Secret places of Tokyo, which you will not find in a typical guidebook
Travels Four Eyes / / December 19, 2019
1. Museum parasites
The Japanese are strange. Why are only their advertising, but, apart from that, they still have the world's only museum of parasites.
It is situated in Tokyo, Meguro neighborhood, and it's not just "curiosities" for fans to tickle your nerves, it's a real research center. It was founded by MD Satoru Kamegay (Satoru Kamegai) in 1953. With the support of the government and private investors, the museum managed to gather an impressive collection - about 45,000 worms and other parasites.
The exposition is located on two floors: below shows the different types of parasites, and the top - the brain, stomach and other organs of humans and animals affected by creeping creatures. "Pride," the museum - a worm length of 8 meters 80 centimeters, inhabiting the body of a young Japanese woman. Fortunately, all the exhibits lifeless and stored in flasks with formalin. However, it is recommended to visit the restaurant well before lunch.
Address: 4-1-1, Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku
Site: kiseichu.org
Mode of operation: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
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2. Bridge "Dzingubasi" in the district Harajuku
Do not rush to write angry comments, they say, about this place not only knows the child. Quarter Harajuku really incredibly popular fashion-place, a kind of Japanese "Champs Elysees" with hundreds of boutiques and beauty salons. But we could not talk about the pedestrian bridge "Dzingubasi" connects Harajuku to the neighboring areas.
Every Sunday at this place is going to Harajuku-parties, that is hyper trendy and bright young people who hold various youth subcultures. There gandziro and red-haired, and puppet himegyaru and luscious fruits and Gothic Lolita and many, many others. Why this crazy cosplay, sometimes reminiscent of the Sabbath? Yes, just - to see and look at others. "Dzingubasi" - a place of energy splash youth, and if you want to recharge it, be sure to visit this bridge. (Devchonki readily photographed with tourists.)
Address: Harajuku, Takeshita street
Vicki:Harajuku
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3. Ukiyo-e Museum
Ukiyo-e - the ancient Japanese art, which originated at the end of the XVI century (Edo period). Ukiyo-e painting was poor as the main buyers of these prints were townspeople who could not afford these expensive paintings.
"Ukiyo" in Japanese - "floating world." The Buddhists, the term means "world of sorrow", that is the world of illusions, where human destiny - the suffering. Over time, it is transformed into the philosophy of enjoying each even the most sorrowful, the moment being. Purpose xylographic prints ukiyo-e - to capture every moment changing the world, to catch and to immortalize the moment. On ukiyo-e paintings depicted scenes of everyday life and classic characters, such as Kabuki actors, geishas and sumoists.
Unfortunately, residents of large cities such as Tokyo, prefer to decorate their homes with photos, and art of ukiyo-e is gradually forgotten. It is in order to save it, start kiosikavsky Ukiyo-e Museum, located in Bunkyo (Korakuen subway station). The exposition of a small museum, but includes works by the great masters - Utamaro, Hokusai, Hiroshige and others. So if you want to experience the passage of time and enjoy the traditional Japanese prints, go to koishikawa ukiyo-e art museum.
Address: 1-2-3 Koishikawa Bunkyo-ku
Site:homepage2.nifty.com/3bijin
Vicki:Ukiyo-e Museum Koisikavsky
Mode of operation: Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00
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4. Cup Ice Museum
The Japanese are very strange. The shopping centers are often located an ice cream parlor, but the Tokyo Sunshine City Mall is located Cup Ice Museum.
Cup Ice Museum - is a shop, which sells ice cream is very extravagant. For example, with a taste of fish or squid, or the aroma of onions and garlic. But it is, perhaps, the most innocent "instances", because on the shelves Cup Ice Museum you will also find an ice cream with the flavor of sushi, wasabi, beer, vodka, curry, etc. - only about 400 mixes.
It is worth the ice cream from an average of 350 to 500 yen ($ 3-5), although certain types of price much higher. For example, a cup of vanilla with the taste of red caviar will cost 1500 yen ($ 15.5). Ice cream sold in small plastic cups, which would hardly be enough alone, but sometimes come across as explosive tastes of that portion of a lot, even for a big company.
Address: 3-1-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
Mode of operation: from 10:00 to 20:00
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5. Neighborhood Yanaka
Yanaka district - one of the few places in Tokyo where still alive the spirit of Shitamachi.
Shitamachi - a downtown area with a distinct culture and dialect, which is earthquake of 1923 almost completely destroyed, as well as the bombing of the Second World War. After the war, Tokyo appearance changed dramatically: wooden houses were replaced by reinforced concrete skyscrapers and narrow streets - multiband highway.
Yanaka stores the atmosphere of the old Tokyo. Narrow streets, low houses, calm and measured. Lively, perhaps, only to the trade-street Yanaka Ginza (Yanaka Ginza), is located within walking distance from metro stations or Nippori Sendagi. There you can buy a national fan "utiva" or wooden sandals "geta" Authentic Japanese snack street fudom "onigiri" (round rice cakes with fillings) or drink green tea. On Yanaka Ginza, there are dealers of all kinds - from the butcher to the watchmaker, the place lacks everything.
Yanaka - a place with tradition, an island in the middle of the bustling metropolis of mind. Do you want to feel the spirit of Shitamachi? Go to the Yanaka district.
Address: Yanaka, Taito
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6. Monorail in the park Asukayama
Park Asukayama laid the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty - Osimune Tokugawa, who ruled from 1716 to 1745 years. A wise politician ordered to plant sakura slope Asukayama that citizens could enjoy the spring it blooms. This is how the park, which today is one of the largest in China area.
Admire its beauty, you can ride on the monorail, which opened in the summer of 2009 Asukayame. Comfortable spacious wagon, equipped with air conditioning, waiting for passengers at the entrance to the park. A couple of minutes and you're already at the top - spring is one of the best places for hanami.
Address: 1-1-3, Oji, Kita Ward
multimedia exhibit
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7. Takagi Bonsai Museum Reydzi
In Tokyo, several museums dedicated to the art of bonsai, but the private collection of bonsai masters Reydzi Takagi is one of the best. It is located in an office building, "Meiko Shokai", on its upper floors. In order to fully enjoy the peace and unity with nature, to begin acquaintance with an exhibition of Takagi-san's better with the roof. That there is a classic Japanese garden with a pond and dwarf pines Cio-but-Matz, but the main thing - of course, bonsai trees, they are there for more than 500 species.
After strolling through the garden, you can go down below. On the ninth and eighth floors is an exhibition of Ukiyo-e. If you have not been to the museum Koisikavskom, then linger there longer.
On the sixth floor hosts a variety of exhibitions, which are updated every week. There is also a tea room with a library and video library in the museum. There you can learn more about the great masters of bonsai and the history of this ancient art. And of course, the museum Takagi can buy souvenirs on bonsai.
Address: 1-1, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku
Mode of operation: daily from 10:00 to 17:00
8. narrow house
Japan Area 377,944 sq.m. A population of over 127 million people. population density of 334.5 people per 1 sq.m. As you know, a place sorely lacking. Literally every centimeter of the road, especially in big cities like Tokyo.
Therefore, in Japan often appear at home, like the one that was built by architect Kota Mizuishi. To build a comfortable house with a view of the river a total area of 52.24 square meters, it took him only 29 km.m.
At first glance it seems that the "birdhouse", clinging to the river, and one will be cramped, but as you can see from the photo it can accommodate the whole family completely. On the ground floor - bathroom and bedroom, separated by curtains total space. On the second - kitchen, living room, library (easily modified into another bedroom) and a mezzanine that serves as a nursery. In this case, the second floor is slightly longer than the first - this is done on purpose to save a place for parking.
This house is now a private property, so you can enjoy them only with the permission of the owners.
Address: Suginami
Website Kota Mizuishi: miz-aa.com
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9. Kappabashi-dori
3000 yen for a cup of tea, 7,000 yen for a bowl of rice... It is not super-expensive menu restaurant in Tokyo - it tags from the shelves Kappabasi shopping street, stretching 800 meters and is located between Ueno areas and Asakusa. It is incredibly delicious street: looking at the windows of her shop, salivating and flow. But, alas, all these delicious edible - it's just sampuru (plastic models).
The fact that Kappabashi-dori for over a hundred years, selling goods destined for restaurant owners: furniture, equipment, utensils, signs, sampuru and more. But even if you do not have a restaurant or cafe, stroll through Kappabashi-dori worth it - you will definitely buy it something useful for the home (eg, sharp kitchen knives).
In addition, at this point there is another nice attraction - the gilded sculpture of a Japanese water "Kappa", which is a kind of talisman Kappabashi-dori.
Address: 3-18-2, Matsugaya, Taito-ku
Site:kappabashi.or.jp
Vicki:Kappabashi-dori
Mode of operation: most shops are open from 9:00 am Monday to Friday and 17:00
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10. Museum of Advertising
Tokyo Museum of Design and Advertising - a unique place. It was opened in 2002 by the "Yoshida Hideo Memorial" and now includes more than 150,000 samples of advertising. And not only modern, but the "old" (about the end of the Edo period).
The museum has seven themed exhibits: decorative Edo period advertising, advertising in the modernization of the Meiji period, "the motor trade" in Taisho period, the meteoric rise of the Japanese advertising during the Showa postwar marketing, advertising and the latest modern advertising technologies. Thousands of posters, brochures, videos, and other forms of advertising, which the attentive visitor can trace the development of not only the Japanese advertising, but also the industry.
In addition, the museum a library and a video library with extensive materials on the subject and runs a shop where visitors can buy books about marketing and souvenirs of ADMT.
Address: 1-8-2 Higashi-shimbashi, Minato-ku
Site:admt.jp
Mode of operation: Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 18:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and weekends - from 11:00 to 16:30
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11. Robot Restaurant
The Japanese are very, very strange. They came up with PaPeRo seal pup and Paro, to heal the sick and care for the elderly and opened a unique robo-restaurant.
It is located in the Shinjuku area, the entrance costs about 4000 yen ($ 41), and there it is better to go for lunch. The fact that the rumor kitchen there is so-so. But do not scorn "Fick" in this place do not go for the food. The Robot Restaurant go for a mind-blowing show!
Nowhere else will you see a huge robotic girls, giant robo-monkeys "Terminator" robot panda and other characters who are ready to bring to mind any amateur robotics. robots accompany the incendiary speech eccentric rooms sexy dancers. And all this is accompanied by music and light effects create a sense of extravaganza.
Foreigners who visited Robot Restaurant, commonly referred to his visit to one of the most vivid impressions of Tokyo. However, to get there, you need to book a table in advance.
Address: 1-7-1 Kabukicho
Site:shinjuku-robot.com
Mode of operation: from 19:00 to 22:00
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This capital of the country of the rising sun appeared in front of us. But Tokyo - is a giant kaleidoscope in which each sees something different. And what you saw Tokyo? Write in comments about the places that are not in the usual tourist guides, but are definitely worth a visit.