东京 Tokyo , the capital of Japan , is situated in the Kanto Region on the main island of Honsho . Tokyo ' s greater metropolitan area has a population of over 35 million , making it one of the largest and most exciting megacities on the planet .
Rocked by earthquakes and scorched by war , this centuries old city has refused to kneel . Just like the sun , Tokyo has continued to rise , blending the old with the new , and the new with tomorrow .
Tokyo is a spectacular matrix of villages , towns and cities , strung together by a subway and train system that never rests . Just like the Japanese pop culture monster Godzilla , Tokyo ' s size and energy can intimidate first time visitors . Yet despite the neon , noise and sheer volume of people , Tokyo ' s soul beats with a heart of zen .
Tradition , ritual and respect are the hall marks of Japanese society . This is a place that cherishes its children , reveres its elderly , and treats visitors like honored guests . Tokyo is a city of multiple personalities ; whenever you pop up from the subway , it can feel as though you ' ve arrived in an entirely different city .
Yet Tokyo is an incredibly well-ordered society , everything has its place and purpose , and this is especially true , of its neighborhoods . Begin your Tokyo journey gently , in the ancient temple town of Asakusa .
At the city ' s oldest temple , Sensoji , pay your respects to kannon , the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy . The temple was built to house a golden statue of the goddess , pulled from the nearby river by two fishermen in the 7 th century . Make an offering at the neighboring shrine , built to honor the brothers who found the statue , and you too might receive some heavenly good fortune .
When you ' re ready to brave the streets of Tokyo , head to Asakusa ' s , Thunder Gate and explore Nakamise Dori , a market street where worshippers have been buying religious charms and snacks for centuries . After the crowds , re-center yourself in Uenopark , before delving into the cultural treasures of the Tokyo National Museum .
While conformity and tradition are two of the glues that bind Japanese society , Tokyo ' s youth love to express themselves too . And nowhere is this more evident than the suburb of Harajuku , renowned throughout the world as a center of youth culture and fashion . Harajuku is also home to one of Tokyo ' s largest green spaces , Yoyogi Park . On Sunday ' s , locals gather to relax , rehearse and just hang out , making it the happiest 134 acres in Tokyo .
Just to the north of Yoyogi Park , pass beneath a towering Torii gate and into a forest of 100 000 trees , originally sent here as saplings from allover Japan . And finally , pass through the main gates to Meiji Shrine . Here , millions come each year to pay their respects to Emperor Meiji , the beloved 19 th century ruler who helped Japan throw off its feudal cloak and grow into to the dynamic country it is today .
Just south of Yoyogi Park is Shibuya , home to one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world . Every area of Tokyo dances to it ' s own distinctive beat , in Shubuya the beat , is shopping .
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