Tokyo, Japan's largest city at the start of the 21st century Map of the Kanto region Tokyo was extensively developed following the move to the area of Tokugawa Ieyasu's first Shogunate Government in 1603. The town, which then centered on Edo Castle, was primarily constructed during the 70-year regeneration of Edo that followed and in the years after the demise of the 265-year reign of the Tokugawa Shogunate, as Japan's Meiji Restoration remodeled Japan along more modern lines. Tokyo became the nation's capital city after the Emperor moved east along the Tokaido road from Kyoto. With a current population of some 12 million, Tokyo is by far the largest city in 21st century Japan and one of the charms of Tokyo is to be found in the combination of the traditional and historical sites sitting side by side amidst the ultramodern urban landscape. To that end, there are many places in Tokyo with their own unique character: the Shitamachi (older and more traditional) districts in and around Asakusa and Ueno. The shopping zones of Ginza, Aoyama, Shinjuku and Shibuya and of course other well known areas for visitors to shop or eat till they drop such as Nihombashi, Akihabara, Odaiba, Harajuku, Roppongi and Ikebukuro. For visitors and inhabitants, Tokyo has something for everyone.

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2009 January Grand Sumo Tournament - Ryogoku Kokugikan, Sumida-ku, Tokyo - January 11th (Sun)-25th (Sun), 2009 The main focus in the first tournament of 2009 is on three Mongolian sumo wrestlers: Asashoryu, who put his presidential post on the line and is trying to get back on track after pulling out of the last three tournaments; Hakuho, who won the last tournament in Kyushu after a brilliant playoff; and Harumafuji (formerly known as Ama), who has been promoted to Ozeki. The first tournament of the year will be held in the happy atmosphere of New Year, welcoming female visitors in beautiful kimono. An autograph session by Oyakata (sumo masters who are now training young wrestlers) will take place everyday during the tournament period. http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/

Kouto Tokyo LIGHTOPIA 2008 - Imperial Palace Outer Garden, Marunouchi Naka-dori Ave., Otemachi, Tokyo International Forum etc, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo - December 19th (Fri)-28th (Sun), 2008 This event is a light festival held in the Marunouchi, Otemachi and Yurakucho areas. Its concept is "earth, environment and peace." Participants include the internationally renowned lighting designer Motoko Ishii as an executive advisor, and the event succeeds in producing a huge variety of illuminations. Visitors can enjoy various 'light worlds' that are friendly to the Earth and agreeable to humans. In the "Ambient Candle Park," akarie (painted lanterns placed on the ground) from celebrities and elementary school students of Chiyoda-ku fuse together with illuminated fountains and trees. Other must-see events here include the "Illuminations on Wadakura Bridge and the surroundings moats" and "Flower Fantasia," where flowers are beautifully decorated. http://www.kouto2008.jp/english.html

Hagoita-ichi Market - Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo - December 17th (Wed)-19th (Fri), 2008 The origins of the Hagoita-ichi can be found in a traditional wish for the healthy development of female children as the hagoita is a board supposedly capable of knocking away evil spirits. (Hagoita is a game similar to badminton in which wooden paddles roughly rectangular in shape are used to hit a shuttlecock back and forth) Many beautiful hagoita are displayed in stalls and shops around the grounds of the temple with thousands being purchased over the three-day festival. http://www.senso-ji.jp/

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