“For the pedestrian foreigner, much of Tokyo’s frenetic carnival flavour is due to familiar things being used in unfamiliar ways. There is a kind of freedom in finding that Doric columns don’t mean banks, nor red roof tiles Spain. The feeling of being at liberty in Tokyo is occasioned by this ‘illiteracy’. There is no telling what anything means."

-Donald Richie in “Tokyo” (1999)

Tokyo, which began life as a small fishing village named Edo, is now one of the most exciting metropolises in the world. There are so many things to see and do in Tokyo, from the neon lights of Shibuya to the quiet tranquility of local shrines. Whatever your tastes there is something for everyone. Click on the links on the left under our Life in Tokyo section to learn about some of the wonderful things available to families living or visiting our city.