nature lovers, Tokyo has an astounding array of parks and gardens. Some of the most popular among them are:

• Rikugien, a beautiful landscape garden designed in Japanese style
• Hama Rikyu, one of the most attractive gardens in the area, which once served as the garden of a feudal lord's residence during the Edo period
• Kyu Shiba Rikyu Onshi Teien, which is developed on the site which was earlier the residence of several feudal lords as well as government officials
• East Gardens, an amazing garden located within the compounds of the Imperial Palace
• Ueno Park, one of the largest public parks in the country, is home to many museums, such as the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum for Western Art
• Yoyogi Koen, a unique park designed in western style

Tokyo has some of the best shopping areas in the form of Ginza district, located in the heart of the city. Many stores designer items, jewelry, and apparels can be seen here. Among the largest department stores in the area are Hankyu, Seibu, Printemps, Matsuya, Wako and Mikimoto.

Author: Wolfgang Jaegel

An Overview of Asia

By Richard Monk

Asia is the largest continent when measured by landmass and human population. Following is an overview of Asia.

Asia is considered one of the seven continents. This continental definition, however, is far broader than many people think. Under the seven continent methodology, Asia stretches from Japan in the East through Russia in the West. It encompasses Saudi Arabia and everything above Asia. While it doesn’t always make practical sense, there is no denying this definition of Asia makes it the home of over 60 percent [4 billion] of all humans. China and India, of course, are the locations of a vast majority of these people.

In modern times, geographers recognize there really is no dividing line between Asia to the west and Europe to the East. This has resulted in the entire area being called Eurasia, but thousands of years of terminology aren’t about to pass into antiquity. Today, most people refer to Europe as a continent so far as it extends to the Ural Mountains in Russia. Everything to the east of that mountain range is considered Asia. For instance, Israel is considered a country in Western Asia!

Russia has even picked up on this theme with the two heads on the national flag. The west facing head refers to the European part of Russia while the East facing head refers to the Asian part of the country. Within Russia, it is almost as if there are two countries with Moscow and St. Petersburg having heavy European influences. Cities in the Far East, such as Vladivostok, are much more oriented to China and such.

To resolve the boundary issue, the powers that be have started defining Asia subcontinents. The areas are:

1. Central Asia - Kazakhstan Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
2. East Asia – China, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, North and South Korea.
3. North Asia - Russia.
4. India Subcontinent – India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
5. Southeast Asia - Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar [Burma], Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
6. Southwest Asia – The Middle East including Turkey, Iran, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and sometimes Egypt.

Given the problems defining the boundaries of Asia, you can imagine it is also difficult to define certain characteristics regarding the continent. After all, life in Turkey is much different than in China. Conversely, customs in India are completely different than those in China. In fact, most people living in Asia take offence when someone uses the word “Asians” to refer to them. The word implies a similarity among all people in Asia, which simply isn’t true.

Economically, things are a bit easier to categorize. The largest economy in Asia is China as a measure of gross domestic product. Officially known as the People’s Republic of China, this country remains communist in name only when it comes to economic issues. With massive economic growth over the last 10 years, China is the second largest economy in the world after the United States. Another heavily populated area, India, is now the fourth biggest economy in the world, while relatively small Japan is the third. Put in practical terms, Asia is home to three of the four biggest economies on Earth. The three dominant financial centers are Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore.

With so many countries, it is hardly surprising to find a wide variety of religious practices in Asia. There are a wide variety of belief systems, but Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam have the largest number of adherents.

Figuring out exactly what constitutes Asia is largely a matter of opinion. Among many assertions about Asia, the undisputable one is it is the home to the largest percentage of humans on the planet.