Asia : East Asia : Japan : Honshu : Kanto : Tokyo (prefecture) : Tokyo : Minato
Tokyo - Minato
Minato [1] (港区) is a ward in central Tokyo. The name means "port", referring to its seaside location, although due to reclamation many areas in the district are quite far from the sea these days.
Understand
Minato is a fairly sprawling ward with no single center. The following parts of Minato have their own articles:
- Akasaka - a business district and nightlife area near the government center
- Odaiba - the Tokyo of the future built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay
- Roppongi - nightlife central for Tokyo's foreign population
- Shiodome - a still-growing cluster of brand new skyscrapers
- Shinbashi - an older business and commercial district
Get in
- Hamamatsuchō (浜松町), terminus of the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport; the closest station on the Yamanote to both Tokyo Tower (10 min. walk) and Roppongi (25 min. walk).
See
- Tokyo Tower (東京タワー Tōkyō Tawā), [2]. Tokyo's largest tourist trap, this was a newly re-industrialized Japan's 1958 answer to Paris's Eiffel Tower — a bit more modern-looking and 9 meters taller. Entry to the Main Observatory (150m) is ¥820, while ascending to the Special Observatory (250m) is an extra ¥600. If you've still got money in your pockets, you can burn it by visiting the Wax Museum (¥870), the Mysterious Walking Zone (¥410) or the Trick Art Gallery (¥400). Open 9 AM to 10 PM daily.
- The nearest station is Akabanebashi (5 min walk) although Hamamatsucho and Daimon are accessible through several lines and only slightly farther away.
- Tip: you'll get better views from higher up for free if you visit Shinjuku's Metropolitan Government Building observatory instead.
- Another tip: To get a good view of, and picture with, the tower, try the courtyard in front of Zojoji (nearby), or the second-floor deck outside the Mori Tower at Roppongi Hills (farther away but more panoramic).
- Sengaku-ji Temple (泉岳寺), Takanawa 2-11-1 (Toei Asakusa Line Sengakuji station exit A2), [3]. Not all that much to look at, but the fascinating history makes up for it: this where the famous 47 rōnin of the true story that became the Kabuki epic Chūshingura committed ritual suicide after avenging their master's death. The graves are a popular site of pilgrimage to this day.
- Zōjō-ji Temple (増上寺), Shibakoen 4-7-35 (Toei Mita Line Onarimon station), [4]. This grand old temple is the headquarters of the Jōdō Shinshu sect and houses the graves of 6 of the Tokugawa shoguns, but is a little off the beaten track and is rarely visited by tourists. Particularly beautiful around cherry blossom time.
- Capsule Tower is a famous building of Kisho Kurokawa.
Do
- The Tokyo Water Cruise [5] plies the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay between Hamamatsucho, Odaiba, Asakusa and other points. Fares vary depending on routing.
Eat
Splurge
- Petit Point, 4-2-48, Minami-Azabu (3 min south of Hiroo station), tel 03-3440-3667[6]. Superbly prepared French cuisine; expect to pay about ¥15,000 for a full dinner.
Sleep
Splurge
- Hotel Okura 2-10-4 Toranomon, 03-3582-0111, fax 03-3582-3707, [7]. One of the Tokyo's grandest hotels. Rack rates begin at ¥36,750 for singles, ¥46,200 for doubles.
Contact
This page was last edited at 00:08, on 21 December 2008 by James Yolkowski. Based on work by Carson Roen, Paul N. Richter, Joichi Koizumi, Jani Patokallio, Brian Kurkoski, Jim Logan and Jose Ramos, Wikitravel user(s) Bernstein2291, Trew, Episteme, Thewayoftheduck and Mnd, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.