Things to see and do Tōkyo & Area

The large Inca temple in ruins reflects the entrance of this attraction. You must face Crystal Skull which protects the path to the Fountain of Youth. Fortunately for you, Indiana Newspaper has already mapped the way for your jeep… But this adventure gives you many surprises!

The 500 species of animals present occupy the oldest zoo in Japan. The gardens of the park are pleasant. A fun step for children, but come to Tōkyō to find themselves in a middle zoo…

Located to the east of Tokyo Tower, Shiba Park was home, until the ^17th century, to over a hundred shrines built around the Zōzō-Ji temple. The temple was the Kantō headquarters of the Jōdō-shū (Pure Land Sect), whose masters were all Chinese. It was founded by Shūei (809-884), a disciple of Kūkai. Initially dependent on the Shingon-shū, it then passed to the Jōdō-shū by the monk Shōsō, at the end of the ^14th century. Ieyasu Tokugawa made it a family temple in 1590, and the temple accumulated wealth donated by daimyō and merchants, as it was on the edge of the Tōkaido road. At the height of its glory, the temple comprised over 120 buildings. The mausoleums of 6 of the 15 Tokugawa shoguns are located here.

After the Meiji Restoration and the decline of Buddhism, the estate was transformed into a park. Destroyed during the Second World War, it was rebuilt in 1974, but posed many problems for the development of the Shiba district. The two-storey main gate dates back to 1622. It is the oldest wooden building in the city and the only temple structure to have survived the bombardments of the Second World War. Many stone statuettes (jizō) of children can be seen here, serving as prayer supports for parents who have lost a child before or shortly after birth.

Throughout the year, numerous events and ceremonies bring this religious site to life. Sutra writing sessions are held every 14th of the month, except July and August.

This park is located within walking distance of the funicular that leads to Mount Sōunzan. There is a rather curious mixture of alpine and tropical plants.

You will discover the ruthless world of pirates. Ship boarding, looting of cities, market for women, everything is representé, even Captain Jack Sparrow! Audio-animatronics are surprising in reality and the whole is of such a wealth of detail that several passages will be necessary if you want not to lose one miette of animated scenes. The attraction is entirely inside as well as the queue.

In the red mountains of the U.S. West, a small mine train leads you into a chaotic, chaotic journey of almost 4 minutes. At all speed, you sail on the slopes of the mountains, in the midst of the worrying geysers or bones! The equipment has been recovered in old abandoned mines and the many audio-animatronics give life to the decor… The sensations are not very strong, but it is a attraction where one takes pleasure all the long to be buffet from one side to the other.

This Shinto shrine celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2019. Linked to the national construction of the 19th century, it is dedicated to the spirits of the Japanese who died for their homeland, from the Boshin War to the present day. It is currently a controversial place as it houses the remains of war criminals (notably that of General Tōjō who orchestrated many massacres, including the infamous Nanking massacre in 1937). Each of the Japanese Prime Minister's visits to this holy place immediately triggers a wave of protest from Beijing and Seoul.

It seems rather curious for a tourist to go to a cemetery, but in noisy Tokyo, cemeteries are not inconsiderable spaces of peace. There are some graves or memorials of famous people, such as the tomb of General Nogi, winner of the Russian-Japanese war, or novelists like Naoya Shiga, or Kabuki actors, like Danjurō Ichikawa. The crossing of the cemetery leads to Aoyama Palace. It is also a picnic spot for the Japanese at the time of the cherry blossoms.

On the edge of a vehicle, you are very much guided by the main paintings in the history of White Snow for just under 5 minutes…

Smart Council. The passage through the forest is quite frightening for the smaller ones. Sets and special effects are very worked. If you have time before 11 p. m. or after 18 p. m., there is a crowd…

Flying Carpets. A dive in the world of Aladdin, ideal for small ones. The big ones may find the experience a little disappointing…

Not far from the great Buddha of Kamakura, this luminous temple of the Jodo sect overlooks the ocean. Probably founded around the 11th century, it is known for the eleven-headed wooden statue of Kannon, housed in the main pavilion. The entrance is at the foot of Mount Kamakura. On the way up, you can see the rows of jizō commemorating the stillborn children. Near the main pavilion, a cave is dedicated to the Benzaiten goddess of femininity and beauty. The temple is the ^4th stop of the pilgrimage of the 33 temples.

If Akihabara is the HQ of manga and video game fans, Otome Road has been its female counterpart since the 2000s. The avenue was originally called Kasuga, but there are so many manga, video game and merchandising stores catering to young women that it has been renamed "Otome", meaning "girl". Branches of Mandarake, Animate and Comic Toranoana, among others, specialize in literature for young girls and all products that might interest them, such as "otome"-style clothing.

East of Lake Ashi(Ashino-ko), Mount Komagatake (1354 m) is an excellent viewpoint to observe both Mount Fuji and Ashino-ko. To get to the top, you have to take a boat from Tōgendai to Hakone-en, then a cable car. Between Mount Komagatake and Mount Kami Futayo, Buddhas are carved in relief in the rock. They date back to the Kamakura period (1192-1333). On one side, one can see the Nijūgo bosatsu, a rock carved with a multitude of Buddhas, and on the other appears the Moto-hakone Jizō, which protects pilgrims and travelers.

This small spa is located at the eastern end of Lake Ashi. There are a few cafes and restaurants where you can refresh yourself and enjoy the view while watching the boats passing by. Although the city has been a religious and administrative center for a long time, it is now a tourist stop. From there, one can walk to the Hakone Shrine, walk around the lake and under the old cedar trees alley to the checkpoint, or go on board the famous pirate boats which connect Moto-Hakone to Owakudani.

In particular, we can see the fighting of buffalo.

Miharashi-no-yu Hot Spring is located on the ocean shore. It has a large indoor hot spring pool and an island-shaped outdoor bath. The spring water is greenish-grey and a bit muddy, but don't let that put you off. The outdoor bath has a changing schedule for men and women, so ask ahead of time. For the show, come after sunset to admire the sky, without any light pollution.

Urami-ga-taki onsen is located in a forest near a waterfall. This onsen is mixed, but it's wearing a bathing suit. Getting there is a bit complicated, but it's worth a detour.

A 3 D blockbuster not missed. A musical tale - to follow with the funny glasses of tree glasses provided at the entrance - where Donald visits all those who make Disney legend. A show so interactive that not only is all the arms moving to pick up the jewels that fly, but the breath of the flying mat ride you off the hair, the sweet smell of the cake comes to tickle the nostrils, until the ocean qui you a little. A 20-minute show very surprising.

Three great names have worked together to sign this mini film featuring Michael Jackson. At the command of the scenario: George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. The result is inspired by Star Wars where the good (Michael and his team) fights evil, a nasty queen who governs on a distant planet. 17 minutes of film in 3 D for this battle that mixes humor, action and dance of course. The result has not been terribly mature and is really only for Michael Jackson's fans, others only if you have a little time before you.

Immerse yourself in the incredible world of synthetic images of the Toy Story and lend Buzz to Buzz in its mission to rescue battery reserves on earth. You're set at the heart of the space adventure because you're equipped with laser cannons. A funny animation, very colourful, and if you have a good score, you will have the chance to be on the honor table of the day or month!

This is an attraction inspired by Captain Nemo's submarine. Visitors get into submarines. Through the windows, they can admire the splendour of the ocean. The impression of total immersion in the depths is bluffante. 

It was once a very popular New York hotel… This establishment was a splendid celebration of the Belle Epoque, hosting the most beautiful receptions of all personalities… Suddenly, by a storm night, it became the scene of a mysterious accident in which five people disappeared at all times in the elevator… It is at that same journey as will be invited to the visitors during this new theme evening around attraction. The Tower of Terror. Greeted by an alarming liftier that leads them to the elevator of this old palace, they will then be rushed in the void from the top of the 13 th floor, in the total darkness and at a staggering speed. An unforgettable experience! So, ready for the big jump?

It's a Russian mini-mountain with yellow fish-shaped cars. Ideal for family fun. Toddlers love!

It is a cruise in countries visited by Sindbad represented by dolls in sumptuous sets. It's actually a version of "It's a Small World", a recurring attraction in Disney parks, on the theme of Sindbad's travel.

It is possible to attempt the ascent of Mount Fuji, with proper equipment and information. From the base of the volcano to the top of the mountain, the route is marked by ten stages(gō). Most climbers use the route that takes them directly to the fourth or even fifth stage. The ascent from the fifth stage takes between 4 or 5 hours and the descent between 2 or 3 hours. Once at the top, a trip around the crater (1 hour) is to be expected. Many people climb Japan's sacred mountain in the hope of seeing the cloudless goraikō (sunrise). To get there, climbers will have a choice of six marked trails.

On the northern flank, the Kawaguchiko stage, which stands at 2,305 meters, which is reached by starting from the town of Kawaguchi. This stage is especially appreciated by climbers coming from Tokyo.

Still on the northern flank, the Yoshida trail starts lower at Fuji-Yoshida. It is on this trail that the Sengen-Jinja Shrine is located. The road up to the shrine is lined with inns set back about 50 meters from the road. Each of these inns has a garden with small waterfalls from the mountain. It is also possible to go to the shrine by bus from Fuji-Yoshida Station to Sengen-jinja-mae stop (5 minutes) or by foot from the station (15 minutes). It is best to ask for a map at the Fuji-Yoshida tourist information office.

The Subashiri trail is at 1,980 meters and crosses the Yoshida trail after the eighth station. From Subashiri, buses lead to the fifth stop.

The Gotemba Trail, which starts from Gotemba and whose fifth station is at 1,440 meters, offers one of the longest routes because the station is the lowest. Buses lead to the fifth station.

Fujinomiya Trail, which starts from Fujiyomiya and with its fifth station at 2,380 meters, is mostly suitable for climbers from Nagoya and Kansai.

The Shōji trail, starts from Akaike, on the shores of Lake Shōji, in the northwest. It is 12.5 km long and crosses the Aokigahara forest, passes near the Omurosan in a lava tunnel called Fuji fuketsu. The crater of Mount Fuji, the Nai in, has a circular shape of 600 meters in diameter and a depth of about 100 meters. On the crest, there are eight peaks: Mishima dake, Komaga dake, Joju dake, Izu dake, Dainichi dake, Kusushi dake, Hakusan dake and finally Kenga mine. Two tracks allow to make the tour of the crater.

This exhibition center can be spotted from afar thanks to its monumental entrance in the shape of inverted pyramids. All kinds of commercial and cultural events take place here throughout the year. At the Tokyo Olympics, fencing, wrestling and Taekwondo events were held here. Not to be missed in May and December is the Design Festa festival. Hundreds of visual artists, musicians, graffiti artists and painters take over the west halls to exhibit their work. There are also regular craft exhibitions featuring Japanese artists.

This temple founded by Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1612 is best known for the tomb of the 47 rōnins, the faithful samurai who continue to populate the Japanese imagination. A museum is dedicated to them in the temple grounds. In March 1701, the lord (daimyō) Asano of Akō wounded the lord Kira Hozukenosuke in the enclosure of Edo Castle. Taking out a blade in the palace of shōgun was a serious and unforgivable offence, and the culprit was condemned to ritual suicide, seppuku. He lost his lands and possessions. The 300 samurai in his pay became rōnin or floating men, which means mercenaries. One of them, Kuranosuke Oishi, decided to avenge his master and gathered 46 other samurai. He asked them to be patient and prepare a plan of revenge for 2 years. They met on December 14, 1702, attacked the villa of daimyō Kira and beheaded him. After placing the victim's head on their master's grave, they were condemned to seppuku on their master's grave on February 4, 1703, in the Sengaku-Ji garden. Only one escaped, Kichiemon Terasaka, who was sent to the lands of daimyō to Akō, to inform the faithful of the success of their revenge. When he returned, the shōgun pardoned him. Finally, another samurai from Akō, regretting not having been part of the revenge, ritually committed suicide at Asano's grave. December 14 is still an important date and every year, pilgrims come to visit the tombs of the 47 rōnins present in the temple.

52 storey building with the centre of Design Ozone, on the 2nd floor and the Park Hyatt on the last twelve floors.

The Gokoku-Ji, temple of the Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism is the oldest and the biggest temple of the Edo period in Tokyo. It was built in 1681 and over the years, new buildings have been added to this impressive complex. One can see a belfry dating from 1682 and a two-level pagoda built in 1938. The Zoshigaya Cemetery is adjacent to the temple. It houses the graves of the writer Lafcadio Hearn, who became a Japanese citizen at the end of the 19th century, and of the missionary John McCaleb.

This park is famous for its wisteria that fill in spring and summer, its plum trees and beautiful bambouseraies.

Temple founded in 824 by Kūkaï. Burned several times and bombed during the World War II, it was rebuilt in the fifties. In the park of the temple, one can see the oldest tree in Tōkyō, which would have grown from the cane of the monk Shinran in the 13th century. The temple has the sacred formula of Daishi Kōbō and Buddhist paintings. The American legation was housed here for more than ten years in the late 19th century. A medallion bearing the effigy of Towsend Harris is part of the temple treasure.

This park plunges us into the world of the Harry Potter films, through various emblematic settings: Platform 9 3/4, the Forbidden Forest and Chemin de Traverse. You can go behind the scenes of the production, take a look at the costumes or pose in famous scenes. Several cafés and restaurants serve dishes and drinks inspired by the work, such as beer-butter orafternoon tea. You may well become a fan of the bespectacled wizard after this visit.

The two buildings designed by Minoru Takeyama were built in 1969 and 1970, and have become symbols of architectural post-modernism. The facade of the Ichibankan, which was renovated a few years ago, is clad with white and black stripes. Originally, 49 bars occupied the 8 floors of the building. As for Nibankan, it used to host bars and saunas, but is now falling into disrepair. It can be recognized by the large, colourful graphic signs on its façade.

There is a rather curious mixture of alpine and tropical plants.

This shrine is dedicated to General Nogi, hero of the Russo-Japanese war. He was raised in 1923 on the site of the house where the general and his wife made seppuku (harakiri) in 1912, out of attachment to the recently deceased Meiji Emperor and their ethic of fidelity. The house is sometimes open to the public, but the sanctuary is open to visitors all year round. It is a pretty green oasis, where you can also see an alley of red torii. A flea market is held there on the 4th Sunday of each month, where you can find both clothes and dishes.

Built in 1603 to protect the city from fires and disasters, this sanctuary perched on a hill was rebuilt in 1958. A double stone staircase (Otoko zaka, the men's slope, and Onna zaka, the women's slope) provides access to the sanctuary. In the past, poets used to climb it to admire the snow at the time of the full moon. Legend has it that a young samurai climbed to the top on horseback to pick plum blossoms and offer them to the shogun. The steep stairs then became a symbol of success in life.

This Shinto shrine was founded in 730, in Otemachi, in the Gongen style of the Momoyama period. In 1616, it was moved to the present site by Ieyasu Tokugawa and declared guardian of Edo City. The first sanctuary having been burned down, this one is a fairly faithful concrete replica that resists time and earthquakes. In recent years, it has adopted the codes of pop culture from the neighbouring Akihabara district, particularly during festivals in mid-May and August. It is consecrated to 3 of the 7 gods of fortune, and is much appreciated by the Tokyo inhabitants.

Former studio of Japanese artist Taro Okamoto, one of the most emblematic figures of modern Japanese art in the ^20th century. His fresco The Myth of Tomorrow is on display in Shibuya station. This attractive little museum draws on the artist's documents, photos and sketches to provide an overview of his prolific oeuvre. Regular exhibitions unveil different aspects of his work. An adept of gigantism, Okamoto Taro designed the Sun Tower, the symbol of the 1970 Osaka World Expo.

The "giant 3D cat", located at Shinjuku's eastern exit, suddenly appeared in July 2021. His adorable silhouette spread around the world via videos on social networks. He is the main character of Cross Shinjuku Vision, a sophisticated video content that makes skilful use of 3D illusion. This fictional character has been picked up by foreign media as a typically Japanese line of humor, and is filmed daily by many people. The giant 3D cat can be seen on the official YouTube website.

This handicraft center aims to showcase the traditional crafts of the Taito district. Walking around Asakusa, you will still find some of these workshops open. The objects on display are the work of contemporary craftsmen. Specialists in wood, paper, blades, weaving and other materials, every Saturday they offer a workshop open to all where they showcase their art. Mr. Tanaka warmly welcomes and translates into English (better inquire beforehand). Interesting for the workshops, very affordable.

In the concrete forest that is Tokyo, we sometimes forget that we are on an island. The small beach of Odaiba reminds us of the wide expanses of sand, ice, games on the beach in summer. In the evening, it's a great place to admire the view of Tokyo and the Rainbow Bridge. This bridge, completed in 1993, is 798 meters long and crosses the north side of Tokyo Bay. Its structure illuminated with red, green and blue at night has become representative of contemporary Tokyo.