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Tsukiji Fish Market
1h
Origin. The land on which the fish market sat was created during the Edo period by the Tokugawa shogunate after the Great fire of Meireki of 1657. It was created through land reclamation on the Tokyo Bay, and the area was therefore named Tsukiji (築地), meaning "constructed land" or "reclaimed land".
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Senso-ji Temple
1h
A temple steeped in history and lore
Legend has it that in 628 AD, fishermen found a statue of Kannon in the Sumida River, and Sensoji Temple was built to enshrine it. Throughout its long history, the Main Hall has been destroyed countless times and rebuilt from the donations of people from all over Japan.
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Imperial Palace
1h
Edo Castle turned Imperial Palace
For over 250 years, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogun during what was known as the Edo Period – Edo being the old name for Tokyo. The current Imperial Palace, known as Kokyo in Japanese, sits on the former site of Edo Castle.
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Meiji Shrine Imperial Garden
1m
Constructed in 1920, the shrine was destroyed in WWII air raids and rebuilt in 1958; however, unlike so many of Japan's postwar reconstructions, Meiji-jingū has atmosphere in spades. Note that the shrine is currently undergoing renovations bit by bit in preparation for its 100th anniversary, but will remain open.
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Tokyo Skytree
1h · Admission ticket not included
Despite its modern appearance, the history of Tokyo Skytree can be traced back to the 16th century, when a tower called the Musashi Kosugi Signal Tower was built in the area. The tower was used to transmit signals to Edo Castle, which was located in the Old City of Edo (present-day Tokyo).
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Harajuku Mame Shiba Cafe
1m
Harajuku's history dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868), when it was a small post town along the main road connecting Tokyo (then Edo) to Kyoto. The name “Harajuku” translates to “meadow lodging,” reflecting its pastoral roots.
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Odaiba Seaside Garden
1h
Odaiba was initially built for defensive purposes in the 1850s. The land was dramatically expanded during the late 20th century as a seaport district, and was redeveloped in the 1990s into a major commercial, residential and leisure area.
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Nakamise Shopping Street (Kaminarimon)
1h
On the outer streets that parallel the main Nakamise street there are plenty of other shops, cafes, and restaurants and they will certainly be glad of your business. Opening hours vary by shop. Most shops are open from 10:00 to 19:00.
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Tokyo Tower
1h · Admission ticket not included
Tokyo Tower's history
With the start of NHK, Japan's national broadcaster, in 1953, the Tokyo area needed a large broadcasting tower. Based on the Eiffel Tower in design, Tokyo Tower was completed in 1958. At 333 meters tall, it was the tallest freestanding tower in the world when it was built.
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Shibuya Crossing
1h
Shibuya Station opened back in 1885, but its famous crossing only took its modern-day form in 1932 when the Tokyu Toyoko Line opened and made Shibuya a key stop between the neighboring port city of Yokohama and Tokyo's central business hub
