Tokyo/East

Eastern Tokyo is largely residential and industrial. In October 2018, the new Toyosu Market opened in Kōtō, replacing the Tsukiji Market.

By rail

To Adachi: Tobu-Isesaki Line, Umejima Station or Gotanno Station.
To Koiwa: Chuo-Sobu from Shinjuku and Akihabara in the west or Chiba outside of Tokyo.

• Toyosu Market

  phone: +81 3-3520-8205
  address: 6 Toyosu, Koto-ku
  Toyosu is new home of the world's largest wholesale market for seafood and produce after its relocation from Tsukiji. Unlike the old facility where tourists could almost walk up to the fish, Toyosu's market has large enclosed observation decks and dedicated paths for tourists to view the action, including the famous tuna auctions. A pamphlet showing the visitors' course outlines the three buildings. The Wholesale Market Building is where fish are auctioned to intermediate brokers. Many of those are located in the Intermediate Wholesale Building, where they peddle to resellers and restaurants (but not the general public). In the Fruits and Vegetables Building, a similar tiered structure sells produce, meat, and flowers. Fish auctions start at 5AM and run roughly 1 hour, sometimes less; you should arrive early to get a good view. Other auctions follow until around 8AM. Most of the market activity is done by 11AM, after which it becomes a bit of a ghost town until the next morning. Visitors are separated from the market in upstairs viewing galleries, and it's still impressive even though you can't hear or smell anything through the glass. For the tuna auction, 120 people per day can observe from a bottom-floor observation deck, from which you can hear the auctioneers' chant. Tickets are granted by lottery; you must apply online or by phone in the first half of the month that precedes your desired visit (which means between 3-7 weeks in advance). On the roof, a minimalist grass deck offers good views of Tokyo Bay. While you can't enter the lower markets, there are many dozens of shops and eateries where you can sample some sushi or purchase a persimmon; however, if you want to get face to face with a fish, visit the many shops in Tsukiji's outer market instead.

• Nishiarai Daishi

  phone: +81 3-3890-2345
  address: 1−15−1 Nishiarai, Adachi-ku

• Tokyo Budokan

  phone: +81 3-5697-2111
  address: 3-20-1 Ayase, Adachi-ku
  A very distinctive architecture by the famous Japanese architect Kijō Rokkaku.

• Kiyosumi Garden

  phone: +81 3-3641-5892
  address: 3-3-9 Kiyosumi, Kōtō-ku
  Not the most famous of Tokyo's gardens, but is quite lovely and uncrowded. Originally created in the Edo period, it took its present form during the Meiji Era, under the ownership of the founder of Mitsubishi.

• Fukagawa Edo Museum

  phone: +81 3-3630-8625
  address: 1-3-28 Shirakawa, Kōtō-ku
  Fresh from a recent renovation, this intimate museum features a wonderfully recreated Tempo-period (1830-1843) neighbourhood - complete with homes, shops, narrow alleyways, and even the local rubbish dump. Wander about, peering in windows and entering buildings furnished with household goods and Edo-period bric-a-brac. Light and sound effects create the illusion of a whole day passing from day to night in the space of a few minutes. Pair it up with a visit to the huge Edo-Tokyo Museum in nearby Sumida ward, just a couple of stops away on the Toei Ōedo subway line.

• ShibamataIn Katsushika-ku, it features Taishakuten Temple (帝釈天) with its cozy shopping street that rivals Asakusa in liveliness while being much more authentic, lacking the overseas-tourist kitsch. The district's biggest claim to fame is being the setting for "Otoko wa tsurai yo", Japan's longest-running movie series, and the hero of the series, Tora-san, can been seen every block of the way from the life-size statue in front of the train station to caricatures and movie posters in every shop. Down by the river past the temple there is a museum dedicated to the movie series, as well as a hand-rowed boat that carries passengers between the shores (¥100 one way fare), the last of its kind in Tokyo. You might want to cover the 7 gods, a series of temples around the neighbourhood, get a free map at the station.

• Kasai Rinkai Park

  phone: +81 3-5696-1331
  The largest park in central Tokyo, located just across the Edogawa River from Tokyo Disney Resort. Opened in 1989, the park was built on reclaimed land and developed in an effort to restore and preserve natural Tokyo Bay habitat. The park offers a nice break from the surrounding cityscapes and has a number of walking trails that crisscross the gardens, lawns and beaches. In addition, the park features an aquarium, a ferris wheel, a seabird sanctuary and a viewing tower. There are a number of ferries (waterbuses) that serve the park. During the winter and on weekdays there are four daily departures for Odaiba, with the last one continuing on to Ryogoku. The summer and weekends have more frequent departures. The ferries only operate in the afternoons.

• Tokyo Sea Life Park

  phone: +81 3-3869-5152
  address: 6-2-3 Rinkai-chō Edogawa-ku
  In the huge 2,200-ton tank, you can enjoy watching bluefin tuna darting swiftly around. The aquarium also exhibits sea birds including penguins, and giant kelp from California, US. The facility sits on the beach of Tokyo Bay and could be reached in half an hour by train from Tokyo station.

• Bird Sanctuary CenterIn line with the park's goals as a bay habitat preserve, nearly a third of the park is maintained as a Sea Bird Sanctuary. The area attracts bird lovers and photographers who are free to roam the area, except the marsh areas which are restricted. At the center is a Sea Bird Center with information on the local birds.

• Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel

  phone: +81 3-3686-6911
  The park's most visible landmark is the Diamond and Flowers Ferris Wheel, so named due to its light shows that give it the appearance of a sparkling diamond or flower. At 117 meter tall it is the second tallest ferris wheel in Japan. The top offers views of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Disney Resorts, Chiba and as far away as Mt. Fuji.

Tomioka Hachiman Shrine

phone: +81 3-3642-1315

The largest Shintō hachiman shrine in Tokyo.

Tokyo Big Sight

phone: +81 3-5530-1111

address: 3-21-1 Ariake, Koto-ku

If you're visiting Tokyo on business, this, Japan's largest exhibition and convention center, might already be your destination. The four inverted pyramids are hard to miss and worth a look.

Partire Tokyo Bay Wedding Village

phone: +81 3-3570-1122

address: 3-1-9 Ariake, Koto-Ku

Weddings are big business in Japan, and many Japanese like to marry in a style that looks more or less "Western." This village with houses built after European examples includes, of course, a wedding chapel and a "priest" (fake and preferably Caucasian) who conducts the wedding ceremony. The village offers everything for a memorable wedding: bridal shops, party planning, menus, honeymoons, etc.

• KidZania Tokyo

  phone: +81 3-3536-8405
  address: Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, North Port 3rd floor 33200 2-4-9 Toyosu Kōtō-ku
  "A land of kids, by kids, for kids" - where children can experience their favorite job and learn about the social system while having fun.

• LaLaport Toyosu

  address: 2-4-9 Toyosu Koto-ku

"Monja-yaki" (もんじゃ焼き) is a Kanto-area specialty, similar to okonomiyaki. Once people used to make words with ingredients on the hot plate for fun before eating because "Monja-yaki" means "word ware". Monja-yaki's basic batter is made of water, flour and soy sauce. Ingredients can include cabbage, grated yam, crushed tempura, cuttlefish, shrimp, slices of meat, and so on. Although Tsukishima is Tokyo's best-known neighborhood for monjayaki, it's popular here as well.

• Menkouboutenshou

  phone: +81 3-5680-3328
  address: 5-3-1 Horikiri, Katsushika-ku

• Ageha

  address: 2-2-10 Shin-kiba, Kōtō-ku
  Tokyo's largest club featuring world-class DJs and a distinctive crowd of Japanese youth. Due to its remote location, Ageha offers a free shuttle from Shibuya which takes about 40 minutes.

• Ayase Kokusai HotelConvenient to visit East Tokyo. Near Ayase station in Adachi-Ku. It is on the Chiyoda line which means easy access to central Tokyo, it takes about 30-40 minutes to Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.