Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Tokyo, the capital of Japan and the most populated city in the world. The city used to be called Edo until 1868. It started as a small town with a castle. In 1603, it became the seat of power in Japan when Tokugawa Ieyasu set up his feudal rule. Edo soon expanded into one of the biggest in the world. In 1868, the Meiji Restoration brought the emperor and the capital from Kyoto to Edo, which was then renamed Tokyo. Tokyo suffered major damage from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the air raids of 1945.

Tokyo is a prosperous city and the financial center of Japan with many headquarters of large multinational corporations. It has convenient transportation and is one of the cities with the highest density of rail networks in the world. It has multiple rail transport systems such as Shinkansen, JR East, private railways, subways and so on. Tokyo International Airport and Narita International Airport are essential air hubs in the world.

Tokyo, as Japan’s most populous city and home to the country’s biggest broadcasters and studios, is often the backdrop for numerous Japanese films, TV shows, anime, manga, video games, and kaiju movies. In the kaiju genre, Tokyo’s landmarks are commonly devastated by colossal creatures like Godzilla and Gamera.

Despite Tokyo’s urban development being similar to many international metropolises, it has managed to preserve numerous historical artifacts, landmarks, traditional rituals and activities while undergoing constant and rapid changes, creating a unique characteristic where modernity and tradition coexist in this city.

Here are some places of interest that Visit Japan Web recommends.