Learn about the Top 5 Tourist Spots in Tokyo
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| Hello, and welcome back to JapanesePod101.com. |
| I’m Eric. |
| In this lesson we will talk about the "Top 5 tourist spots in Tokyo”. |
| The first topic on the list is Takeshita Street in |
| Harajuku, which is called (J: Harajuku Takeshita Dori). |
| This pedestrian-only narrow street is world-famous |
| as an epicenter of “Cool Japan” and a symbol of |
| youth culture and fashion. |
| The street is crammed with countless different |
| cafes, shops, and boutiques including those |
| selling Victorian-inspired Lolita fashion which |
| has now gained global popularity. |
| Harajuku is also the home of a popular singer and |
| street-fashion icon (J:Kyary Pamyu Pamyu), so |
| it is a must-visit place for her fans and other |
| (J: “kawaii”) lovers. |
| The next topic on the list is a hot spring |
| theme park called (J: Oedo Onsen Monogatari). |
| This large-scale spa facility was built to resemble |
| what old Tokyo looked like when it was |
| called “Edo”, more than 200 years ago. |
| Here, all bathers can change into a Kimono-style |
| bath robe (J: yukata) and spend the day |
| strolling to and from hot spring baths, and |
| through shopping arcades also built in Edo |
| style. |
| If you are looking for a unique onsen experience in |
| Tokyo, then this is the place for you. |
| The next topic is the Ghibli Museum in |
| Mitaka, a city of western Tokyo. |
| This museum is the animation and art showcase of |
| the Academy Award-winning animator (J: Miyazaki Hayao) and his company Studio Ghibli. |
| There is also a mini-theater where you can watch |
| original short films and a gift shop stuffed with |
| Totoro, Ponyo, and other Ghibli studio products. |
| It’s important to know, however, that the museum is |
| extremely popular and you need to buy tickets |
| in advance. When buying the tickets, you must |
| also choose the time and date of your planned |
| visit. |
| The next topic is the Tsukiji Fish Market |
| (J: Tsukiji Shijyo). |
| This fish market is one of the world’s largest |
| and it is where you can visit the famous Tuna |
| Auction before dawn. |
| In the Tuna Auction area, you can see rows and |
| rows of massive tuna lying around and getting |
| cut up right in front of your eyes. |
| You don’t need a reservation to enter this area but |
| there is a limit of 120 visitors per day on a |
| first-come, first-serve basis. Visitor registration |
| starts at 5 o’clock in the morning or earlier. |
| After seeing the Tuna Auction, make sure to enjoy |
| fresh and delicious sashimi and sushi in the |
| restaurants just outside the market. |
| The last topic is Tokyo’s most |
| famous Shinto shrine, the Meiji Shrine or in Japanese (J: Meiji Jingu). |
| This shrine is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and |
| and Empress Shoken. The shrine building itself |
| is beautiful but its 12-meter (J: torii) or gate made of |
| 1,500-year-old cypress trees is also remarkable. |
| Seen as one of the most sacred shrine complexes |
| in Japan, the Meiji Shrine attracts more prayers |
| during the New Year period than any other |
| shrine in the country. |
| If you are lucky, you can also catch a glimpse of |
| a traditional Shinto-style wedding ceremony on |
| Sunday mornings. |
| That’s all we have for this lesson. |
| How many of those places have you visited? |
| How did you like them? |
| Leave us a comment and let us know! |
| Thanks for listening and we’ll see you next time. Until then, bye! |
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