Heart of Tokyo; Chiyoda/Minato/Chuo

東京都心(千代田・港・中央)

Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda-ku

A public park located North of the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

Taken by Isak Nygren

 

Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku

The business center of Tokyo, which is an area with an ancient and honorable origin as the location of the samurai residences of famous feudal lords such as the Kishu Tokugawa family, Owari Tokugawa family and Hikone II family.

Taken at Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioi-cho by Isao Tokuhashi

13645303_10154315809897640_1319039028103922240_n 13600020_10154315809922640_6073848497025349226_nTaken at Hotel New Otani by Ayami Ito

12728862_10153980075528478_7156148960508921168_nTaken by Adrian Ringin

 

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Minato-ku

Teien (庭園) means Japanese garden, and the museum is so named because the building is surrounded by a garden and sculptures. The museum building was previously the residence of Prince Asaka Yasuhiko and his family from 1933 to 1947. The residence was first opened to the public as a museum in 1983.

The museum has its own tea room. *Taken by Kiwako Agake

 

Nogi Shrine, Minato-ku

Established on November 1, 1923 and dedicated to General Nogi Maresuke and his wife Nogi Shizuko after their death on September 13, 1912. Nogi Maresuke was a prominent figure in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05, as commander of the forces.

Taken by Jun KikuChi

 

Tokyo Marathon Awards Ceremony

The Tokyo Marathon is an annual marathon sporting event in Tokyo. The first Tokyo Marathon was held on February 18, 2007. Now it is one of the six World Marathon Majors.
*Click here and see photos of Tokyo Marathon 2018!

Taken by Masayuki Miyazaki

 

Hamamatsucho Station, Minato-ku

Served by two JR East lines: the circular Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tōhoku Line. It is also the terminus of the Tokyo Monorail line to Haneda Airport.

Taken by Mekdachi Khalil

 

Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku

A commercial district located between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. The name, meaning “inside the circle”, derives from its location within the palace’s outer moat. It is also Tokyo’s financial district and Japan’s three largest banks are headquartered there.

Taken at Daimaru Tokyo by Mitsuru Sekine

14963379_10154713463784233_9028587378237065409_n14980720_10154713804349233_5342464722477538627_n14992034_10154714369224233_7469997713275760780_nChristmas tree at Marunouchi Building. *Taken by Ayaka Fukuda

12360276_906910799399324_2929990972008139768_nTaken by Megumi Honzawa

12311229_809923825784909_4478824661427825729_n11140087_809923925784899_295552746523518261_n12301710_809923802451578_7646158608246314093_nTaken by Junko Morita

12191650_10153759417034233_3657384672249194581_n (1)Skating Rink at Marunouchi Building *Taken by Ayaka Fukuda  

 

Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin, Minato-ku

It is a branch of Toyokawa Inari, the popular name for a Buddhist temple of the Soto sect located in Aichi Prefecture.

The names of Johnny’s idols are put on red lanterns.

Taken by Isao Tokuhashi

 

TOKYO ILLUMILIA 2017-2018

Illumination displays in the shape of a gate decorate the Nihonbashi Sakura-dori Street that extends from Yaesu gate of Tokyo Station to Nihonbashi.
*Reference source: Must-see Japan

Taken by Isao Tokuhashi

 

Hibiya Park, Chiyoda-ku

A park located near the Imperial Palace. The park is also known for its open-air concert venue, Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall.

Hibiya Park Christmas Market 2017 held until Dec 25. *Taken by Megumi Honzawa

15037114_1350665258307059_5000184239898804380_nTaken by Yota Nakamura

15032640_1036628683133417_1341347533866988817_n14953882_1036628796466739_4432454176808610866_nTaken by Kentaro Fuse

13335700_877620359010815_8312887270593395845_n 13346401_877620362344148_4594835336615279395_nTaken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi

12718020_1026804290732657_5241664611786464237_n12938268_1026804230732663_7345943663765485174_n13006692_1026804407399312_5293425601133053125_n12998573_1026804590732627_1263919845228029176_nTaken by Masami Nagase

12289671_922685624479478_1424547896594061831_n12278927_922685594479481_4437280904529840711_n12289495_922685604479480_8463835173411460670_nTaken by Rumi Kakehashi

11015840_920540057991026_3716240256709209149_nTaken by Masaomi Takahashi

 

Suitengu, Chuo-ku

A Shinto shrine dedicated to Suiten, the Japanese name of the deity of Hindu origins Varuna, one of a series of Hindu deities whose worship entered Japan together with Buddhism.

Taken by Mekdachi Khalil

 

Azabu-juban, Minato-ku

A lively residential area with a mixture of Japanese shops, restaurants and bars. The proximity of Hiro-o and Roppongi make it one of the more trendy and sought after residential areas of Tokyo.

A multilingual baked sweet potato truck. *Taken by Masako Ikehara

 

Downtown Tokyo on November 6, 2017

Taken by Sakurako Sato

 

Shiba Park, Minato-ku

A public park built around the temple of Zojo-ji.

Lamborghini Day 2017 held on October 20, 2017. *Taken by Mekdachi Khalil

 

Tsukiji, Chuo-ku

The site of the Tsukiji fish market. Literally meaning “reclaimed land”, it lies near the Sumida River on land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay in the 18th century, during the Edo period.

Bon dance festival at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple 2017

Taken by Sakurako Sato

Taken by Mekdachi Khalil

Taken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi  

 

14568183_1186488051374195_2764504159505169023_nA luxury Japanese restaurant, which used to be a villa of Yataro Iwasaki, founder of Mitsubishi. *Taken by Hiromi Suzuki

12801482_1718562915027139_6939921376411960994_nTsukiji Hongwanji Temple *Taken by Sakurako Sato

12065923_891631904260049_6103406931666122384_nTsukiji Hongwanji Temple in the daytime *Taken by Akira Tamachi

12122489_1675535889329842_5199539818032477036_nTsukiji Hongwanji Temple in the nighttime *Taken by Sakurako Sato

11811438_994599890560408_7422083847423366180_nBon dance festival at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple *Taken by Kyoko Yasuda  

12065521_10153699321327640_2260645403522310571_n (1)12096349_10153699319537640_4947902356757504927_n (1)Tsukiji Fish Market, the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. *Taken by Ayami Ito 10997827_692708380839788_6028624622067773309_n1469824_692708397506453_2196854700316923942_nTsukiji Fish Market Taken by Junko Morita  

 

Yasukuni Shrine, Chiyoda-ku

It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of the Empire of Japan, which existed from the Meiji Restoration of 1869 until the nation was renamed during the Allied occupation in 1947.

Mitama Matsuri, an event to honor the dead. It is best known for the 30,000 lanterns that light the way to the shrine each evening. Held from July 13 until July 16.  

Yasukuni Tanabata Yume Matsuri held from June 22 until July 7.
*Taken by Bright Park

 

Samurai Entertainment “ALATA”, performed at Alternative Theater, Chiyoda-ku

The new theater opened near JR/Metro Yurakucho Station on July 7, 2017, with “ALATA”, a language-free non-verbal entertainment.
*See www.alternative-theatre.jp/en/ for more info!

Taken by Alisa Sanada  

Taken by Isao Tokuhashi  

 

Nihombashi, Chuo-ku

A business district which was a major mercantile center during the Edo period.

Taken by Isao Tokuhashi

14022096_10154432240662640_5027310780200912729_n14088491_10154432240622640_6185184238393225530_n14045762_10154432240677640_901221534654190697_nTaken by Ayami Ito

IMG_7548IMG_7554Taken by Isao Tokuhashi

11263140_708322419273944_7657470857656943267_nTaken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi

11046638_776058569151215_4533025200273442432_nTaken by Megumi Honzawa

IMG_0191nihombashiTaken by Isao Tokuhashi  

 

Yaesu, Chuo-ku

A neighborhood adjacent to the east side of Tokyo Station. The area was named after the 17th century Dutch adventurer Jan Joosten van Lodensteijn, or simply Jan Joosten. For his services to Tokugawa Ieyasu he was granted a house in Edo (now Tokyo) in the area.

Taken by Miwa Mitani

 

French Embassy, Minato-ku

People from France gathered to cast their votes in French presidential election.

17952551_10213227889479647_5916780458377131645_nTaken by Franck Michelin

 

Shiba Toshogu Shrine, Minato-ku

A Shinto shrine which enshrines the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu.

17361558_1132412570218608_2664742990748807976_n17424603_1132412710218594_948422179310398350_n17426011_1132412760218589_707676391239292518_n17426085_1132412633551935_7670686593023794453_nTaken by Megumi Honzawa

 

Chidorigafuchi, Chiyoda-ku

A moat located in the northwest of the Imperial Palace. The 700 meter-long pedestrian path is covered with the blossoms of about 260 cherry trees from late March to early April.

17554585_1255083407915393_1965625942958156785_n17498483_1255083534582047_5253358192674448127_n17457956_1255083554582045_8015259619851813643_n17553703_1255083597915374_1652185007724306561_nTaken by Megumi Johjima

17457935_1189500257827315_1131331481141134248_n17554403_1189500331160641_5152973748122161567_n17553680_1189500294493978_6683163387607951295_nTaken by Midori Takashio

 

Cherry blossoms at National Theatre of Japan, Chiyoda-ku

It primarily stages performances of traditional Japanese performing arts.

17353474_1250217651735302_5041273207118970796_n17498537_1250217631735304_7599272306397092223_nTaken by Megumi Honzawa

 

Bank of Japan, Chuo-ku

Japan’s central bank (an institution that manages a state’s currency, money supply, and interest rates), which was established in 1882. 

16997821_641799019364482_6319877017721716062_nTaken by Mac Suzuki

 

Between Akihabara and Ochanomizu, Chiyoda-ku

17021917_10210854565372963_1302414528213514972_nTaken by Masayuki Miyazaki

12495253_826845437421641_4375087452179801313_n 12734224_826845424088309_7326472954509296681_n 12742050_826845414088310_6266850740264687127_nA gull! *Taken at Shoheibashi Bridge by Masanori Tsuchibuchi

 

Akasaka, Minato-ku

A residential and commercial district, located north of the Roppongi nightlife district.

16142721_1190234267733641_2199073845770675970_n16114260_1190302117726856_9067248387349976120_n16114708_1190234264400308_8449742766510622142_nTaken at Akasaka Blitz by Megumi Honzawa

 

Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku

Known as Tokyo’s center of used-book stores and publishing houses, and as a popular antique and curio shopping area.

15541915_802085833262665_4655215027757322592_nkotatsu troop. *Taken by Mami Yoshinaga

 

Akasaka Palace, Minato-ku

It’s also called “State Guest House”, which is designated by the government of Japan as an official accommodation for visiting state dignitaries.

14671261_980748948718305_8158849119955790282_n14705746_980748752051658_7057915805007886059_n14720464_980748708718329_2231720944873251250_n14641946_980748632051670_6616198459460753548_nTaken by Megumi Johjima

 

Zojo-ji Temple, Minato-ku

A Buddhist temple founded in 1393.

14689822_10154429763146438_1298011228_o14689264_10154429763496438_354151014_oKsitigarbha statues at the cemetery. *Taken by Mekdachi Khalil

 

Eitai-bashi Bridge, Koto-ku & Chuo-ku

A bridge which spans the Sumida River. It was first built in 1698 on request of the fifth Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, to celebrate his 50th birthday. It was declared an important national treasure in 2007.

IMG_7777IMG_7775Photographers aiming at the Manhattan-like night view.
*Taken by Isao Tokuhashi
  

12645021_813132412126277_4134747093612426184_n12631506_813132162126302_3640583663138325155_nView from the bridge
*Taken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi
  

 

Flea market at Tokyo International Forum, Chiyoda-ku

14087176_10154275508181438_559495749_oTaken by Mekdachi Khalil

 

Tanabata ornaments in a building, Chiyoda-ku

Occupied by people’s wishes written on colorful pieces of paper.

IMG_2368Taken by Isao Tokuhashi

 

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Minato-ku

The spiritual home of Japanese rugby union and the headquarters of the Japan Rugby Football Union.

10419542_10153739187377107_4594208910945126720_nSun Wolves (Japan) vs Lions (South Africa) in Super Rugby 2016 *Taken by David Burger

 

Nakagin Capsule Tower, Chuo-ku

A mixed-use residential and office tower located in Shimbashi, Tokyo. It was the world’s first example of capsule architecture built in 1972 for permanent and practical use.

12669691_10153335588726190_8757730323088934527_n-111333_10153335969676190_2454962868407624528_n12670147_10153335969551190_6109836077578764841_nTaken by Miwako Dias

 

Akihabara, Chiyoda-ku

A major shopping center for household electronic goods. Nowadays Akihabara is considered by many to be an otaku cultural center and a shopping district for video games, anime, manga, and computer goods.

535346_978262155600395_8926559051945187952_nTaken by Kenzo Tamukai  

1930799_803073213132197_3849184449344347782_n998486_803073219798863_4876461937117174704_n12376418_803073239798861_226562230907320701_nStar Wars figures in Japanese armors *Taken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi  

11027477_899707686748212_756862240757043194_n10429417_899707573414890_5168527278605964483_nTaken by Shigeki Kakutani  

 

Akasaka, Minato-ku

A residential and commercial district, located west of the government center in Nagatacho and north of the Roppongi nightlife district.

12096470_803916216381230_7781284487151078985_nTBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System), a TV station which produced the Takeshi’s Castle game show, Ultraman and Ultra Series. *Taken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi  

11149266_592787364157785_5161461483942096087_nTaken by Ayako Tanaka  

 

National Diet Building, Chiyoda-ku

The place where both houses (House of Representatives 衆議院 & House of Councillors 参議院) of the National Diet of Japan meet. The building was completed in 1936.

12190981_891617280928178_2090021460138381790_n (1)Taken by Akira Tamachi

1912101_10205003050211420_2024894900655707145_n11755237_10205003051571454_4335920269123053809_nAnti-security bills protestors *Taken on July 15, 2015 by Hikari Narumi  

 

Mainichi Shimbun, Chiyoda-ku

One of the major newspapers in Japan. Founded on February 21, 1872.

12067193_765714410201411_1043720033_n (1)Isao Tokuhashi of MET, right, is discussing on “What should you do to tell Japanese products and services to the rest of the world?” with Marei Mentlein, a Tokyoite from Germany. (September 28, 2015) *Taken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi  

 

Hatchobori, Chuo-ku

This area consists of the business district and the residential district. Ginza, Tsukiji, Nihombashi and Tokyo Station are within walking distance from Hatchobori.

IMG_2246Taken by Isao Tokuhashi

11039298_1634847326735377_1977077920417775564_nTaken by Chieko Tanaka  

 

Ochanomizu, Chiyoda-ku

This area used to be called “Japanese Latin Quarter”, which is the home to a number of universities.

11400993_718115618294624_6772981505597993010_nTaken by Masanori Tsuchibuchi

1463019_769163109820253_1888043661185975599_nHoly Resurrection Cathedral, the main cathedral of the Japanese Orthodox Church(日本ハリストス正教会)*Taken by Katsuya Nagata  

 

Hakozaki, Chuo-ku

A business district where IBM Japan and Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT) are located in.

IMG_1759IMG_1556IMG_1555Taken by Isao Tokuhashi  

 

Tsukuda, Chuo-ku

10928735_10204680433185249_77943705_nTaken by Hidetoshi Toyoshima