Roppongi

Tokyo, Japan, is a city that has inspired writers, film producers, and artists around the world. Known for its fast-paced lifestyle and vibrant nightlife, Tokyo also has a wealth of distinctive neighborhoods, world-class dining, and lovely city parks that make great pockets of peace among the hectic day-to-day life. With more than 12 million people in the Tokyo metropolitan area, this city is at the core of the world’s most populated urban area, and it shows in Tokyo’s sophistication and pace of life. The lights of the city’s billboards and buildings are visible for miles, and an extremely modern and efficient rail system connects the different parts of the city.

Known as a shopping mecca, Tokyo boasts many areas that cater specifically to shoppers. The newly renovated Roppongi Hills shopping center has fine restaurants and upscale shops, as well as an excellent view of the Tokyo Tower, while the young and fashionable Harajuku area in Shibuya showcases the latest—and often strangest—trends. Visitors who want to sample Tokyo’s famous nightlife head to Shinjuku, which has the city’s liveliest clubs as well as many of its busiest intersections.

However, despite its fast-paced modernity, Tokyo still retains glimpses of its traditional past. Buddhist temples such as Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular temples, are a wonderful place to glimpse the traditional beliefs of many Tokyo residents, while the Meiji Shrine in Ginza showcases the spare lines and peaceful atmosphere of Japan’s Shinto shrines. The Imperial Palace is another reminder of how the city is steeped in tradition—the imperial family still lives in the stately building, which is surrounded by manicured lawns, parks, and lakes, and the grounds also include relics of Edo-era castles and fortifications. Meanwhile, at the bustling Tsukiji Fish Market, fishermen and sellers practice a centuries-old trade, gutting fish and eels by hand and delivering them to thousands of sushi restaurants in the city and around the world.