TOKYO CENTRAL AREA
A visit to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, located in Chiyoda District. The gardens extend to the main quarters of the former Edo Castle featuring seasonal flowers, walls and majestic entrance built by Tokugawa Shoguns. The second sightseeing spot is Akasaka Palace, or the State Guest House, located in Yotsuya, Tokyo`s administrative district. It features a neo-baroque western building designated as a National Treasure of Japan in 2009. Nowadays, Asakasa Palace serves as a splendid stage of diplomatic activities such as welcoming monarchs and presidents from countries all over the world. Then, you will move to Tsukiji Outer Market District, near Ginza. This is one of the biggest fish markets in Japan, literally “Japan’s Food Town”, where one can encounter all kinds of traditional Japanese foods featuring retail shops and food stalls.
Your tour proceeds north, you will sightseeing in Kappabashi Tool Street, located between Asakusa and Ueno. This is a street 800 m-long with many lined-up shops offering kitchen equipment and tools for restaurants,food ingredients and packaging supplies. You will also find plastic food samples used by many restaurants in their show windows. From Kappabashi Tool Street you can head towards Ueno Park, a public park renowned for the great number of museums on its ground and for the oldest Zoo in Japan, Ueno Zoo, as well as for being a popular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spot during the spring.
Visit to Origami Kaikan, a multi-functional space dedicated to the art of origami (paper folding), founded in 1858 and located in southern Ueno Park.