Kabuki-za Japan premier Kabuki Theater

The Kabuki-za Theater in Ginza, Tokyo, is Japan foremost Kabuki theater and one of Tokyo most beautiful landmarks.

The theater opened in 1898 was destroyed in a fire on 1921, restored on 1923, and heavily damaged by the War raids, it was rebuilt a third time in 1951 to the current structure, an stunning white building now considered a tangible cultural property by the government. The company owning the building has deciding on closing and rebuilding this building in 2010, to construct an office and theatre complex on the current site (the government classification allows for remodeling and dismantling).

Kabuki is a Japanese traditional form of dance and theatre performed by an all male cast. Programs are divided in several shows divided in matinee and evening show, from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. The whole day extravaganza may be too much for the un-initiated, there is a single show ticket.

The theater is offering a farewell performance until April next year, where you can appreciate the art in this beautiful building before is destroyed next year.

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Zojo-ji (Temple Zojo)

The Temple Zojo in Minato in Tokyo, Japan is a Buddhist temple founded in 1939, relocated to his present location in 1598 by the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, Ieyasu Tokugawa. The cathedral, temples, and mausoleum of the Tokugawa family were burned down during world war II, The cathedral and other structures have been rebuilt now.


The Main gate Sangedatsumon is a wooden structure of 21 meters of height, 28.7 meters in width and 17.6 meters in depth. Built in 1622 is the only structure to survive the war and is considered an important cultural property


The Daiden Main hall was rebuilt in 1974,and is the site of several religious ceremonies.


Six of the 15 tokugawa shogus are buried at the mausoleum of the tokugawa shoguns. The doors to the mausoleum display the seal of the tokugawa family.


Zojoji originally covered an area of 826,000 meters, some of the area is now a park,and Tokyo prince hotel. The Nitenmon gate, an important cultural property is in front of the hotel.


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Tokyo Tower

The Tokyo tower in the Minato ward, Tokyo, Japan. at 332.5m Is the tallest self-supporting structure in the world.



It is modeled after the Eiffel tower and 8.5 m taller, the tower coloring is to comply with air safety regulations.
Built in 1958 to provide broadcasting for the Kanto area, the tower has become a symbol of Tokyo and is visible from almost any part of Tokyo.


There is a 4 story building at the base of the tower, called foot town, with restaurants and souvenir shops.
A new taller tower is currently planned for the area to open in 2011.

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Haneda Airport

The Haneda airport, official name “Tokyo international airport”, in Tokyo Ota ward, is one of the two major airports that service the Gran Tokyo Area.


The airport opened in 1931 as an international airport and the biggest in Japan. Amidst the high economic growth period of the ‘60s the port reached its limit, creating great congestion. Due to cost and technical issues, the construction of a new airport was selected over expanding it.


In 1978 the Narita Airport opened for International flights, and Haneda handled mostly only domestic flights.


In 2008 the airport with 66,754,829 passengers was the 4th busiest in the world after Atlanta, Chicago and London (currently 5th after Beijing), currently with 2 terminals and 3 runways it handles most of the domestics flights and international flights from Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong.


A fourth Runway is under construction and is projected to become operational in early 2010, with this expansion the airport plans to double its international flights, with new slots for European and other international destinations, additionally with operations when narita is closed between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. the area, the airports will provide an integrated 24-hours service.

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Kappabashi

Kappabashi dougu street in Tokyo, Taito ward, also known as kitchen town, is a street between Ueno and Asakusa, populated with stores dedicated to kitchen and restaurant goods. The Street entrance is marked by a giant chef on the crossing with Asakusa street at the south, and Kototoi street at the north.


The street symbol is the mythological Kappa or river-boy. There is a “Pocket-park”, with a statue of “Kawatarou”, or Kappa.


Merchants staring to gather in the area around 1912,,and now in over 800 meters over 170 shops is Japan and perhaps the world largest kitchen goods shopping street.


There is a wide variety of stores of: paper lanterns, ceramic, china, pottery, Japanese knives, and restaurant furniture.


The sample plastic food stores, that sell the famous display-food that sits outside a large number of Japanese restaurants are one of the highlight of the visit to this street.


A good Japanese Pottery store, Denkama, is located in the corner of the South entrance.

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Nishiarai Taishi

Soujiji, best known as Nishiarai Taishi is a Buddhist temple in Adachi ward in Tokyo.The temple was built in the year 826, and the main hall was built in the mid-Edo period. In 1971 it was rebuilt to his present form.


The beautifully carved main gate (sanmon) was completed in the late part of the edo period.


ShioJizou close to the main gate. Worshipers believe that pouring salt on this Jizou cures warts.
Official site (Japanese)

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Kyu Furukawa Gardens

The Kyu Furukawa gardens in Kita Ku, Tokyo, is a national asset leased to Tokyo metropolis and open to the public. In 1982 it was designated a national famous scenic spot.


The property is located in the former residence of the notable Mutsu Munemitsu, and then inherited by the Furukawa family. In 1917 the baron Toranosuke Furukawa started the construction of the site on the current form.



The building was designed by the English architect Josiah Condor, who designed most of the buildings on the last part of the Meiji period and beginning of the Taisho period, and made many contributions to the architecture in Japan.



The Japanese garden was created by Ogawa Jihei, a designer of many Kyoto gardens and the pioneer of the modern Japanese garden (Ueji).

In 1956 the property become state owned and was loaned to Tokyo metropolis free of charge, restoration to the state started on 1982 and in 2006 a complete restoration to the previous form was completed.

Park Site

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