Tokyo was already one of the largest cities in the world in the 18th century, when it was still known as Edo, meaning “estuary”, with a population of over one million. Edo, which evolved from a fishing village into the most important political center of the Japanese Empire, changed its name to Tokyo, meaning “eastern capital”, in 1869, when the seventeen-year-old emperor, Meiji, decided to take up residence there.
Today the name Tokyo refers to a prefecture, established in 1943, comprising a series of towns and villages that make up Greater Tokyo, with a massive population of 37 million.
Despite its dense population, Tokyo is considered one of the most livable cities in the world because it is one of the most technologically advanced.
The efficient, vibrant appearance, reminiscent of a science fiction novel, with its frenzied markets and rich variety of dazzling, multi-colored signs, high-speed trains - and indeed the frenetic, transgressive night-life of the Roppongi neighborhood – all make Tokyo an electrifying experience, especially for those visiting for the first time.
The futuristic skyline, which adds ultra-modern buildings every year, with increasingly taller towers and skyscrapers, is partly the result of two events that forced the Japanese to rebuild the city: the Great Kantō earthquake in 1923, which killed 140,000 people, and the bombings during the Second World War which razed more than half of Tokyo to the ground between 1944 and 1945.
However, Tokyo has also preserved much from the Edo period: delightful gardens, fabulous Buddhist temples and Shintoist shrines, and the Imperial Palace, which together with the city’s splendid museums, Noh theaters and Sumo arenas, will help you discover the sophisticated Japanese culture, making every minute you spend here truly unforgettable.
An interesting fact: the correct pronunciation of the yen, the Japanese currency, is actually “en”. Don’t worry, though: in Tokyo they say “yen”.
So, get ready to visit the wonders of this splendid city.
Enjoy your stay!
Language: English