Tokyo welcomes many tourists yearly, and that’s not a surprise. The huge metropolis, even if not an unknown sight, deserves logically its rank among the hundred landscapes of Japan. Five sights of the city are in the list, and not all of them are expected. Along Kamanari-mon in Asakusa (described on Nippon100 after the golden dragon dance), the Japanese elected two historical spots, Nihombashi and Marunouchi, with Akihabara and Tokyo tower, the symbol of the city since 1958.
Shibuya crossing and Tsukiji’s fresh fish (still there for some times) are not even in the list! That’s also the time for us to introduce a restaurant in Roppongi we had the chance to try recently with high quality Japanese product, Coconoma Season Dining, which might be a convenient option to have dinner in the big city!
Nihombashi
One the three famous bridges of Japan (along Iwakuni’s Kintai-kyo and Meganebashi in Nagasaki) is more discreet than when it was built in 1911. That’s because since 1964 and the Tokyo olympics, the paved bridges is covered by a Inner Circular Road C1, a part of Shuto Expressway.
The first bridge dates back from 1603. And during the whole Edo Period, it was famous as the eastern terminus of two famous roads, the Tokaido and the Nakasendo.
Marunouchi
Twenty minutes and less than two kilometers from Nihombashi, the area is another historical place of Tokyo. Before being the business one it became nowadays, it was the daimyo’s residences neighborhood. Marunouchi precisely means “inner the circle” (丸の内) because it was inside Edo castle outour moat.
Tokyo Tower
Thirteen meters higher than the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo’s one dates back from 1958 and is 333 m high. It was Japan highest building for many years, until 2012 when Tokyo Skytree was built. Open everyday from 9AM to 11PM, 900 yen for the main level and 1600 for both (main and special higher one).
Every 5th of May, Tokyo’s inhabitants are coming to the tower for Koï-no-bori, kid’s day. Exactly 333 carps are floating in the air to celebrate.
Akihabara
Last sight of Tokyo, Akihabara was the world capital of home appliance until WW2. Then it became Akihabara Electric Town, famous for electronic supplies and finally computers. Today the area is known around the world as the heart of otaku culture, with many anime and manga-related shops.
Coconoma Season Dining
Not a sight, but a convenient option to have dinner in Tokyo, after a great day of visits and discoveries, or to celebrate a special occasion! Coconoma Season Dining is a fashionable restaurant offering delicious Japanese ingredients. We had the chance to try their new course, which will be offered starting from next December.
Foie gras and apple guimauve for starters, followed by Sima-aji carpaccio, Genmai-pasta with octopus, and grilled Saitama black pork, the dinner was a succession of high standard food, always to be eaten with chopsticks. Dinner course is around 5000~7000 yen per person.