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Tokyo, Japan
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Tokyo is a city where ancient orient traditions marvelously
combine with modern comfort and progressive technologies. Fashionable
districts lie close to the narrow streets and different religions
and ideologies coexist peacefully. You could see there Shinto and
Buddhist temples, Christian churches and cathedrals standing side
by side.
In the last years, Tokyo has become one of the biggest world's trading
and financial centers. This is a real megapolis, one of the biggest
urban centers with its own unique face. It's also a scientific and
cultural center of contemporary Japan with the oldest and best universities
in the country - Tokyo University, Washeda, Keyo, Hoshey, and Hitsubashi.
There are about 400 art galleries and dozens of state, municipal and
other museums. One of the biggest is the National Museum of Tokyo,
which is also an important scientific and cultural center. The National
Modern Art Museum, Museum of Japan Folk Art, and some private galleries
are also outstanding. Nowadays Tokyo avidly perceives Western cultural
traditions. You can witness the rise of a new culture on this fertile
soil that combines various influences.
Tokyo is the main transport junction of the country. Express train
lines and highways converge here. Many-tier road junctions cover the
compact planned blocks. The most popular public transport is the underground.
Large underground and elevated networks run through the city.
Tokyo city was founded in 1457 as feudal castle near fishermen's village
called Edo. Until 1868 it was shogun's residence. After Meidji restoration
it has become governments and emperors residential place. This time
it gained its contemporary name Tokyo, which means "Eastern capital".
Before the 60s most manufacturing industry factories were located
there. Nowadays the biggest factories are carried out of city's boundaries
and within city mostly science intensive technologies are developing.
Antiquity and present amazingly combine in Tokyo. During the 20th
century the city was twice destroyed to the bottom. It happened in
1923 for the first time due to the great earthquake, and in 1945 due
to the World War bombings - for the second time. The great impulse
to the reconstruction of the city was given before 1964 Olympic Games.
In last decades the image of Tokyo was radically changed with rising
skyscrapers.
Offices of the biggest corporations and banks are located in Marunouti
business district. Close to Marunouti lies Ginza, that is the so called
Tokyo's showcase. This is a traditional trade and cultural center
with numerous cafes, restaurants and other leisure places.
The Emperor Palace district framed with ditches is of a great tourist
interest. Asaka Palace, Gokudji and Kannon ancient temples, TV tower
with wax figures museum are located there. Favorite leisure places
of Tokyo citizens are city's parks, the most famous of which are Hibia,
Meidji, and Ueno.
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