Tokyo, Part 1
On board a sleek Shinkansen bullet train, Michael arrives in Tokyo, one of the greatest cities on earth, with a population of 37 million in the metropolitan area.
On board a sleek Shinkansen bullet train, Michael arrives in Tokyo, one of the greatest cities on earth, with a population of 37 million in the metropolitan area.
He begins by exploring the ornate Akasaka Palace, built in 1909 by Emperor Meiji for his son, the crown prince Yoshihito. He’s surprised to find that, with its neo-baroque architecture and impressive fountains, it looks more than a little British.
In the fashionable district of Ginza, Michael journeys underground to ride the Tokyo metro. He’s intrigued by the catchy jingles played at each station and meets one of the composers behind 300 of the tunes.
Stopping off in the neighbourhood of Ueno to explore the famous Ameyoko street market, Michael travels to the east of the city to marvel at the Tokyo Skytree, standing at over 630 meters high. After a giddy ride to the top to take in the views, he learns how it was designed to be earthquake-proof.
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