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TOKYO |
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Modern, yet retaining some of the Japanese culture and tradition, is the capital city of Japan. Tokyo is a city with a history of about 400. Tokyo Metropolis is located approximately in the central part of the Japanese archipelago. Its area is about 2,200 square km, or about 0.6% of Japan's total land area. The population is about 11,781,000, or about 10% of the total Japanese population.
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Built in the seventh century, Sensoji is Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple. To reach Asakusa Kannon Temple (picture on your left), you need to walk under Kaminari Gate, the large gate that serves as the symbol of Sensoji, and walk through Nakamise-dori, the shop-packed central approach. In front of you stands the main hall, which was rebuilt in 1958. To the left stands a five-storied pagoda, which was reconstructed in 1973. Definitely, it was one of our favorite spots in Tokyo.
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Asakusa - Tokyo/Japan - Summer/1998 |
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This temple to Kannon-Buddhism's Goddess of Mercy (picture on your right side) - is always bustling with tourists and worshippers and is extremely crowded around New Year's and during festivals.
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Asakusa - Tokyo/Japan - Summer/1998 |
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Home to Emperor Heisei and other members of the Japanese Royal Family, the Imperial Palace (picture on your left) sits on land that was once occupied by Edo Castle. It became the official imperial residence in 1868, when Emperor Meiji transferred the seat of power from Kyoto to Edo and changed the name of the city to Tokyo. |
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Imperial Palace - Tokyo/Japan - Fall/1999 |
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The inner Palace Court is opened to the pubic in such events as the birthday of "Ten-noh"; the Emperor (December 23), New Year's Day, etc., and people are allowed to enter the inner Palace Court for celebrating the events together with the Imperial Families. Unfortunately, we did not have the chance to get into the Imperial Palace... our pictures are all from outside it.
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Imperial Palace - Tokyo/Japan - Fall/1999 |
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Ginza is the most fashionable, sophisticated and fancy distrcit in big Tokyo.
People say that if you take Japan's largest bank note, fold it up as small as it will go, then drop it on the ground in Ginza, will it buy the one square centimeter of land it falls on?
The answer? NOOO!!!
And I guess the answer is right. Ginza is the home of that notoriously expensive cup of coffee and that even more extortionate apple! From our experience, we would say that NOTHING is cheap in Ginza district.
But price needn't be everything. For a reasonable price you can go to Asia's largest fish market, see an Indian style temple, look at a capsule apartment building, and try out the latest Sony gadgets. But... that's it! Anyway, it is a place to be visited, for sure, in Tokyo. |
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TokyoDisneyland |
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Ginza Tower - Tokyo/Japan - Fall 1999 |
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