Gundam is quite an impressive sight towering over surrounding trees and appearing to be larger than the buildings on the horizon.   At intervals he turns his head in each direction as his laser beam eyes scan the crowd below before finally looking upward as steam is emitted from the jet packs on his heals and back and look so be set to fly off to the heavens on his next mission.

Based on the popular anime and manga series, the name is a combination of the English word “gun” and the last syllable of the word “freedom”, and is not a person but a “mobile suit”  that is operated from a cockpit in the located in the torso of the suit by a real person who is aided by technology to guide Gundam in the fight against injustice and for freedom.

Other great Gundam images online:

• the view from japan – he will fight for them
• imorpheus on Flickr – Gundam
• Shibuya246 – Gundam, Odaiba

Image Credit:  Personal Collection

Where to begin?  This was a really tough article to plan for because there’s just no way I can cover everything in Tokyo that you can see or do! Bear in mind that there are 23 wards that make up greater Tokyo. Each one has its own characteristics and individual set of things to do.  With that in mind I’ve put together some of my favorites in the southern part of the city but don’t think of this as a definitive list. Please feel free to share your personal recommendations in the comments to this article.

Things To See And Do In Tokyo

The first thing I would say is to take half a day (more if you fancy it) and just follow your nose. Go walk about somewhere and see what you find, just be sure to wear some comfy shoes! 23 wards there may be but, at least in the case of central Tokyo, it is pretty easy to get from one place to another using the Tokyo Metro system or Japan Rail.  Jump off the train somewhere and embark on your own little adventure into the back streets of the city.  Early morning is a great time to do this if you want to see things like the local tofu shop in operation and to see the city come to life as the sun rises.

Futako Tamagawa is one of my favorite haunts, where you will find views of the Tamagawa River separating Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture.

If you prefer something a little more structured,  choose one of the Tokyo walking itineraries (PDF File) presented by the Japan National Tourist Association before you put on your walking shoes.

More mainstream in nature but a place I’ve always enjoyed wandering round is Odaiba. Watch the sun rise and set with the famous Rainbow Bridge in the foreground, have a look round the shops, visit a museum, or play some video games.   There’s something for almost every taste in Odaiba.

• Visit the rather funky VenusFort shopping center with its very own indoor outdoor theme and cool fresco ceilings.
• Try your hand at video games or take a virtual trip at the amusement center next to Tokyo Decks called Sega Joypolis (entrance pictured on the right).
  
• Jump on the Giant Ferris Wheel for a sixteen minute view of the Tokyo Skyline.
  
• Visit Monogatari onsen for a relaxing soak, massage or other spa treatment.
• Take in the exhibits at  the Museum of Maritime Science or the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Moving on, why not go local for a day. Get out of the city center and into one of the more local suburbs that lie outside the Yamanote line that loops around central Tokyo. I live to the south of Tokyo so this is the area I know best. I love a little area called Musashi Koyama that is two stops south of Meguro station on the Meguro line. The Palm shopping mall is supposed to be the longest in Tokyo and is full of knick knack type shops as well as one of my favorites for buying food items that can be hard to find in Japan, Kaldi Coffee Farm. Here’s a local commentary about the Musashi Koyama area which is worth a look and a smile (you’ll understand the smile when you read it).

Get a more historical sense of the city and enjoy some really beautiful surroundings at Meiji Jingu shrine in trendy Harajuku (lantern at shrine entrance pictured above – top). The shrine was built in honor of Emperor Meiji who brought an end to Japan’s isolation from the rest of the world. Many major events take place here and if you happen to be visiting when there is a Japanese festival occurring on the calendar, Meiji Jingu is a good place to catch the action as it unfolds.

Next week I’ll be looking at some of the things to do and see in the Northern half of the city so make sure to check back. In the meantime, visit Tokyo Tourism Information or drop by my site, Tokyotopia, to learn about lots of other great things to do and see in Tokyo. Have a great week!

Other Articles in the Japan: A Closer Look series:

• Japan: A Closer Look at Hokkaido
• Japan: A Closer Look at Tohoku – Part 1 & Part 2
• Japan: A Closer Look at Chubu – Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3
• Japan: A Closer Look at Kanto – Part 1 & Part 2
• Japan: A Closer Look at Kanto – Kanagawa
• Japan: A Closer Look at Kanto – Tokyo Practicalities

Image Credit:  UKTokyoite, Personal Collection

When you get off at Daiba Station, you will be standing face to face with the Fuji TV building, one of Tokyo’s most modernistic and unusual buildings. Take a moment to ponder how the architects managed to suspend the large silver orb high above the street between two towers and – the orb is the Sphere Observation Deck that stands 123.45 meters high and is the highest point in the Daiba area.

From the Sphere Observation Deck it is a short stroll over a wide pedestrian bridge to a view of Tokyo Bay, the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Cruise Ship Co. water busses that ferry visitors and residents down the Sumida River from ancient Senso-ji Shirine in Asakusa to this modern city situated upon land that was originally reclaimed from Tokyo Bay in the 1800′s to protect the Edo, as Tokyo was know then, from sea attack.

Before you get to the view, you will probably notice a gaggle of people, cameras in hand, at the end of the walkway. What they are aiming slowly reveals itself from the top down – first you see the tip of some sort of sculpture, then you see that it is a hand holding a flame and you wonder what could be so interesting? As you get closer and peer across the railing you recognize the icons structure – it is the Statue of Liberty. But why is it in Tokyo?

The Statue of Liberty first appeared in Odaiba in 1998, on loan from France as part of a year long celebration to commemorate Japan’s ties with the French nation.  The statue was so popular that when it was returned a replica was created and installed in 2000.

The sight of the Statue of Liberty in Tokyo may catch you by surprise but it remains a popular spot for visitors and the Odaiba area of Tokyo is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon, regardless of the season.

Image Credit:  FLickr, Odaiba – Fuji TV building & 自由の女神 Statue of Liberty