Tokyo Japan is the largest city in the country, and its metropolitan area is the largest in the world. Tokyo proper is comprised of between 8 to 12 million people, making it a bit larger than New York city. The Tokyo metropolitan area is comprised of over 30 million people. Tokyo is considered to be the capital of Japan, and many consider it to be a powerful representation of the country. The city that today is called Tokyo used to go by the name Edo in feudal Japan. Tokyo is the official residence of both the Imperial Palace and the nation's government, and the royal family resides there as well.
There are a grand total of 47 prefectures in Japan, and Tokyo Japan is one of them. Because of its size and global influence, Tokyo is considered by many to be a megacity. The name "Tokyo" means "The Eastern Capital." When Tokyo was first founded, it was simply a small fishing village which was named Edo. By the year 1457, the Edo Castle was constructed by Ota Dokan. Once Tokugawa Ieyasu came to power, he made Edo his official base, and upon becoming Shogun by 1603, he made the city the center of his new government. By the 18th century, Tokyo was already one of the largest cities in the world with a population of about 1 million.
While Kyoto remained the Imperial capital of Japan during this time, Tokyo Japan(then called Edo), was the de facto capital. The shogunate was eventually removed from power, and imperial rule was brought back to the country. Once this happened, Emperor Meiji changed his residence from Kyoto to Edo. By the time he arrived, Tokyo had already become culturally and politically important. The central region of Tokyo has been specifically designed to sit near train stations for well over 100 years. The city has had a large number of catastrophies throughout its long history, and some of these include the Great Kanto Earthquake, and firebombings which were conducted by the Allies during the Second World War.
Japan Tip #1
If you are planning on traveling to the orient, one fact about japan that you should know is that you must have local currency (yen) on hand before you leave the airport. Taxi, buses and other transportation services do not accept debit or credit cards or any other currency except the yen. |
Japan Tip #2
Another fact about Japan to remember is that it is considered impolite and even rude to offer a monetary tip to a Japanese person. Some finer establishments may reqire a tip type fee, but it will be included in your bill. So remember don't tip your waiter or waitress or the bell boy, or even the taxi driver, instead save your money. |
Japan Tip #3
One of the most confusing facts about Japan is known as the consumption tax. The consumption tax is a feel that is applied to all purchases made in Japan and is currently at 5%. This means that whatever the price of the item you are buying, you need to add an additional 5% to the price. Be aware that some stores include this tax in the price of the item and some stores do not, so it is better to ask if you are in doubt. |
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