Toyo - Imperial Palace, Nihonbashi and Marounouchi

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Tokyo station is where most (all?) shinkansen (bullet) trains start and end their journeys. The original Tokyo station building is currently undergoing refurbishment. Between Tokyo station and the Imperial Palace is a park with some beautiful fountains. The Imperial Palace is obviously not open to the public but one of the gardens (the East Gardens) is and it is free. I could have spent a whole day in there but there are too many places to visit in three days.

It would appear that on Sundays the pavement bordering the Imperial Palace is used by the enthusiatic joggers Tokyo practicising for a marathon.

The surrounding districts of Nihonbashi and Marounouchi seem to be an extension of nearby Ginza with smart shops selling smart things at prices beyond the reach of most. One exception is the Tokyo International Conference Center which is another example of exciting modern architecture.

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