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Tokyo is a modern city
full of exhibitions, attractions and events. All this can either overwhelm you,
or make you seek the relaxed, serene and romantic side to the city. You can
visit the many tranquil gardens and historical shrines and temples of the city
such as Sensoji in Tokyo's Asakusa district. You can walk through Shinjuku Gyoen
in April, when the cherry trees are in full blossom, or visit in November where
the colours of the chrysanthemums bring you peace and tranquility.
MUSEUMS
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Walk into a rustic farmhouse in the heart of Tokyo, or explore a soy sauce
store. You can do these and more at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, one of the best of its
kind in the country. At this museum, you can find out about the old Tokyo.
Exhibits from the Edo period (early 17th to late 19th Century) help give a good
idea of the culture and lifestyle of the predecessors of this super-modern city.
Edo-Tokyo Tatemonoen, an area within the museum grounds, houses restored
structures of the period.
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
For the modern art lovers. It's apleasure to visit this museum housed in an
attractive art deco building set in a pleasant garden. In this 63-year-old
museum are pieces by Japanese as well as international artisits.
Boso-no-Mura Museum
This is an open-air museum where the the shops, residences and lifestyle of the
people in Chiba prefecture 200 years ago have been recreated. Like Edo-Tokyo
Museum, Boso-no-Mura Museum an insight to the old Tokyo.
Tokyo National Museum
The largest museum in Japan is for the Japanese art lovers. In this museum, you
will find probably the best collection of Japanese art in the world. You will
also find archeological and Buddhist collections, as well as an excellent
collection from China and Korea.
FOOD
In Japan almost everything has been upgraded into an art.
Food is no exception. Japanese food healthful and delicious as well as visually
appealing. Even the most basic bento lunch box sold at a stand is a work of art.
While in Japan, do try sashimi which is slices of raw
seafood. Sushi is another of Japan's most popular eats.
Below is a list of Japanese dishes:
Noodles*:
- Ramen - Chinese noodles cooked in pork broth with sliced pork,
spinach and leeks
- Kitsune-Udon - Wheat flour noodles cooked in fish broth with
fried bean curd and leeks
- Tanuki-Soba - Buckwheat noodles cooked in fish bouillon topped
with fried flour crust, spinach and fish cake
- Zaru-Soba - Cold buckwheat noodles served with a dip sauce
*noodles is spaghetti made out of rice
Rice:
- Oyako-Donburi - Rice topped with chicken and onion, and cooked
in egg
- Unaju - Rice topped with broiled eel
Soup:
- Oden - Variety of fish cakes, bean curd cubes, seaweed and
hard-boiled egg cooked in fish bouillon
- Shabu-Shabu - Sliced beef simmered with bean curd, vermicelli
and assorted vegetables
Side dish:
- Yakitori - Small chucks of chicken and vegetables grilled on
skewers
- Chirashi-Zushi - Sliced raw fish over seasoned rice
- Sushi - A small piece of raw seafood, most commonly prawn,
tuna or sardine, on top of a ball of vinegared rice
- Sashimi - raw seafood eaten with soy sauce and wasabi (pungent
horseradish sauce)
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