Icons Of Tokyo: Tradition Meets Modernity

OVERVIEW

Explore Tokyo past and present through attractions that celebrate the traditions of spiritual life and the city’s vision for the future. The Shinto shrine Meiji Jingu will seem like a world apart from the urban sprawl as it lies within a forest of more than 100,000 trees. Elegant and historical, it is dedicated to Emperor Meiji the Great, who led Japan from a feudal state into a world power. The mood will be dramatically different at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, during which pedestrians – as many as 2,500 every two minutes – flood one of the world’s busiest intersections from all directions once all the traffic lights turn red. It is an amazing spectacle to watch. You will become further immersed in Tokyo’s often frenetic modern life while touring Shinjuku, a dynamic commercial district with towering skyscrapers that is always abuzz with activity. It is a shopper’s paradise as you will discover during free time.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a traditional shrine in a forested park that honors Japan’s first modern emperor.
• Observe a scramble crossing where countless pedestrians all cross an intersection at once.
• See the statue of Hachikō, an Akita dog that was famously loyal to its owner.
• Spend free time in the dynamic retail hub of Shinjuku, where the energy is palpable.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.