The wonderful city of modern Tokyo started in 1943 from the merger of the old town of Tokyo and the former Tokyo Prefecture. The place is often known as a big city, but is formally known and officially governed by a metropolitan prefecture. This differs from many factors if you compare a prefecture and a city in Japan. Here are 15 facts to know about Tokyo.
1. Great metropolitan population
At over 5,000 square miles, the General Tokyo Area is the 2nd greatest metropolitan field in the world as we talk about urban landmass. In terms of population, it comes in at number one. The field has the biggest metropolitan economy on the planet, with a complete GDP (nominal) of approximately US$1.9 trillion or 165 trillion Yen in the year 2008.
2. It was Edo in the 12th century
Situated as Edo once upon a time (in the twelfth century), Tokyo’s basic translation is the “Eastern capital.” It has been the de facto seat of presidency considering the fact that 1603 when Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu made the city his headquarters. It formally became the capital after Emperor Meiji moved his HQ to the city from the historical capital of Kyoto in 1868. Edo was eventually renamed Tokyo.
3. Staging of Olympics in Tokyo
Tokyo was at first set to host the summer season Olympic games in 1940. This is in the middle of WWII. The reason being that of the war, the privilege ended up being awarded to another city which is Helsinki. The games had been canceled as a result of the devastation of Second World War. Tokyo was rebuilt and staged the 1964 Olympics. Tokyo was also selected to host the 2020 Olympics.
4. Establishment of Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland is known to be Disney’s first park outside the USA. An 116-acre or around a 48-hectare theme park in Tokyo in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. Its main gate adjoins the Tokyo Disneyland Station and the nearby Maihama Station. It opened in April 1983. The park was built by Walt Disney Imagineering within the identical style as Florida’s the Magic Kingdom and the Disneyland located in California.
5. Popular destination for the Cherry Blossoms
As the annual Cherry Blossom season nears, it is not unusual to have radio reports and television shows showing information on the cherry blossom front or sakura sense. Cherry blossom season happens on 3rd week of March to 1st week of April. Finding great views of cherry blossoms at Tokyo is one of the favorite events of many visitors.
6. Development of the Tokyo Tower
The Eiffel Tower became the template for the Tokyo Tower. The tower is repainted for every year for five years. The process always takes 12 months each time. It actually an observation tower and communications posts placed within the Shiba-Koen district of Minato in Tokyo in Japan. It is around 1,090 feet and known to be the second highest structure in Japan. The color painted white and the global color of orange was used to comply with the air protection regulations.
7. Meet the Oshi or “Pushers” in railway stations
Oshiya, or “pushers,” are employed in some of the railway stations in downtown Tokyo. These station attendants literally push folks onto crowded trains throughout rush hour. Most of the workers are mostly made up of students working part-time from their studies. In this day and age, there are also full-time station employees and section-time workers employed to fill these roles during morning rush hours on many trains.
8. Tokyo Dome is a popular concert hall
The longest concert at the Tokyo Dome was by the rock band named Guns N’ Roses. On December 18 in 2009, they played for three hours and 37 minutes. Another trivia is that the band Van Halen’s June 21, 2013, performance at the Tokyo Dome was recorded for their live album in Tokyo Dome concert. The album was launched in March 2015.
9. Tokyo Imperial Palace is a tourist attraction
Tokyo’s Imperial Palace is most closed to the public at some times of the year. However, the East Gardens and Imperial Household company are available, The times the palace is closed is on New Year and the Emperor’s birthday. This is a colossal park-like field placed within Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward. It actually contains building structures that include the primary palace, the Imperial family’s confidential residences, museums, archive area, and the administrative workplaces.
10. Tokyo is famous for Yakitori
Yakitori is a grilled chicken that can buy all over the place of Tokyo. The skewered chicken meat is available in over 10 exceptional versions, starting from Momo(thigh part) to Shiro (little intestines). It may also include meats and greens. It is usually grilled on a stick. As such, every time you go to Tokyo goes on a hunt for a brand new Yakitori stall.
11. A lot of weird vending machines
You may have heard of weird vending machines selling toy tanks, sliced apples, second-hand phones, Manga comics, vegetables and some naughty items. Most of these can surely be seen on every nook in Tokyo. As pop culture would have it, you should consider finding vending machines that sell extraordinary objects. This can be observed around downtown Tokyo. Other items include cigarettes, canned bread, and fresh eggs.
12. The place has a very busy rail station
With passengers reaching 3.65 million individuals passing through every day, Shinjuku Station is one of the busiest rail station in Japan. This has placed them on the Guinness World of Records. The station itself has 36 structures. There are also an underground arcade, an above ground arcade, and countless hallways. There are more than 200 exits. The 17 platforms account to 51 in total and can also be accessed through hallways.
13. The small capsule hotels
Capsule hotels are inns that contain rooms roughly in the scale of a significant fridge. It can mostly be found around Tokyo. Most of the rooms incorporate televisions, digital console, and WiFi. It usually has wide availability and nice rates. It is also known as pod hotels in Tokyo in Japan. The accommodations are specifically utilized by men.
14. The city has many gardens and parks
Tokyo also comprises countless gardens and parks. There are four countrywide parks in Tokyo Prefecture. These includes the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. This is included in all of the Izu Islands. Another site is the Rose garden located in Jindai Botanical Garden. Lotus flowers can be seen in Shakujii Park. Another is the Meiji no Mori Takao National Park at the south of Hachioji. Another park is the Ogasawara National Park which has been being made as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006.
15. Tokyo has many major educational institutions
Tokyo comprises over one hundred universities and faculties, giving it the world’s very best in terms of educational associations. It has more than one-third of Japan’s University scholars attending a university in Tokyo. Tokyo has numerous famous universities, junior schools, and vocational faculties. A lot of Japan’s most prestigious universities are in Tokyo, including the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Hitotsubashi school, Keio College and Waseda institution. Tokyo also has the main campus of the United Nations University.
Information
- Place: Tokyo
- Island: Honshu
- Region: Kanto
- Divisions: 23 special wards
- Cities: 26 cities
- District: 1
- Prefectures: 4 subprefectures
- Government Type: Metropolis
- Tree: Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)
- Flower: Somei-Yoshino cherry blossom
- Bird: Black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus)
- Website http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/
Have a good trip and travel!