CHIYODA
Chiyoda is the central ward of Tokyo which is famous for the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station and Diet Building. Our Chiyoda Guide includes Chiyoda attractions, hotels and an interactive Chiyoda map.
Chiyoda is the historical and modern home to political power in Japan, housing the Tokyo Imperial Palace and modern government buildings including the National Diet Building. Chiyoda ward only covers 12 km², but it also manages to fit in several parks including the very beautiful Imperial Palace East Gardens and Kitanomaru Park. Chiyoda also includes many corporate headquarters in the Marunouchi section, along with the famous electric town of Akihabara (This section has too much information to include on this page).
Nijubashi Bridge at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Chiyoda. Said to be one of the most photographed scenes in Japan.
CHIYODA HOTELS |
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Choose from a large range of Chiyoda Hotels with instant booking confirmation. |
TOKYO MAP - CHIYODA
CHIYODA ATTRACTIONS
CHIYODA DISTRICTS | |
 | Akihabara is famous for its high tech shopping (electric town), entertainment and meido cafe. Akihabara is in the eastern part of Chiyoda Ward in Tokyo. |
CHIYODA CASTLES | |
 | Edo Castle is the flatland style Japanese Castle that forms part of the surroundings of the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Today there still remain some walls, moats, turrets and ramparts. Some of these are original and others are reconstructions. Edo Castle was built in 1457 by Ota Dokan in Chiyoda in the city of Edo, now known as Tokyo. The tenshu (keep or main tower) of Edo Castle, also known as Chiyoda Castle, was destroyed in 1657 by fire, with further damage being done in another fire in 1873. Edo Castle also suffered more damage from bombing during World War Two. |
CHIYODA LANDMARKS | |
 | Tokyo Imperial Palace is the home of the Emperor of Japan (the Japanese head of state). Tokyo Imperial Palace is surrounded by a moat and a high wall and occupies the most expensive square kilometre in the world. The Tokyo Imperial Palace is within the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo. |
CHIYODA SHRINES | |
Hie Shrine is a Shinto Shrine in the Nagatacho District of the Chiyoda Ward of central Tokyo. Hie Shrine is believed to have been established in 1478 by Ota Dokan. Hie Shrine was moved to within the grounds of Edo Castle by Tokugawa Ieyasu, however in 1604 his son Tokugawa Hidetada relocated it outside of the castle, so that the people of Edo could worship there. In 1657 the shaden was destroyed in the Great Fire of Meireki and in 1659 it was rebuilt on its current site by Tokugawa Ietsuna. The current structures date to 1958, when they were rebuilt following their destruction in the firebombing of 1945. Hie Shrine possesses a sword which is a National Treasure, plus 13 further swords and one naginata which are Important Cultural Assests. | |
Kanda Shrine, formally known as Kanda Myojin Shrine, is a Shinto Shrine that was established in 730AD. Kanda Shrine today is located in Chiyoda Ward of central Tokyo, however it was initially established not far away in the village of Shibasaki in what today is Otemachi District. Kanda Shrine was then moved to what was Kanda Ward in 1603 and then Akihabara in 1616. Kanda Shrine was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and was rebuilt in 1934 using concrete, which is basically the structure of today. Kanda Shrine became famous in the Edo Period when the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu regularly visited. Kanda Shrine hosts the Kanda Festival, which is one of the largest in Tokyo. | |
 | Yasukuni Shrine is a controversial shrine to Japan's war dead, housing the souls of some 2.5 million people killed in Japan's wars — including convicted war criminals executed by the Allies. The Yasukuni Shrine is in Chiyoda ward Tokyo. |
CHIYODA MUSEUMS and ART GALLERIES | |
National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo is the foremost collecting and exhibiting museum of contemporary Japanese art. in a building designed by Taniguchi Yoshirô in Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. | |
CHIYODA THEATRES and CONCERT HALLS | |
Big Apple is a pachinko venue with hundreds of noisy and loud slot machines. Big Apple is in Akihabara | |
 | Nippon Budokan functions as a venue for big musical events, its primary purpose is for Japanese martial arts. Nippon Budokan contains three halls, the largest of which holds 14,000 people. Famous acts that have played at Nippon Budokan include: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, KISS, Pearl Jam and Oasis. Nippon Budokan is within Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. |
 | Tokyo International Forum is an important urban landmark in Tokyo with a very distinct design internally and externally. One of its halls seats 5,000. In addition to seven other halls, it includes exhibition space, a lobby, and other facilities. |
 | Toukagakudo means Imperial Concert Hall, which is within the Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens and was completed in February 1966 to mark the 60th birthday of Empress Kojun. |
CHIYODA GARDENS and PARKS | |
 | Hibiya Koen (Park) is in the central Tokyo ward of Chiyoda, close to many of the government buildings. This makes Hibiya Koen very popular park on week days with office workers. On weekends many festivals and events are held in Hibiya Koen. |
 | Kitanomaru Park is next to Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens in central Tokyo. Walking through Kitanomaru Park is a pleasant and convenient way to get to Yasukuni Shrine. Kitanomaru Park features cherry blossom in late March and early April. Kitanomaru Park also houses the Nihon Budokan, which regularly stages martial arts competitions. |
 | Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens, next to the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo once formed part of Edo Castle. Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens are kept in impeccable condition and certainly one of Tokyo's best gardens. Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens are particularly beautiful during the March and April plum and cherry blossom seasons. Entrance is free through a number of gates; most visitors use the Otemachi gate near the subway station of the same name. |
Tokyo Imperial Plaza is the fore court to the Imperial Palace and one of the largest open spaces in Tokyo. | |
CHIYODA GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS | |
 | Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Building also holds Ministry of International Trade and Industry. It is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Ministry of Finance Building is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Building is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Ministry Of Justice Building is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Building is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Ministry of the Environment of Japan Building also holds Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | National Diet Building is the place in which both the houses of the Diet of Japan are held. It is in 1-chome, Nagatacho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. |
 | Public Security Intelligence Agency Building is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
Sori-daijin Kantei is the working office for the Prime Minister of Japan. | |
 | Tokyo Fire Department Head Office is in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. |
 | Tokyo High Court Building is in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
CHIYODA BRIDGES | |
 | Nijubashi, literally means "double bridge", is the common name of the bridge that crosses the moat to the main gate (Nishinmaru-mon) of the Tokyo Imperial Palace. However, Nijubashi actually refers to the wooden bridges which were replaced by the current stone and cast iron bridge in the Meiji Period. The formal name for the current bridge is the Imperial Palace Main Gate Stone Bridge. Nijubashi is said to be the most photographed sight in Japan. |
CHIYODA TRAIN STATIONS | |
 | Akihabara Station services Akihabara, which is Tokyo's "Electric Town", on the eastern side of the central Chiyoda ward. The area houses thousands of shops selling every technological gadget you can imagine, from computers to PlayStations and vacuums to DVDs. Akihabara Station serves JR East: Keihin-Tohoku, Yamanote, Chuo-Sobu, Tokyo Metro: Tokyo Metro Hibiya and Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company: Tsukuba Express. |
 | Tokyo Station is not the largest or busiest station in Tokyo (See Shinjuku Station ), but it is very close to the Imperial Palace Tokyo and the Ginza commercial district. It is the starting point and terminus for most of Japan's Shinkansen lines. |
CHIYODA SHOPPING | |
 | Aisan store in Akihabara, supplies mainly cables and networking equipment. |
AKKY II Store is just a short walk from JR Akihabara station (Akihabara). Great selection of Duty Free electronic products for overseas use as English OS PC, English OS PDA, Digital Video Camera, Digital Still Camera, Plasma TV, LCD TV,GSM Phone,Travel goods and Souvenirs. | |
AKKY III Store is just a short walk from JR Akihabara station (Akihabara). Great selection of Duty Free electronic products for overseas use as English OS PC, English OS PDA, Digital Video Camera, Digital Still Camera, Plasma TV, LCD TV,GSM Phone,Travel goods and Souvenirs. | |
AKKY International Main Store is a minute walk from JR Akihabara station (Akihabara). Great selection of Duty Free electronic products for overseas use as English OS PC, English OS PDA, Digital Video Camera, Digital Still Camera, Plasma TV, LCD TV,GSM Phone,Travel goods and Souvenirs. | |
DoCoMo, or formally NTT DoCoMo is the brand of the mobile network owned by NTT telecommunications company which is one third owned by the Japanese Government. DoCoMo Akihabara islocated in Akihabara. | |
 | Don Quijote is a chain of discount stores selling a wide range of products including groceries, electronics and clothing. Don Quijote Akihabara is in Akihabara. |
 | Ishimaru Denki operates several stores in Akihabara. Ishimaru Denki Main Store Akihabara focuses on computers and mobile phones. |
Ishimaru Denki operates several stores in Akihabara. Ishimaru Denki Soft store focuses on software; that is movies, games and anime related merchandise. | |
Kajitsu Duty Free Shop focuses on supplying the Chinese traveller with duty free products from Japan. | |
 | Laox Computer Store specializes in export products and has multilingual staff on hand. There are in fact eight Laox stores in Akihabara, including the main store, computer store, Duty free store, musical instrument store, hobby, game, watch and camera. Each store covers several levels. |
 | Laox Duty Free Store specializes in export products and has multilingual staff on hand. There are in fact eight Laox stores in Akihabara, including the main store, computer store, Duty free store, musical instrument store, hobby, game, watch and camera. Each store covers several levels. |
LAOX Mac specializes in Apple products. There are in fact eight Laox stores in Akihabara. | |
 | LAOX Main Store specializes in export products and has multilingual staff on hand. There are in fact eight Laox stores in Akihabara, including the main store, computer store, Duty free store, musical instrument store, hobby, game, watch and camera. Each store covers several levels. |
LAOX Watch and Camera Store specializes in export products and has multilingual staff on hand. There are in fact eight Laox stores in Akihabara, including the main store, computer store, Duty free store, musical instrument store, hobby, game, watch and camera. Each store covers several levels. | |
 | Onoden Main Store features Duty Free and English speaking staff. The range includes electrical home appliances through to home entertainment systems and cameras. |
 | Electronic component market in Akihabara. Also referred to as Radio Kaikan. |
| The cradle of modern technology in Akihabara. In the early days of personal computers, NEC established a direct sales outlet here, where it sold the first personal computer in Japan. Now there are more hobby-type stores, but on the 7th floor there is a plate announcing "The Birthplace of Personal Computers". Radio Kaikan today provides a home for Kaiyodo and other hobby specialists, and is well worth a visit. |
 | Sega Akihabara is the Sega specialty theme store in Akihabara. |
There are some 12 Sofmap stores in Akihabara. | |
 | There are some 12 Sofmap stores in Akihabara. |
 | There are some 12 Sofmap stores in Akihabara. |
There are some 12 Sofmap stores in Akihabara. This one specializes in Apple Mac equipment. | |
 | Takarada is a large electronics store in Akihabara that sells duty free. This is the main store of two in Akihabara. |
 | Takarada is a large electronics store in Akihabara that sells duty free. This is their second of two stores in Akihabara. |
 | Tsukumo Robot Kingdom was the first specialist store selling robots in the world. Robot fans and builders all over the world come to Tsukumo Robot Kingdom which is just three minutes walk from JR Akihabara Station. Variety of Do It Yourself parts and tools are prepared for people who want to make robots. We offer everything from small personal robots to large scale robots. |
 | Yamada Denki, LABI Akihabara PC Store (former Sato Musen as seen in this picture), is a large computer store directly opposite Akihabara Station. Yamada Denki is one of Japan's largest chain of consumer electronics stores. |
 | Yodobashi Camera is a chain of camera stores that sell far more than just cameras. Their range includes home eletronics, mobile phones and computers. Yodobashi Camera Akihabara is a massive store with 7 floors of shop space, 2 floors of cafes and restaurants plus parking for 400 cars. |
CHIYODA SKYSCRAPER | |
 | Akihabara Dai Building is half of a pair of buildings opened in 2006 called "Akihabara Cross Field" with the other building being Akihabara UDX Building. The focus of the two buildings, in Akihabara is to re- energize Japan's IT industry. The Akihabara Dai Building (also Known as the Akihabara Daiburi Building) is 31 stories and 142m high. It was designed by Kajima Design and completed in 2005. |
 | Akihabara UDX Building is half of a pair of buildings opened in 2006 called "Akihabara Cross Field" with the other building being Akihabara Dai Building. The focus of the two buildings, in Akihabara is to re- energize Japan's IT industry. The fourth floor of the Akihabara UDX Building features an Animation Center which provides the public with information about animation. |
 | Meiji Yasuda Life Building, also known as Marunouchi My Plaza is a Skyscraper with 30 floors and 147m high, in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Resona Maruha Building, also known as Asahi Maruha Building is a Skyscraper with 24 floors and 108m high, in Chiyoda Tokyo. |
 | Tokyo Times Tower, in Akihabara, is a 40 story high building which mainly consists of apartments. |
CHIYODA RESTAURANTS | |
 | Akihabara Ekimae Plaza Building is next to Akihabara Daibiru. This 9-story building is all filled with restaurants and was completed in 2005. |
CHIYODA MAIDO and COSPLAY CAFE | |
Amusement Cafe Maid in Japan is different from a conventional maid cafe, as it features an event stage, a large-sized liquid crystal display in a cafe and the maids perform various acts. URL: http://www.maidin.jp | |
Cafe Mai lish is a small space in Akihabara to heal yourself. Our maids will wrap your body in admiration. Each waitresses plays the part of a costume character throughout the night. Tuesdays you can purchase maid clothes. | |
This bar is a normal bar on a weekday, but becomes a costume play bar on Sunday and Saturday. | |
Japanese style bar with waitresses doing a costume play of animation characters and maids. | |
Please enjoy communication with our waitress who wear cute maid clothes. | |
Kitanomaru Park
Author: Craig Fryer
