Location
Tokyo is the capital city of Japan. Japan is located in the North Pacific Ocean and Tokyo is located on the South Eastern side of Honshu Island which is the main and largest island of Japan.
What does the city look like ?
Although Tokyo is often referred to as a city, it is officially known as a "metropolitan prefecture," which actually means it is a grouping of large and densely populated mini-cities. Just like most cities, it is predominantly office and residential high rise buildings, similar to that of other very large cities.
History
Today, Tokyo is the world's most populous metropolis but it started out as a small fishing village named Edo in 3000bc. It was fortified in the twelfth century and became home to Edo castle, which is now the site of the Imperial Palace. In 1853 the U.S. navy first entered Edo harbour in what became the first step in opening up Japan to western trade. This sparked massive growth which paved the way for modern day Japan.
The cities name was officially changed to Tokyo meaning "Eastern Capital" in 1868.
Notable Historical Facts.....
A massive earthquake destroyed nearly half of Tokyo in 1923
Just before noon on September 1, (1923), a massive earthquake measuring between 7.9 and 8.4 on the Richter scale, erupted just (30) miles south of Tokyo. Unleashing a massive burst of energy that wreaked unprecedented damage on both Tokyo and the nearby city of Yokohama, Japan’s largest port. The Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed more than 45 percent of Tokyo and killed more than 140,000, making it the deadliest natural disaster in Japanese history.
The Allied bombing of Tokyo
World War II-era bombing of Japan began just months after the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, when aviator James Doolittle led his famed raid of 16 B-25 bombers on targets in Tokyo and Yokohama. Aerial attacks intensified in late 1944 following the Allied capture of Pacific islands that put them (and the new, highly advanced B-29 bomber) in striking distance of Tokyo. In the following months, the allies began a devastating series of night-time firebombing raids, culminating in Operation Meetinghouse, when more than 2,000 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped over Tokyo in just 48 hours, destroying 16 square miles around the city and killing between 80,000 and 130,000. It remains the single most destructive bombing raid in history.
Building of the "Metro" Rail System
Tokyo has the busiest metro rail system in the world. First opened in 1927 and was greatly expanded in 1963 in time for the summer Olympics. Tokyo's mass transit system, only part of which runs underground, moves more then 8.7 million commuters day along its 200 miles of track that's 3.2 billion people per year!
Culture
Tokyo is the cultural centre of Japan having originated from the ethnic Jomon culture and then mixed with subsequent influences from first Chinese, Korean, then Greek and Indian, and finally from European and American influences. Japan has developed its own unique culture.
Tokyo's unique culture is reflected in its traditional arts – ikebana (flower arranging), origami (making objects by folding paper), and ukiyo-e (woodblock printing); crafts – dolls, lacquer-ware, and pottery; performances – kabuki (complex dramas performed in elaborate costumes), noh (restrained and highly stylized drama), bunraku (puppet theater), kyogen (short satirical plays), and kamishibai (storytelling with animation, sound, and music); and traditions – games, onsen (hot springs used as public bathing places), and tea ceremony.
Religion
Religion does not play a big part in the lives of most Japanese people. Religious customs are practiced on special occasions and religious holidays. The two main religions that are practiced in Japan are Shintoism and Buddehism or a mixture of the two.
Tourism
Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world to travel to, crimes against tourists are rare, and even women traveling alone have little to fear in most parts of the city. Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors. Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city centre and all within relatively short train rides at its outskirts. Just remember when Visiting Tokyo, don't count on seeing Mount Fuji when you are there, although it's well within viewing distance of the city, the mountain is only visible about 80 days a year!
Interesting facts ?
Did you know that Tokyo has more neon signs than any other city in the world!
and it is rumoured that Tokyo has haunted houses on nearly every street.
/city-characteristics.html
Tokyo is the capital city of Japan. Japan is located in the North Pacific Ocean and Tokyo is located on the South Eastern side of Honshu Island which is the main and largest island of Japan.
What does the city look like ?
Although Tokyo is often referred to as a city, it is officially known as a "metropolitan prefecture," which actually means it is a grouping of large and densely populated mini-cities. Just like most cities, it is predominantly office and residential high rise buildings, similar to that of other very large cities.
History
Today, Tokyo is the world's most populous metropolis but it started out as a small fishing village named Edo in 3000bc. It was fortified in the twelfth century and became home to Edo castle, which is now the site of the Imperial Palace. In 1853 the U.S. navy first entered Edo harbour in what became the first step in opening up Japan to western trade. This sparked massive growth which paved the way for modern day Japan.
The cities name was officially changed to Tokyo meaning "Eastern Capital" in 1868.
Notable Historical Facts.....
A massive earthquake destroyed nearly half of Tokyo in 1923
Just before noon on September 1, (1923), a massive earthquake measuring between 7.9 and 8.4 on the Richter scale, erupted just (30) miles south of Tokyo. Unleashing a massive burst of energy that wreaked unprecedented damage on both Tokyo and the nearby city of Yokohama, Japan’s largest port. The Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed more than 45 percent of Tokyo and killed more than 140,000, making it the deadliest natural disaster in Japanese history.
The Allied bombing of Tokyo
World War II-era bombing of Japan began just months after the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, when aviator James Doolittle led his famed raid of 16 B-25 bombers on targets in Tokyo and Yokohama. Aerial attacks intensified in late 1944 following the Allied capture of Pacific islands that put them (and the new, highly advanced B-29 bomber) in striking distance of Tokyo. In the following months, the allies began a devastating series of night-time firebombing raids, culminating in Operation Meetinghouse, when more than 2,000 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped over Tokyo in just 48 hours, destroying 16 square miles around the city and killing between 80,000 and 130,000. It remains the single most destructive bombing raid in history.
Building of the "Metro" Rail System
Tokyo has the busiest metro rail system in the world. First opened in 1927 and was greatly expanded in 1963 in time for the summer Olympics. Tokyo's mass transit system, only part of which runs underground, moves more then 8.7 million commuters day along its 200 miles of track that's 3.2 billion people per year!
Culture
Tokyo is the cultural centre of Japan having originated from the ethnic Jomon culture and then mixed with subsequent influences from first Chinese, Korean, then Greek and Indian, and finally from European and American influences. Japan has developed its own unique culture.
Tokyo's unique culture is reflected in its traditional arts – ikebana (flower arranging), origami (making objects by folding paper), and ukiyo-e (woodblock printing); crafts – dolls, lacquer-ware, and pottery; performances – kabuki (complex dramas performed in elaborate costumes), noh (restrained and highly stylized drama), bunraku (puppet theater), kyogen (short satirical plays), and kamishibai (storytelling with animation, sound, and music); and traditions – games, onsen (hot springs used as public bathing places), and tea ceremony.
Religion
Religion does not play a big part in the lives of most Japanese people. Religious customs are practiced on special occasions and religious holidays. The two main religions that are practiced in Japan are Shintoism and Buddehism or a mixture of the two.
Tourism
Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world to travel to, crimes against tourists are rare, and even women traveling alone have little to fear in most parts of the city. Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors. Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city centre and all within relatively short train rides at its outskirts. Just remember when Visiting Tokyo, don't count on seeing Mount Fuji when you are there, although it's well within viewing distance of the city, the mountain is only visible about 80 days a year!
Interesting facts ?
Did you know that Tokyo has more neon signs than any other city in the world!
and it is rumoured that Tokyo has haunted houses on nearly every street.
/city-characteristics.html