Hakone Glass no Mori (箱根ガラスの森)

The Hakone Glass no Mori (箱根ガラスの森) features Italian styled buildings housing a museum and shops. Outside is a large strolling garden surrounding a canal like pond. The garden has a number of large glass sculptures laid about it, as well as a cafe with an open terrace at one end where live canzoni (Italian ballads) performances are held.

The Glass no Mori's Venetian Glass Museum houses a collection of over 100 pieces of Venetian glassware. It displays both modern and classical works in all forms including vases, goblets, lamps and sculptures.

The Hakone Glass no Mori is run by the Ukai Group, an operator of themed high class restaurants, which also owns the Kawaguchiko Music Forest at Kawaguchiko in the Fuji Five Lakes region.

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Shinagawa (品川)

Shinagawa (品川) is one of Tokyo's 23 wards, and Shinagawa Station is one of the city's busiest stations. Its convenience as a transportation hub has attracted many hotels, offices, restaurants and shops to the area. Shinagawa has been catering to travelers since the Edo Period (1603-1867), when it was the first stop on the main road linking Tokyo with Kyoto.

Shinagawa developed into an important town in the early 1600s after the construction of the Tokaido, the principal route connecting Edo (modern day Tokyo) and Kyoto, and Shinagawa was the first of fifty-three post towns along the way after departing from Nihonbashi. Post towns provided food and lodgings for travelers, much like the hotels of Shinagawa do nowadays.

Eventually, the city of Tokyo expanded and absorbed Shinagawa. The rustic feel of a post town was replaced with the familiar trappings of a modern Japanese city. However, the former Tokaido road with a few minor shrines, temples and sites of interest have been retained. A small information center is located along the road near the Ebara Shrine.

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Gora Park (強羅公園)

Gora Park (強羅公園) is a western style landscape park located on the steep slope above Gora Station. It is a relaxing place to unwind and enjoy the scenery and views of Hakone.




Gora Park is primarily a French styled landscape park featuring a large fountain and a rose garden. The park also has two greenhouses, one housing a tropical botanical garden while the other contains a flower garden. Additionally, there is a restaurant overlooking the main fountain, as well as the Hakuun-do Chaen teahouse.

In the Craft-house visitors can take part in craft activities such as glass blowing, glass etching, pottery and dried flower arrangement. Activities range in cost from 1000 to 5000 yen and take from 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

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Sanja Matsuri (三社祭)

Sanja Matsuri (三社祭) is one of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo. It is considered one of the wildest and largest. The festival is held in honor of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who established and founded Sensō-ji. Sanja Matsuri is held on the third weekend of every May at Asakusa Shrine. Its prominent parades revolve around three mikoshi (three portable shrines referenced in the festival's name), as well as traditional music and dancing. Over the course of three days, the festival attracts 1.5 to 2 million locals and tourists every year.




三社祭は、 （三社祭）東京の三大神社祭りの一つです。これは、野生のの1と最大と考えられている。祭りはHinokuma Hamanari 、 Hinokuma TakenariとHajino Nakatomo 、設立され、浅草寺に設立3人の名誉で開催されている。三社祭は浅草神社で毎年5月の第三週末に開催されている。その顕著なパレードは約3神輿（祭りの名前で参照されている3神輿）だけでなく、伝統的な音楽や踊りを中心に展開。 3日間にわたって、祭りは1.5から2000000地元の人や観光客が毎年訪れます。

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Sanno Matsuri

The Sanno Matsuri is one of the three most famous festivals of Tokyo, along the Kanda Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri. It takes place in mid June in even numbered years, alternating with the Kanda Matsuri which takes place in odd numbered years. The Sanno Festival extends over a week and has a few events, but most of them are rather small.

The festival's main attraction is a parade that winds through central Tokyo over the course of nine hours on one of the festival days. The parade begins and ends at Hie Shrine, the shrine responsible for holding the festival. Hie Shrine enshrines the guardian deity of Tokyo. It is believed to predate the foundation of the city, and its kami (Shinto gods) have always been associated with the protection of the city.

At Hie Shrine, where the parade begins in the morning, visitors can find a large straw ring standing in the middle of the shrine grounds. Walking through the ring is an act of purification in which visitors can take part. The parade gradually winds its way around the area, passing by the Yotsuya train station and Yasukuni Shrine. Before noon the parade arrives at the Tokyo Imperial Palace and stops for about half an hour while the mikoshi are involved in religious ceremonies. The chief priest enters the palace to offer prayers to the emperor and imperial family, which is a rare honor afforded to the festival.

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Yoyogi Park (代々木公園)

Yoyogi Park (代々木公園) is one of Tokyo's largest city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities.

Although Yoyogi Park has relatively few cherry trees compared to other sites in Tokyo, it makes a nice cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. Furthermore, it is known for its ginko tree forest, which turns intensely golden in autumn.

Before becoming a city park in 1967, the area where Yoyogi Park is located served as the site of the Olympic Village for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and before that, as a residential area for US military personnel.

代々木公園は、広い芝生、池や森林地域をフィーチャーし、東京の最大の都市公園の一つです。それは、ジョギングピクニックなどのアウトドア活動のための絶好の場所です。

代々木公園東京で他のサイトに比べて比較的少数の桜の木がありますが、それは春の素敵な花見スポットになります。さらに、秋に激しく金色になり、その銀杏の木の森、知られています。

1967年に都市公園になる前に、代々木公園が位置するエリアは、 1964年の東京オリンピックの選手村のサイトを務め、その前に、米軍関係者のための住宅地として。

Photos:

"Fountain Yoyogipark" by Shinjiro - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fountain_Yoyogipark.JPG#/media/File:Fountain_Yoyogipark.JPG

"Yoyogi Park from Hyatt" by jonny-mt - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yoyogi_Park_from_Hyatt.jpg#/media/File:Yoyogi_Park_from_Hyatt.jpg

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Yebisu Garden Place (恵比寿ガーデンプレイス)

Yebisu Garden Place (恵比寿ガーデンプレイス) is one of Tokyo's most pleasant cities within the city. Consisting of roughly a dozen buildings and skyscrapers, it features a large array of restaurants and shops including a Mitsukoshi department store, the Westin Tokyo hotel, the Michelin 3-star Chateau Restaurant Taillvent-Robuchon, offices, residential space and a photography museum.

Yebisu Garden Place is built on the former site of a beer brewery, where the still existing Yebisu Beer brand had been brewed since 1890. Interestingly, it was the beer brand which gave the later developing town and railway station of Ebisu* its name, and not the other way around.

The Museum of Yebisu Beer commemorates the original brewery, displays exhibits about the history and science of beer brewing in Japan and the world and offers beer tasting. After a visit to the beer museum, you may want to consider a meal and drink at the beer restaurant "Beer Station".

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Asakusa (浅草)

Asakusa (浅草) is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi, one of Tokyo's districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives.

Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.

Asakusa can easily be explored on foot. Alternatively, you can consider a guided tour on a rickshaw (jinrikisha). A 30 minute tour for two persons costs around 9000 yen. Shorter and longer courses are also available.

For many centuries, Asakusa used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district. During the Edo Period (1603-1867), when the district was still located outside the city limits, Asakusa was the site of kabuki theaters and a large red light district. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, modern types of entertainment, including movie theaters, set foot in Asakusa.

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Hakone Tozan Railway (箱根登山電車)

A ride on the Hakone Tozan Railway (箱根登山電車), Japan's oldest mountain railway, is a treat for more than just railway fans. The small trains wind themselves through a narrow, densely wooded valley over many bridges and tunnels, stopping at small stations along the way and changing directions at three switchbacks.

The Hakone Tozan Line consists of two sections. The lower section from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto is used by Odakyu trains from central Tokyo and is not particularly noteworthy. Far more spectacular is the upper section from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora, which is served by the small mountain trains. At Gora, many travelers transfer to the cablecar for Lake Ashi.

The 35 minute train ride from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora is especially beautiful in June and July when thousands of hydrangea are in bloom along the tracks and are illuminated during the evenings. The hydrangea are usually best around the beginning of July and can be seen from the trains and around the stations.

Special trains run from mid June through mid July between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora Stations for the viewing of the illuminated flowers. They depart in the evenings, twice in each direction, and require seat reservations.

Photos:
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Odaiba (お台場)

Odaiba (お台場) is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. It was initially built for defensive purposes in the 1850s, dramatically expanded during the late 20th century as a seaport district, and has developed since the 1990s as a major commercial, residential and leisure area.

The area started coming back to life in the late 1990s as a tourist and leisure zone, with several large hotels and shopping malls. Several large companies including Fuji Television moved their headquarters to the island. Tokyo Big Sight, the convention center originally built to house Governor Suzuki's planned intercity convention, also became a major venue for international expositions.

Odaiba is one of the proposed venue locations in Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The events to be held there under the venue plan include beach volleyball at Shiokaze Park, triathlon and marathon swimming at Odaiba Marine Park, and gymnastics at a new gymnastics venue.





お台場は東京都心からレインボーブリッジ渡って東京湾、日本では大規模な人工島、である。当初は劇的に海港地区として20世紀後半の間に拡大し、1850年代における守備の目的のために建設された、と主要な商業、住宅地やレジャーエリアとして1990年代から開発してきました。

エリアはいくつかの大規模なホテルやショッピングモールで、観光やレジャーゾーンとして、1990年代後半に生活に戻ってくる始めた。フジテレビを含むいくつかの大企業は、島に本社を移動しました。東京ビッグサイト、もともと知事スズキの計画された都市間の慣習を収容するために構築されたコンベンションセンターは、国際博覧会のための主要な会場となりました。

お台場は、2020年夏季オリンピックのために東京の入札で提案された会場の場所の一つです。イベントは会場計画の下でそこに開催される、新しい体操会場でビーチ潮風公園、お台場マリンパークでのトライアスロンやマラソン水泳でバレーボール、体操があります。

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Tokyo DisneySea (東京ディズニーシー)

Tokyo DisneySea is a fantasy theme park in Tokyo Disney Resort that is unique to Japan. Inspired by the myths and legends of the sea, Tokyo DisneySea is made up of seven themed ports of call: Mediterranean Harbor, Mystery Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery and American Waterfront.

While suitable for all ages, Tokyo DisneySea was designed to specifically also appeal to a more grown up audience. The park addresses the Japanese visitors' strong interest in good food by providing a wider selection of table service restaurants than Tokyo Disneyland and by serving alcoholic beverages, which are unavailable at the neighboring park.


Themed Ports


Mediterranean Harbor

Mediterranean Harbor at the entrance to the park is styled after an Italian port town. Its waterfront features Venice style canals and gondolas, and its buildings make up the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta. Large shows with boats and water fountains are held daily in the harbor.

Arabian Coast

The Arabian Coast recreates the world of Aladdin and 1001 Arabian Nights. Here you can watch a magic show hosted by Genie or travel with Sinbad as he sets sail for discovery.

Port Discovery

Port Discovery is the marina of the future where visitors can check out the StormRider, a type of virtual rollercoaster, or try out some of the experimental, self-guided watercraft that travel between the rocks, fountains and whirlpools of the Aquatopia attraction.

Other theme ports include Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Lost River Delta, and American Waterfront.

東京ディズニーシーでは、日本に固有のものである東京ディズニーリゾートでのファンタジーテーマパークです。メディテレーニアンハーバー、ミステリー島、マーメイドラグーン、アラビアンコースト、ロストリバーデルタ、ポートディスカバリーとアメリカンウォーターフロント：神話や海の伝説に触発され、東京ディズニーシーは、コールの7 7つのテーマポートで構成されています。

すべての年齢層に適しているが、東京ディズニーシーは、具体的に、より多くの育った観客にアピールするように設計されました。公園は東京ディズニーランドよりテーブルサービスのレストランの幅広い選択を提供することで、隣接公園で使用できないアルコール飲料を、提供することによって優れた食品中の日本人訪問者の強い関心に対応しています。

Photos:

"Tokyo DisneySea 200610" by Chuck from San Francisco, CA - Tokyo DisneySea lagoon. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_200610.jpg#/media/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_200610.jpg

"Tokyo DisneySea Mediterranean Harbour View1 201306" by Wing1990hk - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_Mediterranean_Harbour_View1_201306.jpg#/media/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_Mediterranean_Harbour_View1_201306.jpg

"Tokyo DisneySea Arabian Coast View2 201306" by Wing1990hk - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_Arabian_Coast_View2_201306.jpg#/media/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_Arabian_Coast_View2_201306.jpg

"Tokyo DisneySea Port Discovery 201306" by Wing1990hk - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_Port_Discovery_201306.jpg#/media/File:Tokyo_DisneySea_Port_Discovery_201306.jpg

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Marunouchi (丸の内)

Located between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, Marunouchi (丸の内) is one of Japan's most prestigious business districts. During the Edo Period, Marunouchi was located within the outer moats of Edo Castle and contained the residences of some of Japan's most powerful feudal lords.
Together with neighboring Otemachi, Marunouchi is now home to the headquarters of many of Japan's most powerful companies, particularly from the financial sector.

Over the last decade, Marunouchi has been receiving a major facelift, led by the Mitsubishi Estate company, which owns a lot of the land in the district. Many older office buildings were replaced by new skyscrapers with offices on their upper floors and a variety of shops and restaurants on their lower floors. These newly opened shopping and dining complexes have revitalized the formerly unexciting business district and are drawing an increasing number of non business visitors in recent years.

Photos:

"Tokyo Marunouchi01s3872" by 663highland - 663highland. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_Marunouchi01s3872.jpg#/media/File:Tokyo_Marunouchi01s3872.jpg

"JR Tokyo sta 001" by 東京特許許可局 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JR_Tokyo_sta_001.jpg#/media/File:JR_Tokyo_sta_001.jpg

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Shimokitazawa (下北沢)

Shimokitazawa (下北沢) is a district in Setagaya, Tokyo and is usually considered to be one of Tokyo's hippest neighborhoods among young people. The atmosphere and fashion is similar to the more popular Harajuku, but is usually less crowded and has a much more laid-back atmosphere.

Also known as "Shimokita", the district is a center for stage theater and live music venues. It is home to the historic Honda Gekijō theater building. With its numerous cafes, unique fashion and music outlets which house multiple mediums including records, Shimokitazawa is popular with students and young people.

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Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー)

The Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー) is a new television broadcasting tower and landmark of Tokyo. It is the centerpiece of the Tokyo Skytree Town in the Sumida City Ward, not far away from Asakusa. With a height of 634 meters, it is the tallest building in Japan and the second tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion. A large shopping complex with aquarium is located at its base.

The highlight of the Tokyo Skytree is its two observation decks which offer spectacular views out over Tokyo. The two enclosed decks are located at heights of 350 and 450 meters respectively, making them the highest observation decks in Japan and some of the highest in the world.

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Tsukiji Market (築地市場)

Tsukiji Market (築地市場) is a large wholesale market for fish, fruits and vegetables in central Tokyo. It is the most famous of over ten wholesale markets that handle the distribution of fish, meat, produce and flowers in Tokyo. Tsukiji Market is best known as one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day. It is scheduled to move to a new site in Toyosu in November 2016.

The sight of the many kinds of fresh fish and other seafood and the busy atmosphere of scooters, trucks, sellers and buyers hurrying around, make Tsukiji Market a major tourist attractions. In fact, the numbers of visitors have increased so much over recent years, that they have become a problem to the course of business, as the aging market's infrastructure was not anticipated to serve as a tourist spot.

Tuna Auction 

The number of visitors to the tuna auction is limited to 120 per day, the maximum number which the market's infrastructure can accommodate. Tourists, who wish to see the auction, have to apply at the Osakana Fukyu Center (Fish Information Center) at the Kachidoki Gate, starting from 5:00am on a first-come, first-serve basis (may start earlier on busy days). A first group of 60 visitors will be admitted to the auction between 5:25 and 5:50, while a second group of 60 visitors will be admitted between 5:50 and 6:15.


Visitors usually start lining up long before 5am, and the maximum number is likely to be exceeded, in which case later arriving visitors will not be able to see the auction. Successful applicants will be able to view the auction from a designated visitor area. It is not allowed to view the auction from anywhere else or to use flash photography or to interfere with the business action in any other way

Photos:

"Tsukiji fish market - fishermen 01" by Dariusz Jemielniak ("Pundit") - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tsukiji_fish_market_-_fishermen_01.jpg#/media/File:Tsukiji_fish_market_-_fishermen_01.jpg

"Tsukiji as seen from Shiodome" by Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tsukiji_as_seen_from_Shiodome.jpg#/media/File:Tsukiji_as_seen_from_Shiodome.jpg

"Tsukiji Fresh Tuna Auction" by The original uploader was Cafe Nervosa at English Wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Shizhao using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tsukiji_Fresh_Tuna_Auction.JPG#/media/File:Tsukiji_Fresh_Tuna_Auction.JPG

"Auction Tsukiji fishmarket" by Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Auction_Tsukiji_fishmarket.jpg#/media/File:Auction_Tsukiji_fishmarket.jpg

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Akihabara (秋葉原)

Akihabara (秋葉原), also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street through the district, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March).

Akihabara has been undergoing major redevelopment over the years, including the renovation and expansion of Akihabara Station and the construction of new buildings in its proximity. Among these newly opened buildings were a huge Yodobashi electronics store and the Akihabara Crossfield, a business complex with the aim of promoting Akihabara as a center for global electronics technology and trade.

The character of Akihabara has constantly changed over the decades and continues to do so. In the last decade Akihabara has emerged as a center of Japanese otaku and anime culture, and dozens of stores specializing in anime, manga, retro video games, figurines, card games and other collectibles have filled the spaces between the electronics retailers.

In addition to shops, various other animation related establishments have become popular in the area, particularly maid cafes where waitresses dress up and act like maids or anime characters, and manga cafes (manga kissa), a type of internet cafe where customers can read comics and watch DVDs in addition to having access to the internet.

Photos:

"Akiba denkigai" by Jmho - Jmho's file. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akiba_denkigai.jpg#/media/File:Akiba_denkigai.jpg

"Akibaneon" by Mozaic334 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akibaneon.JPG#/media/File:Akibaneon.JPG

"Akihabara Maids". Licensed under Attribution via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akihabara_Maids.JPG#/media/File:Akihabara_Maids.JPG

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Roppongi (六本木)

Roppongi (六本木) is a district in Tokyo that is well known as the city's most popular nightlife district among foreigners, offering a large number of foreigner friendly bars, restaurants and night clubs. Roppongi and the surrounding districts of Azabu, Hiroo and Akasaka are home to many embassies and a large expat community.

Two of Tokyo's largest recent redevelopment projects, Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown changed the district's face over the past decade and expanded Roppongi's appeal to a wider range of visitors and residents with their elegant retail, leisure and residential space, offices and luxury hotels.

Thanks to the appearance of several art museums, Roppongi has also developed a reputation as a cultural center. The National Art Center is Japan's largest art museum, and together with Roppongi Hills' Mori Art Museum and Tokyo Midtown's Suntory Museum of Art form the "Art Triangle Roppongi".

Photos:

"Roppongi night" by Manone - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roppongi_night.jpg#/media/File:Roppongi_night.jpg

"Roppongi tv asahi" by Archs - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roppongi_tv_asahi.jpg#/media/File:Roppongi_tv_asahi.jpg

"Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown 2011 January" by Morio - photo taken by Morio. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roppongi_Hills_and_Tokyo_Midtown_2011_January.jpg#/media/File:Roppongi_Hills_and_Tokyo_Midtown_2011_January.jpg

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Ginza (銀座)

Ginza (銀座) is Tokyo's most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district, featuring numerous department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, night clubs and cafes.

One square meter of land in the district's center is worth over ten million yen, making it one of the most expensive real estate in Japan. It is where you can find the infamous $10 cups of coffee and where virtually every leading brand name in fashion and cosmetics has a presence.

From 1612 to 1800, today's Ginza district was the site of a silver coin mint (Ginza means "silver mint" in Japanese), after which the district was eventually named. The Ginza evolved as an upmarket shopping district following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.

Most shops in the Ginza district are open every day of the week. A visit is most pleasant on weekend afternoons when the central Chuo Dori street is closed to automobile traffic and become a large pedestrian zone. The road closure takes place from 12:00 to 17:00 (until 18:00 from April through September).

Photos:

"Ginza Wako Clock" by Jordy Meow - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ginza_Wako_Clock.jpg#/media/File:Ginza_Wako_Clock.jpg

"Colourful intersection at Ginza - Tokyo Japan" by Jlascar - Picture taken by Jorge Lascar. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colourful_intersection_at_Ginza_-_Tokyo_Japan.jpg#/media/File:Colourful_intersection_at_Ginza_-_Tokyo_Japan.jpg

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Kagurazaka (神楽坂)

Kagurazaka (神楽坂) is a fashionable shopping and dining district along a sloping street in Tokyo near Iidabashi Station. During the Edo Period, Kagurazaka was located just outside the outer moat of Edo Castle and gained prominence as an entertainment district with numerous geisha houses and restaurants. Some of the geisha houses survive in the district's narrow alleys to this date.

Kagurazaka also has a significant French presence due to two nearby French schools. A large variety of French cafes and restaurants can be found throughout the district, alongside a host of trendy and upscale Japanese restaurants and ryotei, many of which are tucked away along the sides streets that lead off of the main slope. The main road through Kagurazaka is closed to car traffic everyday from 12:00 to 13:00, and from 12:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and public holidays.

Photos:

"KagurazakaStreet" by PHGCOM - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KagurazakaStreet.JPG#/media/File:KagurazakaStreet.JPG

"Kagurazaka Akagi Jinja" by Kkazeyama - Took a photo during my trip to TokyoPreviously published: flickr.com/thekaz. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kagurazaka_Akagi_Jinja.jpg#/media/File:Kagurazaka_Akagi_Jinja.jpg

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