Travel guide - Visiting Tokyo
>> Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The history of the city of Tokyo stretches back some 400 years. Originally named Edo, the city started to flourish after Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa Shogunate here in 1603. As the center of politics and culture in Japan, Edo grew into a huge city with a population of over a million by the mid-eighteenth century. Throughout this time, the Emperor resided in Kyoto, which was the formal capital of the nation. The Edo Period lasted for nearly 260 years until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when the Tokugawa Shogunate ended and imperial rule was restored. The Emperor moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo. Thus, Tokyo became the capital of Japan.
Japan’s most famous district is not famous for nothing! Tokyo is an exhilarating experience! With 33.5 million people just in Tokyo alone, the area is bustling with life and practically pulsating in energy! In Tokyo you can find both energy and solace. Shinto shrines adorn towering skyscrapers and give a sense of zen in the middle of all the noise. The traditional and modern coexist in perfect harmony.