Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/889690
around their heads to invite good luck, good health, and for students, good marks! Tokyo traditions maintain the founda- tions of a culture that dates back to the mythical gods Izanagi and Izanami and their child, Amaterasu, who became the goddess of the sun. It was her great-great grandson, Jimmu, who became the first Emperor of Japan and began a lineage that can be traced directly to the current Emperor, Akihito. A DYNAMIC CITY In Tokyo, there is a remarkable interface between the old and the new which has come to define a dynamic city that is always on the move and offers one of the most unique travel experiences anywhere on the planet. Across the road from the Thunder Gate, the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center has an outdoor observation deck on the top floor that provides superb views of the entire Senso-ji complex. The centre's layered architecture, resembling a vertical neighbourhood of traditional wooden homes, was designed by the renowned architect Kengo Kuma, and serves as a reminder that nature can be respected and appreciated even in a busy, modern city. Kuma, who is the architect of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Stadium, also designed Tokyo's Nezu Museum with its bamboo garden, as well as "Sunny Hills" in the Omote Sando area where the structure, resembling a giant bamboo basket of inter- secting wood, contrasts with the mostly grey concrete residential neighbourhood, again emphasizing the modern need for nature to be celebrated by people and within cities. Other notable architectural landmarks in Tokyo include the Iceberg, also known as the Audi Forum near Hara- juku, and the Cocoon, home to three colleges, in the Shinjuku District. But none is more poignant than the Tokyo Skytree, located in that 17 th -century district known as Asakusa. Only a 20-minute walk across the Sumida River from the Thunder Gate, the 634-metre-tall Skytree is visible from just about every neighbourhood in the city. Twenty thousand daily visitors ascend to the 450-metre observation level where, on a clear day, Mt. Fuji can be seen, 95 kilome- tres to the west. In 1868, the Meiji Emperor moved the capital of Japan from Kyoto, meaning "capital city," to Edo, which was renamed "Tokyo" or "Eastern Capital." One of the reasons for the move was the prox- imity of Mt. Fuji, the traditional home of Shinto gods. The Skytree enhances that con- nection between the old and new. Not far away, in Shinjuku the Samurai Museum creates a bond with video gamers and movie goers, with exhibits of Samurai armour, swords and guns that tell the story of Japan in the years of the Shogun. The Darth Vadar-like helmet on display was an inspiration for the costume worn by the Star Wars villain. And with futuristic travel in mind, Tokyo is on the move, literally. With 179 stations of the Tokyo Metro, Monorail and JR Trains, the entire city is accessible to visitors looking to explore a thriving metropolis that is actually a blend of many fascinating neighbourhoods. In Mitaka, the Ghibli Museum showcases the work of the eponymous anime studio and then fans can head to Nakano to shop for anime and cartoon figurines. In Ginza, not far from the Kabukiza Theatre where traditional plays depict life in centuries past, the Sony Building exhibits the latest technology, while in Aoyama, visitors can meet ASIMO, the humanoid robot, at the Honda Welcome Plaza. OUTSTANDING HOSPITALITY Ningyocho, another neighbourhood dating to the 17 th century, comes alive with Sake Tasting Festivals where izakayas (traditional Japanese pubs) throughout the area offer samples of sake to beginners and aficionados FALL/ WINTER 2017 DREAMSCAPES 15 OPPOSITE: Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) and the two gods, Wind and Thunder in Asakusa. PIXTA BELOW: Hoshinoya, corner room. Steve Gillick MIDDLE: Menu items at Tokudawara. Steve Gillick BOTTOM: The Cocoon Building in Shinjuku. The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower