Centers in Tokyo
Here I write an explanation from eight largest, or most central areas. All of the places can be accessed by using JR Yamanote-sen. Welcome to explore. See also Introduction to Tokyo.
Ginza is the old center of Tokyo. Nowadays it's known as a "shopping street", an area full of more or less expensive shops. It's said that from Ginza you can find any item that exist on earth. Whether it's true or not, at least you have plenty of shops to visit. It you want to save your money, do window shopping here, and buy what you need from other place. Ginza is also famous of it's kabuki-za, traditional Japanese theatre. Hibiya park is a place where sarariimans and offisu ladys spend their lunch hour, eating their onigiris.
Shinjuku instead is the new center of Tokyo. It's famous of it's cluster of skyscrapers, including the twin towers of Tokyo Metropolitan offices, (which is a must see for tourists). Shinjuku is Tokyo's most active center and in it's railwaystation there are over two million users. The skyscrapers and other structures in Shinjuku are mostly office buildings which means that if you want to see many salarymen, go in Shinjuku station at rush hour. In Shinjuku, you can also find expensive bars and restaurants, mostly to serve the business customers. Sure, you can do shopping in Shinjuku as well as in other central areas of Tokyo.
Ikebukuro, is another enormous center and a crossing for traffic. Ikebukuro is known of it's large shops that exist inside enormous station complex. Also Ikebukuro is known of it's nightlife and many raamen shops.
Ueno is the magnificent center of different commuter train and subway lines in Tokyo. Lines such as Joban line go from there. In Ueno you can see the magnificent Ueno Park and many restaurants. Ueno has many narrow streets that have a smaller restraurants. Things in Ueno work usually just a little a bit slower pace than they do in Shinjuku. Everything has a just a little smaller scale here. Raamen shops can be also found from here. I recommend one close to the station called Juraku and also Ameyoko street.
Shibuya is known as a main youth hangout. If you are setting a date with a Japanese girl, have a date here. There is lots of nice walking streets and plenty of windows to see. Many fashion shops are found from here and here you can see the latest trends of youth. (!) Just close to Shibuya lies enormous Yoyogi-park, known of it's weekly sunday carneval.
Roppongi is central disco and nightlife center in Tokyo. The discos and pubs are open through the night. Also, check the "Roppongi hills" which is a new and interesting shopping complex including a good quality movie theatre and TV station.
Akihabara is the center of shops that sell electronics. It's said that you can find the cheapest electronics here but on the other hand there is lots of competition.. Here are plenty of things to see. However, if you are getting a cellphone or PHS phone, get it from here.
Asakusa is the ending part of sumida -river that flows into middle of Tokyo. In Asakusa you can find the weird (!) looking architecture of Asahi-beer and ofcourse the famous temple of Asakusa Kannon, that has a large paperlanter. Asakusa is very common place for tourists, and there are many good and cheap restaurants as well as enormous amount of souvenir shops. I recommend taking the boat that goes by the river. These boats are sometimes called "seabass" in Tokyo.
Download JR lines in Greater Tokyo.
