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Tokyo/Shinjuku

Shinjuku (新宿) is a central ward of Tokyo known as the metropolis' second center (副都心, fukutoshin). The area surrounding Shinjuku Station is a huge business, commercial, and entertainment center atop the world's busiest railway station complex. To the north lies Takadanobaba (高田馬場), where students from nearby Waseda University cross paths. The residential areas of Yotsuya (四谷) and Ichigaya (市谷 or 市ヶ谷), with their many small restaurants and drinking establishments, lie to the east. Kagurazaka (神楽坂), one of Tokyo's last remaining hanamachi (geisha districts), is also home to some of the city's most authentic French and Italian restaurants. Over 300,000 people – including nearly 30,000 foreign residents – call Shinjuku their home, and the city offers a wide variety of options for work or play.

(This article contains some things in the northernmost part of Shibuya ward. In fact, JR Shinjuku station straddles the two wards.)

Understand

The west side of Shinjuku, a seismically stable area that escaped the last earthquake with nary a scratch, is Tokyo's skyscraper district featuring (among others) the gargantuan Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices and the curved form and webbed façade of the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower.

The east side of Shinjuku is devoted to shopping and nightlife, including Tokyo's largest red-light district Kabukichō (歌舞伎町) and gay nightlife central Shinjuku ni-chōme (新宿２丁目).

Nearby Ōkubo (大久保), one stop west of Shinjuku on the Chuo line (also Shin-Ōkubo, on the Yamanote), has many other Asian restaurants and grocery stores — Korean, Chinese, Thai, Arab and more. Takadanobaba (高田馬場), the next stop on the Yamanote Line after Shin-Ōkubo, is popular with students from nearby Waseda University.

Tourist Information Site
Shinjuku Convention and Visitors Bureau has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

By plane
The fastest way to reach Shinjuku from Narita Airport is to take the Keisei Skyliner train and change at Nippori to the JR Yamanote Line (which can be very crowded at peak hours, making it inconvenient to haul luggage). This takes approximately 65-80 minutes with transfer and costs ¥2780. JR's Narita Express offers a one-seat ride to Shinjuku, but it takes longer (95 minutes) and costs more (¥3250), although for foreigners the cost can be brought down to ¥2500 each way by purchasing a N'EX Tokyo Round-Trip Ticket.

Budget travelers can use the Keisei Narita Skyaccess - Shinjuku Line, which has one station transfer between Higashi-Nihombashi Station and Bakuroyokoyama Station (5 minute walk between stations and approx. 105 minutes, ¥1470 total). In the evenings, faster Access Tokkyu trains from Narita Airport to Nippori shave 20 minutes off the overall travel time against an extra charge of ¥200. The JR Yokosuka-Sōbu Line also has stations at both Narita terminals.

Limousine buses run frequently from Narita Airport to Shinjuku Station's west exit and to area hotels (approx. 2 hours, ¥3600).

Passengers coming from Haneda Airport can take trains on the Keikyu and Yamanote lines, changing at Shinagawa (45 minutes, ¥590). Limousine buses also run on this route (50 minutes, ¥1230).

By train
Train is the obvious option for arrival, as Shinjuku Station is on the JR Yamanote, Chuo, Sobu, Saikyo, and Shonan-Shinjuku lines. Subway service is provided by the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi and Fukutoshin lines and the Toei Shinjuku and Ōedo lines. There are also terminal stations for the Keio, Odakyu and Seibu Shinjuku private railway lines.

Guinness World Records recognises Shinjuku Station as the busiest railway station in the world: More than 3.8 million passengers pass through each day. If you doubt this, try to board the Marunouchi line towards Tokyo Station at 8:00 on a Monday morning. The station is a sight in itself, effectively forming a giant multi-level warren of department stores, restaurants, commercial buildings, railway facilities and underground shopping malls which radiate out for kilometers under the surrounding area. Getting lost in the station is normal for visitors.

By bus
Bus routes used to stop at various locations around Shinjuku, but most routes, especially highway buses, have been consolidated into the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, abbreviated SEBT or Busta Shinjuku (バスタ新宿), which opened in 2016 above the JR tracks at Shinjuku Station.

Airport limousine buses from Narita (¥3,100, roughly 100 min.) and Haneda (¥1,200, 50 min) stop at the station and at all major hotels in Shinjuku, but are prone to traffic delays.

See

 * Adjacent to the government buildings is a semi-skyscraper, NS Building, which hides a wonder in its full-height atrium: the largest pendulum clock in the world, Guiness-certified. Also has cafes and fast food outlets on the ground level and some restaurants on the 29th floor.
 * For people-watching, the place to be is the large square in front of the station's Kabukichō entrance, next to the Studio Alta shopping center (scheduled to close in Feb 2025).
 * Adjacent to the government buildings is a semi-skyscraper, NS Building, which hides a wonder in its full-height atrium: the largest pendulum clock in the world, Guiness-certified. Also has cafes and fast food outlets on the ground level and some restaurants on the 29th floor.
 * For people-watching, the place to be is the large square in front of the station's Kabukichō entrance, next to the Studio Alta shopping center (scheduled to close in Feb 2025).
 * Adjacent to the government buildings is a semi-skyscraper, NS Building, which hides a wonder in its full-height atrium: the largest pendulum clock in the world, Guiness-certified. Also has cafes and fast food outlets on the ground level and some restaurants on the 29th floor.
 * For people-watching, the place to be is the large square in front of the station's Kabukichō entrance, next to the Studio Alta shopping center (scheduled to close in Feb 2025).
 * Adjacent to the government buildings is a semi-skyscraper, NS Building, which hides a wonder in its full-height atrium: the largest pendulum clock in the world, Guiness-certified. Also has cafes and fast food outlets on the ground level and some restaurants on the 29th floor.
 * For people-watching, the place to be is the large square in front of the station's Kabukichō entrance, next to the Studio Alta shopping center (scheduled to close in Feb 2025).
 * For people-watching, the place to be is the large square in front of the station's Kabukichō entrance, next to the Studio Alta shopping center (scheduled to close in Feb 2025).
 * For people-watching, the place to be is the large square in front of the station's Kabukichō entrance, next to the Studio Alta shopping center (scheduled to close in Feb 2025).

Do

Electronics
Major discount camera stores are concentrated on both sides of Shinjuku station, although there is a particularly large cluster just outside the West Exit. The undisputed king Yodobashi has branches on practically every block; note that the branches specialize, so you may have to look for the right branch to find what interests you (digital cameras, video cameras, medium-format photography, etc.). The other major name is Bic camera. This store have been transformed by computers and the Internet, and their computer departments match Akihabara in volume, price, and selection.

Eat
A great way to get by in Tokyo on a budget is to make lunch your main meal. Many restaurants cater to the business lunch crowd and offer an excellent two or three course meal for between ¥800-1300 or lunch buffet for \1000-2000. Going to the same places for dinner would be up to three times more expensive.

Shinjuku has more than 5,000 eateries, the most among the 23 special wards of Tokyo.

Budget

 * The Lumine and Mylord shopping complexes atop the south side of the JR station both have inexpensive restaurant arcades on their upper floors.

Drink

The Kabukichō (歌舞伎町) district, to the northeast of JR Shinjuku station, is Tokyo's most notorious red-light district - although during the daytime you might not even notice, especially if you can't decode the elaborate Japanese codewords on the billboards. At night it's a different story though, as sharkskin-suited junior yakuza gangsters hustle and girls in miniskirts beckon customers amid the adults-only vending machines. Night or day, it's always packed with people, and quite a bit of gangland violence used to take place in the vicinity (though at any rate outsiders are generally not involved).

To the south of Kabukichō is Shinjuku Ni-chome (新宿２丁目), Tokyo's largest gay district.

(ゴールデン街) is the name given to a few narrow alleys in a block on the east edge of Kabukichō. It's packed with tiny aging "hole-in-the-wall" bars and started as a red light district some decades ago; morphing into some sort of a subversive hangout; and finally now into an odd assortment of tiny bars (some up very steep steps.) The irony of the place is that while it has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, many of the bars rely on regulars, so strangers wandering in may receive either a frosty reception, cover charge or both. If the door is open and you get a smile go in, it's an experience not to be had anywhere else. Many of the bars have karaoke and ancient mama-sans, while one has an old man who speaks Spanish and plays flamenco videos on a tiny black and white TV, and who occasionally plays guitar; another has a great collection of jazz music. Some places charge extra for karaoke with coin machines or a surcharge added to the bill while others, such as Bar K, have it available for free. Be aware that commercial photography in some parts of the Golden Gai is prohibited without permission.

On the west side of the Yamanote tracks, Omoide Yokochō (思い出横丁, "Memory Lane") is a small alley filled with yakitori joints. Omoide Yokochō is also sometimes referred to as gokiburi yokochō (cockroach alley) or shomben yokochō (piss alley - no prizes for guessing why).

Once you get beyond Omoide Yokochō into the skyscrapers of West Shinjuku, the nightlife pretty much dies out, with the solitary exception of what is probably Tokyo's best-known bar among foreigners:

Clubs
Oddly, there are few nightclubs left in Shinjuku, perhaps due to the price of real estate.

Ni-chōme
East of Shinjuku station, Ni-chōme is the most popular LGBT+ district in Tokyo with more than 600 bars packed in a few blocks. The gay bars of Ni-chōme (or Nichō for short) tend to be rather strictly segregated by scene (sen, short for senmon, "specialty, area of expertise"), charging higher covers or even disallowing entry to anyone who doesn't fit the bar's desired type. A lot of gay bars are strictly men-only or women-only, while some allow for mixed groups. Bars for gari-sen (twinks) and kuma-sen (bears) are unsurprising, but there are many more categories like fuke-sen (older men) and debu-sen (chubs), though less common. While quite a few of the bars are small ones primarily filled with Japanese regulars, there is certainly no shortage of gai-sen bars that allow or welcome foreigners. Additionally, a lot of Japanese-style gay bars also include a public karaoke.

Splurge

The western side of Shinjuku has a notable concentration of luxury hotels and great views over the city. Most hotels cater for business travellers and their needs.

Stay safe
Beware of touts on the street who are promising free drinks. Do not follow them even if they appear friendly or persistent. They will lure you to bars where you are charged exorbitantly for drinks. Some travellers even reported that those bars placed drugs in their drinks to leave you in vulnerable state while the staff takes your wallet and charge thousands of dollars on your debit and credit cards.

Go next

 * Shibuya is 3 stations south of Shinjuku on the Yamanote Line.
 * Ikebukuro is 3 stations north of Shinjuku on the Yamanote Line.
 * Mitaka is west along the Chuo Line. It is the home of the Ghibli Museum.
 * Hachioji is a suburban city of Tokyo west of Shinjuku along the Keio Line and Chuo Line, with access to Takao-san, a popular mountain for hiking or just escaping the urban sprawl for a day.
 * Hakone is a popular area for onsens and easily accessible by the Odakyu Line.
 * Enoshima

title: Tokyo/Shinjuku


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Tokyo/Shiodome

Shiodome (汐留) is a district of the Minato ward of central Tokyo, Japan.

Understand
One of the newest quarters of the city, almost entirely built after 2000, Shiodome has been transformed from a derelict railway cargo terminal to a miniature city of skyscrapers. Parts of the area still remain under construction but most is now open.

The name "Shiodome" is pronounced /ʃí:.ə.dò.meɪ/ in English & spelt "しおどめ" in Hiragana. It means keeping out the tide in Japanese, and does not refer to a dome.

Get in
Shiodome is directly accessible via Shiodome station on the Yurikamome new transit and Toei O-Edo subway lines. The bigger train hub of Shinbashi, on the JR Yamanote line, is also within easy walking distance. All buildings are connected together by an underground concourse and a web of walkways.

Buy
The largest shopping complex in Shiodome is Caretta Shiodome (カレッタ汐留) with about 50 shops and restaurants.

Eat
Caretta Shiodome has two sections dedicated to eating: Canyon Terrace (1-3F), for lighter café-style eats, and Sky Restaurants (46-47F), for gourmet dining with views of Tokyo Bay. If these aren't enough there's another dozen restaurants in the main mall's B2F.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Tokyo/Shiodome


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Tokyo/Suginami

Suginami (杉並) is in Tokyo, west of Shinjuku.

Understand
Suginami is mostly a residential area which will provide a great view of real Japanese living in Tokyo. The area's main points of interest are the clothing shops and nightspots of Kōenji and the antique shops of Ogikubo and Nishi-Ogikubo.

Tourist information site
The ward has a semi-official Japanese-only guide site and its Pamphlet section has some materials in English.

Get in
JR Chuo Line and the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line both connect Shinjuku to Ogikubo. Also JR Chuo line, JR Chuo Sobu line and Tokyo Metro Tozai line you can go to Kōenji (高円寺), Asagaya (阿佐ヶ谷), Ogikubo (荻窪) and Nishi-Ogikubo (西荻窪). Be careful! During weekends and holidays Rapid service on JR Chuo line does not stop at Kōenji, Asagaya and Nishi-Ogikubo.

Ōme Kaidō (青梅街道) is a main street which connects Shinjuku to the western burbs, running through Kōenji and Ogikubo. Straight down Ōme Kaidō, Kōenji is a about 19 minute drive, 70-minute walk or ¥2,500 taxi from Shinjuku Station.

Buy
Kōenji (高円寺) has a long shōtengai (shopping street) that is well-known for its vintage clothing and bohemian-style shops. It more or less begins adjacent to Kōenji Station and runs south up to Ome-Kaido (Ome Highway) and Shin-Kōenji Station on Metro Marunouchi Line. It is composed of two sections: Kōenji Pal Shotengai, which is covered, and Kōenji Look Shotengai.

Asagaya (阿佐ヶ谷) also has a long series of shopping streets named Asagaya Pearl Center and Suzuran Dori running south from the JR station to Ome-Kaido (near Minami-asagaya station on Marunouchi line).

Nishi-Ogikubo (西荻窪), one station down from Ogikubo, has a good selection of antique (骨董 kottō) shops with reasonable prices, but they're scattered over a fairly large area. Ask at the station for a map.

title: Tokyo/Suginami


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Tokyo/Sumida

Sumida (墨田区, sumida-ku) is a ward to the east of central Tokyo. It has a famous cherry blossom viewing area along the Sumida River near Asakusa Station in spring, and the Sumida River Fireworks Festival (Hanabi Matsuri) in summer.

Understand
Sumida is considered "shitamachi" (roughly translated as "old town"), though it has become a kind of bedroom community for Tokyoites, which has meant the building of many high-rise apartment buildings. Despite the boom in construction, the area retains its pre-WWII charm, with many small businesses and a small neighborhood feel to it.

The Ryōgoku (両国) neighborhood, in the southwest portion of the ward, is nearly synonymous with sumō wrestling, one of Japan's most famous sports, where the human behemoths grapple and attempt to hoist each other out of the ring. The Edo-Tokyo Museum, an excellent and large museum on the history of Tokyo (but closed for renovation until 2025), is here, as well as a collection of quirky special-interest museums.

Tourist information
The local tourist association has a guide site.

Get in
The JR Sobu Line (local service) runs east–west through Sumida, connecting to the Yamanote line across the river in Akihabara. Via subway, the Toei Oedo Line loops past the western edge of the ward with connections to both Ueno in the north and Shiodome to the south. On both lines, Ryogoku Station is the closest connection to most of the ward's main attractions.

Those going to Tokyo Skytree can use the Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Railway (one station from the Asakusa terminal station) or Oshiage (Skytree) on the Toei Asakusa Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line.

See

Museums
The area has many museums on the history and traditions of Japan.

Do

Note:
 * If you would like to reserve Sumo tournament tickets in advance, JTB group sells tour packages to Tokyo's three Sumo tournaments for ¥9800 per person, which includes a tour of the Sumo Museum and a second floor reserved seat to watch the afternoon Sumo matches. A meal package for ¥13,800 includes a post-match dinner where you can feast on Sumo's signature dish, Chanko-nabe (see below).
 * Instead of peering at wrestlers through binoculars from the cheap seats at Kokugikan, you can see sumo up close and personal by visiting a sumo stable (heya) to watch the morning training, generally held daily 06:00-10:00 (and no, you don't have to stick around for the whole time). Advance arrangements will be necessary, preferably with the help of a Japanese speaker, and a "donation" of around ¥1,500 is expected. While watching the training, keep quiet and do not take flash photos. Many stables — particularly those with very famous wrestlers — do not permit visits. Isenoumi Stable has an informative (although increasingly outdated) English home page and is happy to arrange visits.

Eat

While in sumo town the thing to do is eat sumo food, namely the hearty chanko-nabe (ちゃんこ鍋) stew that forms the bulk of a rikishi's diet. Oddly, it's actually a fairly healthy dish of chicken, fish, tofu and vegetables cooked in broth, the wrestlers just seem to eat lots of it. Many a sumo wrestler sets up a chanko restaurant when they retire, and many of those establishments can be found here. Be warned that this is usually fairly expensive, with sets starting around ¥2,500/person. You'll want at least two people, and make reservations well in advance if planning to sample chanko when the basho is in town.

Sleep
Accommodations are few, especially for non-Japanese speakers. Sleeping elsewhere in Tokyo and taking the train in for the day is the typical approach.

Go next

 * Asakusa, across the Sumida River to the west, part of Taito ward
 * Eastern Tokyo
 * Taito, across the Sumida River to the west
 * The little Fukagawa Edo Museum in nearby Koto Ward (From Ryogoku Subway Station, take Oedo line to Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, exit A3) is a nice complement to the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Kiyosumi Garden is nearby.

title: Tokyo/Sumida


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Tokyo/Taito

Taitō (台東) is a northeastern ward of Tokyo. Talk to a Tokyoite about "downtown" (下町 shitamachi), and he will think of the Taito district: the train station of Ueno, where migrants from the deep north first arrived in their search for a better life, and the temples of Asakusa, once a boom town full of prostitutes and gangsters, but long past its prime now. Stuck in a low-rent post-war time warp, here Japan's hypermodernity takes a bit of a breather, with such quaint oddities as bustling street markets and even the occasional wooden house.

Understand
Two districts of Taito have their own articles:
 * Asakusa, known particularly for Sensō-ji Temple (Asakusa Kannon).
 * Ueno, packed full of museums and Tokyo's best-known cherry blossom viewing spot.

Tourist Information Site
Visit Authentic Tokyo is the ward's English language guide site.

The ward has another Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate and different sets of contents, including downloadable pamphlets in many languages.

Get in
Ueno Station is the major hub, connecting together northbound Shinkansen passengers with the JR Yamanote line, the subway Ginza and Hibiya lines, and the Keisei trains to Narita.

If visiting Tokyo University in Bunkyo, the Hongō Sanchōme Stations of the Marunouchi and Ōedo subway lines are the most convenient.

Buy

 * Asakusabashi (浅草橋), two stops south on the Toei Asakusa Line, is a wholesale district which these days is known for its shops specializing in bead craft supplies. There are also many stores selling traditional Japanese festival and party supplies.

 * Okachimachi (御徒町) area, to the southeast of JR Okachimachi station, is known for jewelry industry - about 2,000 shops, wholesalers and workshops concentrate in the area.

Markets

Collectively called Ya-ne-sen, Yanaka (谷中), Nezu (根津) and Sendagi (千駄木) are adjacent low-key commercial and residential neighborhoods full of traditional, quirky little shops, particularly along the very tongue-in-cheek Yanaka Ginza (谷中銀座) shopping street. The area is best reached on the Metro Chiyoda line to Sendagi or the JR Yamanote Line to Nippori.

Sleep
Taito has Tokyo's best range of cheap to midrange accommodation. The listings below cover only more far-flung bits of the district, see Asakusa and Ueno for listings of hotels in the immediate vicinity of the two central stations.

Budget
The area around Minami-Senju (南千住) near the northern end of the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, formerly known as San'ya (山谷), has some of Tokyo's cheapest budget accommodation. The typical room is an individual tatami flat of 2 square-meters, with television and air-conditioning. The bedding is Japanese style (futon set and pillow).

Much of the accommodation here was originally designed to cater to itinerant day laborers looking for a cheap place to crash, but many have pivoted to serving foreign travellers instead. All hotels listed here cater regularly to backpackers and have some English ability. Just hop out at Minami-Senju and walk down south towards Meiji-Dori (Main road) on Route 464. The further away from the train station you walk the cheaper it gets. About ¥3,500 down to ¥2,100 for single, also ¥1,500 for dorms are available all along this street (Route 464).

Go next

 * Asakusa is a district of eastern Taito
 * Sumida ward is to the east, across the Sumida River
 * Ueno is a district of western Taito

title: Tokyo/Taito


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Tokyo/Toshima

Toshima (豊島) is a ward in northwest Tokyo, Japan. This guide incorporates Ikebukuro (池袋), a section of Toshima and one of the three major metropolitan sub-centers on the Yamanote Line, along with Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Understand
Toshima is, in some sense, the "real" Tokyo: while very central, it's notable short on historical landmarks or glitzy tourist attractions. Ikebukuro in particular is a major transport hub nearly as large as Shinjuku, but somehow lacking all the cachet. But, as so often in Japan, if you dig a little you'll discover all sorts of interesting, quirky places well off the tourist trail.

Tourist office

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

By plane
The fastest way to get from Narita Airport to Ikebukuro is to take a Keisei Skyliner train to Nippori and change to a JR Yamanote Line train. This takes about 60 minutes and costs ¥2560. JR's Narita Express makes many runs to Ikebukuro, but they take longer (95 minutes) and cost more (¥4010 round-trip only, as of 2015). Some Narita Express trains terminate at Shinjuku and do not continue to Ikebukuro; in this case, it's suggested to exit the Narita Express at Shibuya, where you can pick up a commuter train on the same platform that will bring you to Ikebukuro in two stops. (Switching at Shinjuku is not recommended as you will likely have to change platforms.)

The budget option is to take the Keisei Line limited express from Narita Airport to Nippori, and change there to the Yamanote line (95 minutes, ¥1160). During the evening hours, faster Access Tokkyu commuter trains from Narita Airport to Nippori shave 20 minutes off the overall travel time against a ¥200 additional fare.

Airport Limousine buses also make runs from Narita Airport to Ikebukuro's Hotel Metropolitan and Sunshine City Prince Hotel, the latter located right next to the Sunshine 60 tower and shopping complex (about 2 hours, ¥3000).

From Haneda Airport to Ikebukuro, take the Keikyu Railway to Shinagawa and change to the JR Yamanote Line (55 minutes, ¥650). Limousine Buses run from Haneda to the same hotels mentioned above (about one hour, ¥1200).

By train

Ikebukuro is served by the JR Yamanote, Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines. The Super View Odoriko (スーパービュー踊り子) Limited Express service departs each morning for Atami, Itō and Shimoda, and returns in the afternoon.

Two private railway lines start from Ikebukuro. The Seibu Ikebukuro Line has departures for Tokorozawa, Irumashi and Hanno, with Chichibu (ちちぶ) Limited Express trains running all the way to the national park in Chichibu. The Tobu Tojo Line runs trains to Kawagoe and Ogawamachi.

By subway
The Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line starts here, and the Yurakucho Line for Ginza, Shin-Kiba and Wakoshi stops here. The Fukutoshin Line connects Ikebukuro to Shinjuku and Shibuya, paralleling the Yamanote Line.

Both the Yurakucho and Fukutoshin subway lines offer through-runs to the Seibu Ikebukuro and Tobu Tojo lines (at Kotake-Mukaihara and Wakoshi stations, respectively).

Get around
The Toden Arakawa line (aka Sakura Tram), the last streetcar line in Tokyo, putters through Toshima starting from Waseda University (just across the ward border with Shinjuku), through Zoshigaya, Otsuka, and all the way to Minowa at the northern edge of Taito.

See
There is, quite frankly, very little in the way of attractions for tourists in Toshima.

Do

 * Namja Town is not very friendly to non-Japanese speakers. English translations are only present in few places and most of the game require you to answer a few questions, totally in Japanese. To fully enjoy this unique theme park, proficiency in Japanese language is important. That being said, you definitely can still have fun even if you only speak English.
 * Namja Town is not very friendly to non-Japanese speakers. English translations are only present in few places and most of the game require you to answer a few questions, totally in Japanese. To fully enjoy this unique theme park, proficiency in Japanese language is important. That being said, you definitely can still have fun even if you only speak English.
 * Namja Town is not very friendly to non-Japanese speakers. English translations are only present in few places and most of the game require you to answer a few questions, totally in Japanese. To fully enjoy this unique theme park, proficiency in Japanese language is important. That being said, you definitely can still have fun even if you only speak English.

Buy

 * Two of Tokyo's major department store/railroad conglomerate chains, Seibu and Tobu, are based in Ikebukuro and the stores here were not long ago the largest in the world. Paradoxically, Seibu, which roughly means "west Tokyo", is on the east side of the station, while Tobu, which means "east Tokyo", is on the west side.
 * Two of Tokyo's major department store/railroad conglomerate chains, Seibu and Tobu, are based in Ikebukuro and the stores here were not long ago the largest in the world. Paradoxically, Seibu, which roughly means "west Tokyo", is on the east side of the station, while Tobu, which means "east Tokyo", is on the west side.
 * Two of Tokyo's major department store/railroad conglomerate chains, Seibu and Tobu, are based in Ikebukuro and the stores here were not long ago the largest in the world. Paradoxically, Seibu, which roughly means "west Tokyo", is on the east side of the station, while Tobu, which means "east Tokyo", is on the west side.
 * Two of Tokyo's major department store/railroad conglomerate chains, Seibu and Tobu, are based in Ikebukuro and the stores here were not long ago the largest in the world. Paradoxically, Seibu, which roughly means "west Tokyo", is on the east side of the station, while Tobu, which means "east Tokyo", is on the west side.

Drink
Ikebukuro has an extensive assortment of places to drink and get drunk. For sampling sake, JR Otsuka station area has a number of good choices.

title: Tokyo/Toshima


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Tokyo/Ueno

If you want to get a feel for old Tokyo, Ueno (上野) in the Taito district is a good place to start. Entirely lacking in high-rise condos or whiz-bang shopping malls, by Tokyo standards it's distinctly downmarket, in contrast to places like Ginza, but that means that eating, shopping and drinking are all affordably priced. Safety is not an issue, but the areas to the southwest of Ueno station has a high density of sex clubs with active bouncers and prostitutes soliciting their trade. Ueno has excellent connectivity not just around Tokyo, but to all of northern Japan as well. Several major museums and other cultural sites are conveniently located to the northwest of the well-connected station.

Get in
Ueno Station (上野駅 Ueno-Eki) was at one time the place from which steam locomotives chugged off to the snowy northeast, but nowadays the highspeed Shinkansen just make a brief stop. The JR Joban Line, which connects with the prefectures to the north still terminate here though. All local trains on the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines stop here as well. The Keisei Skyliner and most Keisei limited expresses from Narita Airport terminate at Keisei Ueno Station, just south of the larger JR station.

Tokyo Metro's Hibiya and Ginza subway lines (stations H-17 and G-16) underpin both stations, with direct connecting passages to each.

Stations around Okachimachi (御徒町) are within walking distance to Ueno park, where you will find most of the major attractions in the area. Both of Okachimachi Station (御徒町駅) on the JR Yamanote line and JR Joban line and Naka-okachimachi Station (仲御徒町駅, H-16) on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya line are tightly connected to Ueno Station via the Ameyoko bazaar - walking through the street you can shop for souvenirs. Ueno-okachimachi Station (上野御徒町駅, E-09) on the Toei Oedo subway line connects Ueno directly with Ryogoku in the Sumida district in about 10 minutes.

See
Ueno Park (上野公園 Ueno-kōen), adjacent to the station, is home to most of the attractions in the area, including the Ueno Zoo and a concentration of Japan's best museums. In cherry blossom season, Ueno Park is Tokyo's most popular spot for outdoor hanami parties.

Tokyo National Museum
A gigantic complex that houses almost 100,000 art objects covering Japanese history from the Jomon period to the 20th century. Some descriptions are in English. Admission includes access to the following buildings:

 * Honkan is the main museum which is notable for the breadth of its displays. It displays works of artistic and historical value, including Buddhist statues, calligraphy, tea ceremony art, swords and armor, folding screen artwork, noh and kabuki-related items, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
 * Heiseikan is an archaeological museum which displays excavated items, such as pottery and burial statues from early periods. Heiseikan also houses special exhibitions.
 * Toyokan exhibits art from east Asia, India and Egypt.
 * The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures houses art donated by Horyuji temple (near Nara) in 1878. The modern museum building, designed in 1999 by Yoshio Taniguchi, is worth a visit for its own architectural merits.

City Walk
The walk starts from Tokyo National Museum. You can explore Yanaka's temples, galleries and old wooden buildings. Otherwise, you can follow the road north-west out of Ueno-kōen until you rch Katotoi-dōri. At the corner is the Shitamachi Museum Annexe, which is a preserved, century-old liquor store. Across the street is Kayaba Coffee, if you need refreshment.

From here, it's a short walk to SCAI the Bathhouse, an old public bathhouse that has been converted into a contemporary art gallery. Continue down to Edokoro, the studio of painter Allan West, to see the ancient, thick-trunked Himalayan cedar tree on the corner. Around here, there are many temples, including Enju-ji, where Nichika-sama, the 'god of strong legs' in enshrined. It is popular with runners. You can visit any of the temples, but be respectful and keep your voice low.

Next, walk back towards the entrance of Yanaka-reien, which is one of Tokyo's most atmospheric cemeteries, where you may find the neighbourhood's many stray cats sunning themselves. When you leave the cemetery, continue with the train tracks on your right, going up to the bridge, which overlooks the tracks. This is a favourite viewing spot for trainspotters (360° photo for this spot).

Head left and look for the sign pointing towards the Asakura Museum of Sculpture, Taitō, the home studio of an early-20th-century sculptor which is now a museum. Back on the main street, continue down the Yūyake Dandan (literally Sunset Stairs) to the classic mid-20th-century shopping street, Yanaka Ginza. Vendirs here sell a variety of snacks, which locals consume sitting on milk crates on the side of the road. There is also a beer stand here. To the west, you can get on the subway at Sendagi Station.

Eat

There's plenty of cheap food to be found all around Ueno station, including a large number of food stalls near the shrine on Shinobazu Lake.

In cherry blossom season, the local favorite is grilled rice dumplings known as dango (団子), slathered with either a sweet and salty soy-based sauce or chunky red bean paste. As the terse Japanese proverb says, Hana yori dango, or "Dumplings are better than blossoms".

Drink
Ueno is low on clubs, but heavy on traditional bars and seedier businesses.

"Without sake, what is the meaning of cherry blossoms?", proclaims a famous haiku poem. The profound truths contained within are experimentally tested every spring, when more or less all of Ueno Park disappears under a sea of blue tarps, picnicking secretaries and sozzled salarymen.

Sleep
Only hotels within walking distance of Ueno Station are listed here. See Taito for a listing of hotels elsewhere in the district.

Stay safe
Ueno is home to one of Tokyo's major red light areas and thus has a somewhat more sketchy atmosphere than most of the city. Compared to similar areas in most countries, however, it is very safe and you are unlikely to run into trouble. Do be careful of hawkers trying to pull you into a bar, though, as this is likely to be a snack which will charge an extortionate seating fee.

African scammers are known to operate in market areas and try to push their merchandise (usually overpriced, low quality, stolen or counterfeit) on foreigners. While usually not violent, these African scammers usually have connections with organized crime and best to be avoided and ignored. Ueno is also known for being frequented by fake Buddhist monks. They will give you a trinket and then a piece of paper saying it is the treasure of their temple and they would like a donation to rebuild said temple. This is a lie, they are known to be an organized begging gang with no religious affiliation who specifically target obvious foreigners.

Go next

 * Akihabara — the hub for geek culture is two stops away by JR Yamanote Line
 * Asakusa — Tokyo's top temples are two stops away by Metro Ginza Line
 * Bunkyo — University of Tokyo and a slice of Old Tokyo are within strolling distance of Ueno Park

title: Tokyo/Ueno


text:
Tokyo Disney Resort

Tokyo Disney Resort (Japanese: 東京ディズニーリゾート) in Chiba, Urayasu, was the first Disney theme park resort to open outside of the United States. It is the second most annually-visited theme park complex in the world, behind Walt Disney World. It is noteworthy that it is not owned by Disney but by the Oriental Land Co., Ltd.

Understand

 * "To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Here you will discover enchanted lands of fantasy and adventure, yesterday and tomorrow. May Tokyo Disneyland be an eternal source of joy, laughter, inspiration, and imagination to the peoples of the world. And may this magical kingdom be an enduring symbol of the spirit of cooperation and friendship between the great nations of Japan and the United States of America." — E. Cardon Walker, 15 April 1983

 * "Welcome one and all to a world where imagination and adventure set sail. Tokyo DisneySea is dedicated to the spirit of exploration that lives in each of us. Here we chart a course for adventure, romance, discovery and fun, and journey to exotic and fanciful ports of call. May Tokyo DisneySea inspire the hearts and minds of all of us who share the water planet, Earth." — Michael Eisner, 4 September 2001

Tokyo Disney Resort consists of two theme parks. Tokyo Disneyland (東京ディズニーランド), a "Magic Kingdom" park just like all the others, was the first Disney theme park to be built on non-U.S. territory. The park opened in April 1983 (but had been finished for a few months and the company waited for better weather) and was an instant success. Tokyo Disneyland's sister park Tokyo DisneySea (東京ディズニーシー), which opened in September 2001, is an ocean-themed park exclusive to Japan. With 17.3 million visits in 2014, Tokyo Disneyland is the second most visited theme park in the world behind Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom; DisneySea follows in fourth place with 14.1 million visits.

Tokyo Disney Resort also includes the Ikspiari (イクスピアリ) shopping and entertainment complex.

Tokyo Disney Resort is something different from all the other Disney parks. People are friendly, but you are reminded that you are in the largest city on Earth as it is very crowded and you can expect huge queues even for the smallest attraction on a normal day.

This is no Walt Disney World; in other words, it is small and can be easily tackled in about two or three days, maybe more. Still, whatever effort you place into coming here is well worth it if you like Disney stuff.

Talk
Japanese is the primary language spoken here. However, assistance for English speakers is also widely available, because of the presence of American and other foreign cast members. Chinese and Korean are also spoken to a lesser extent. Still, English is not very widely spoken in Japan, even here.

Do not expect all cast members (ride attendants) to speak English. Most communication when getting on and off rides is done by sign language, which seems to be standard across all attractions.

Maps are available in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese. (The English map will work fine.) All the maps are fine, however the Japanese maps are a little more informative. They include highlights on some of the special events going on in the park, including special food menus and merchandise, most of which can be had for only a limited amount of time.

They also sort the restaurants, shops and shows into different categories. If you know katakana, hiragana, and a little bit of kanji, this might also be a helpful resource. Nearly any park attendant should have maps available if you lose your map or forget to pick one up.

Some rides like the Jungle Cruise are rendered almost meaningless to non-Japanese speakers. You can try and laugh along to avoid embarrassment if you like. Some other attractions, like MicroAdventure! (known as "Honey, I Shrunk The Audience" at Disney's American parks) have English translations with headphones in the back row: make sure you get to the front of the queue or you may miss out on yours.

Special stage shows may be entirely in Japanese, entirely in English, or in a mixture of both. It is difficult to ascertain what language a show will be in or whether translations are provided before you get to see it. Signs in English outside a show are no guarantee that it will be in English or that translations will be provided.

By plane
Many international visitors would probably land at Narita International Airport. If you have a Mickey Mouse urge right upon landing, there are buses operated by Airport Limousine, albeit infrequent, that will bring you to Tokyo Disney Resort in 60-90 min at a cost of ¥2400 (children ¥1200). The alternative by rail is to take the Narita Express to Tokyo and transfer to the JR Keiyo Line. The ride takes 90–100 minutes and costs ¥2570 or can be boarded free with the Japan Rail Pass. The cheapest way is to take the Keisei Narita Sky Access to Higashi Matsudo, then transfer to JR Musashino Line and alight at Maihama. The total journey time is about 70 minutes and costs about ¥1250.

Tokyo International Airport, also known as Haneda Airport, is the closest airport to Tokyo Disney Resort and mainly serves domestic flights, but is accepting a growing number of international flights from all over the world. There are more buses, also operated by Airport Limousine, that run to the resort 3 to 5 times per hour. The one-way cost is ¥810 (children ¥405) and the ride takes 50-70 min.

The rail alternative from Haneda is cheaper than the bus, but you will need to take three trains: Keikyu Express Line (from Haneda Airport to Shinagawa) or the Tokyo Monorail (from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho), JR Yamanote Line (from Shinagawa/Hamamatsucho to Tokyo), and finally JR Keiyo Line (from Tokyo to Maihama). This costs ¥690 via Keikyu, or ¥760 via the Tokyo Monorail, and will take about 1 hour.

By train

 * Map of JR East Railway Lines in Greater Tokyo

As with virtually all of the rest of Japan, the most practical way of getting to Tokyo Disney Resort is by train. Tokyo Station is the western terminus of the JR Keiyo Line, and Maihama (舞浜), which is adjacent to the park, is the sixth stop east. The ride costs ¥210 and takes about 15 min on an express train.

As you exit JR Maihama Station, the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center is immediately to your left. If you will be staying at one of the Disney Hotels or the Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels (see Sleep below), this is where you check in, and your luggage will be shipped straight to your room for free while you enjoy the parks. The Welcome Center is also the place to purchase park tickets, the Resort Gateway Station of the Disney Resort Line monorail (see Get around below) is above the center, and the entrance to Ikspiari is nearby.

By car
From the Tokyo/Yokohama region, follow the coast of Tokyo Bay to Chiba, exit at the Urayasu ramp and then go out at Route 357, go straight on the road about 1 km, and make a U-turn at Mihama Rittai Road (美浜立体道路). There are signs in both Japanese and English from the freeway and surrounding roads.

Tokyo Disney Resort has ample parking spaces, but be forewarned that parking fees are astronomical. If you want more information about the car park and the circumstances of the surrounding streets, you can contact the Tokyo Disney Resort information line at 81-45-683-3011.

Parking at the two theme parks is ¥2,000 for passenger cars, ¥4,500 for buses, and ¥500 for motorcycles.

Parking at Ikspiari is ¥500 for the first hour and ¥250 for every additional half-hour. A purchase of ¥1,500 or more at one Ikspiari shop/restaurant will give one hour of free parking (up to 6 hours with total purchases of ¥30,000); seeing a movie at AMC Ikspiari will give three hours of free parking.

The three Disney Hotels charge a per-night fee for the use of their parking facilities, costing ¥2,000 for the first night and ¥2,000 for every additional night.

By bus
Most visitors will have little reason to travel to Tokyo Disney Resort by bus, due to the more convenient JR Keiyo Line. However, some hotels around Tokyo Disney Resort have free transportation service to the resort.

Long-distance bus services come here from all over Japan, but the Shinkansen is much easier to use by non-native speakers of Japanese or persons who do not understand the language and also much faster.

Tickets
Ticket prices seem decent by Japanese standards, but visiting Tokyo Disney Resort is really about as equally expensive as visiting any of the other Disney theme parks around the world. Children aged 3 and under are admitted free.

 * 1-Day Passport: You can enter Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea all day long with this ticket but not both.
 * Adult (18+) ¥6,200
 * Junior (12-17) ¥5,300
 * Child (4-11) ¥4,100
 * Senior (60+) ¥5,500
 * Multi Day Passport: You can enter one park on the first day, the other park on the second day, and then you may move between the two parks (called "park-hopping") on subsequent days. If you find that you need to upgrade your ticket, you can do so simply by paying the difference; this may be done at the Welcome Center, the park ticket windows, or the hotels. These are perhaps the most economical value possible, as the price per day actually decreases with each day.

 * Starlight Passport: You can use this ticket in one of the two parks from 15:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays.
 * Adult (18+) ¥4,900
 * Junior (12-17) ¥4,300
 * Child (4-11) ¥3,400
 * After 6 Passport: You can use this ticket in one of the two parks from 18:00 on weekdays. It is sold from 17:00 for ¥3300 (all ages).

Get around

A car is not required for get around the Tokyo Disney Resort. The resort has a well-developed transit system of buses and monorails. As with the rest of Japan, expect the transportation to be punctual.

By monorail
The four-station Disney Resort Line monorail, with its spacious interiors and Mickey Mouse-shaped windows and pull straps, travels in a counterclockwise circle around the two theme parks. The stops are, in order, Resort Gateway Station (between JR Maihama Station and Ikspiari), Tokyo Disneyland, Bayside Station (gateway to the Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels), and Tokyo DisneySea.

The fares are listed in the chart below; children age 5 and under ride free. Suica and PASMO farecards can also be used.

By foot
If you are going straight to the parks from Maihama Station, it is probably easier and faster (and best of all, free) to just walk from the station. There is an elevated walkway, about 1,090 ft (330 m) long, linking the station with the Tokyo Disneyland entrance. To get to Tokyo DisneySea, it is about a fifteen minute walk in the opposite direction. Simply walk along the wide tree-lined footpath in front of Ikspiari, then turn right and follow the monorail line after you pass under it, and enter via the pedestrian entrance to the bus dropoff area.

By bus
The Disney Resort Cruiser is a free bus service.
 * From Bayside Station on the Disney Resort Line, service is to the each of the six Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels.
 * From Disney Ambassador Hotel, service is to both theme parks.

See and do
Tokyo Disney Resort is mostly for doing, not seeing. But of course, you can see the same Disney characters, castle, mountains, and live performances like at other Disney Parks. The seaside does make this park a bit different from the others. And, the people-watching is great.

If you can, it is a good idea to get a map ahead of time and plan out what rides and attractions you would like to get to first. Like any other large amusement park, Tokyo Disney Resort can be quite crowded. Even on weekdays, there can be a large number of people in the park and if you want to maximize your experience, it's best to have at least an idea of what you would like to do before you get there. It may even get you on one or two more attractions. If a physical map cannot be had ahead of time, the park website is just as good, if not better.

The parks
The two theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, complement each other. The two major symbols, Cinderella Castle at Disneyland and Mount Prometheus at DisneySea, are exactly the same height, and from Ikspiari you can see them both.

Before you reach the ticket counters, your bag will be inspected by a clerk, but you do not need to show ID. Generally, the check is very brief and not at all thorough. At the ticket counter, you will not need to show ID either. While not everyone speaks English fluently, most employees understand enough to get you the basics. You will receive a receipt, your passport (ticket) and a map.

Tokyo Disney Resort uses a time-saving tool called FastPass, available only for the most popular rides. Simply insert your ticket into a machine at the ride, and you'll get a FastPass ticket with a return time printed on it. If you return to the ride during the time on the FastPass (usually a time frame of an hour), you will have a shorter wait for the ride. You can have only one FastPass at a time, you can't FastPass another ride until two hours after you received your last FastPass. It's a good idea to always get your next FastPass when it becomes available. If you wish to use FastPass, you need to do so as early as possible. Even on regular working days most attractions have given away all FastPasses for the day around noon. They cover the machines afterward and then you will have no choice but to stand in the long lines.

Visit the Screening Room  on Tokyo Disney Resort's website for a collection of short videos showing all of the attractions in both parks.

Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland  is a "Magic Kingdom" park just like all the others. Fans of Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom may be a little bit disappointed, as the layout is nearly identical, right down to Cinderella Castle.

The seven theme lands of Tokyo Disneyland are, starting from the main entrance and going clockwise around Cinderella Castle, World Bazaar (it's known as Main Street, USA everywhere else; and this version is covered by a Victorian-style iron-and-glass canopy), Adventureland, Westernland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Toontown, and Tomorrowland. With just a solitary exception, the attractions are essentially the same as those found everywhere else.

Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea , which opened in 2001, is an ocean-themed park exclusive to Japan. Like Tokyo Disneyland, it is arranged in a circle around a central landmark, in this case Mount Prometheus, an artificial volcano that "erupts" intermittently. There are a couple of rides that have a water spray, but you shouldn't expect to get too wet.

Starting from the main entrance and going clockwise around Mount Prometheus, the seven theme "ports of call" are Mediterranean Harbor (a reproduction of Venice), American Waterfront (a reproduction of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States), Port Discovery (a science-themed area), Lost River Delta (a reproduction of a tropical rain forest), Arabian Coast (based on Disney's Aladdin), Mermaid Lagoon (based on Disney's The Little Mermaid) and Mysterious Island (based on the books of Jules Verne).

Aside from the Tower of Terror (which can also be found at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's California Adventure, and Walt Disney Studios Paris) in American Waterfront and the Indiana Jones Adventure (which can also be found at the original Disneyland in California) in Lost River Delta, all of the attractions in DisneySea are unique to Japan.

Buy
Tokyo Disney Resort is a Disney merchandise fan's paradise. Of course, there are plenty of gift shops found within the two parks, but additional selections may be found in Ikspiari and the nearby Bon Voyage store.

The World Bazaar, Tokyo Disneyland's entrance area, is anchored by the Grand Emporium, which can be seen to your right immediately after you have entered the park. This is the largest store in the park with over 3,000 different types of merchandise.

The largest store in Tokyo DisneySea is Emporio which anchors Mediterranean Harbor. Other notable shops are McDuck's Department Store in American Waterfront; and The Sleepy Whale Shoppe, Mermaid Treasures, and Kiss de Girl Fashions, three interconnecting shops in Mermaid Lagoon.

Ikspiari, pronounced like "experience" without the last syllable, is Japan's answer to Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney, with more than 140 stores and restaurants, and a 16-screen movie theatre. It's no surprise that there is a Disney Store here, by the way.

Bon Voyage, shaped like a giant suitcase and hatbox and conveniently located on the elevated walkway linking JR Maihama Station with Tokyo Disneyland's entrance, is the answer to the World of Disney stores in Florida and California, which essentially are Disney Stores on steroids. Inside, you'll find the grandest selection of Disney merchandise available under one roof anywhere in Japan.

Major credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere. Remember that American cards can only be charged once for a purchase, meaning that a ¥10,000 purchase will be charged once, instead of ¥5,000 now and ¥5,000 next month. (Without this, Japanese cards act like charge cards where the purchase has to be completely paid off the next month) Employees will ask you (sometimes) if you want to be charged once. Say yes and the transaction will go smoothly, but say no and you will double your time at the counter.

If you haven't brought enough money, there is one bank branch with ATMs near the entrance of Disneyland and one set of unstaffed ATMs near the entrance of DisneySea. The branch with ATMs near the World Bazaar at Disneyland take foreign cards and can do withdrawals in multiples of ¥10,000, for a fee of ¥110 to withdraw ¥10,000 or ¥220 to withdraw ¥20,000 or more (ATM limit ¥100,000 per withdrawal, check with your bank as they may have a lower limit). In addition, they can exchange foreign currency, up to ¥50,000 per person. At Ikspiari, there is an international ATM on level 2F near "Local Motion".

Eat
You will have no trouble finding food at Tokyo Disney Resort. There are many places to eat throughout the two parks and Ikspiari, and all are listed on the maps. However, the food descriptions are either not 100% accurate or there is something lost in the translation. Also, understand that portion sizes are different in Japan so a large drink that you ordered may look like a small to you. This combined with the increase in cost normally expected at an amusement park may hit your pocket book harder than expected.

If you are arriving by car/bus you may consider having a cooler in the car and having a picnic. If you decide to eat in the park, scout out the restaurants before you intend on eating. This will give you a better idea of their menus and the fastest way to get there when it is time to eat.

In the parks

 * Tokyo Disneyland Restaurants
 * Tokyo DisneySea Restaurants

Most dining opportunities in the two theme parks are counter service restaurants, most of which serve Western, Japanese, or Chinese cuisine. If you really want to save cash, though, your best bet may be to stick to the many snack carts scattered all throughout the parks.

Table service restaurants are also found in the parks but are far less common than counter service restaurants. The finest in-park table service can perhaps be found on board the SS Columbia, the fake ocean liner in Tokyo DisneySea's American Waterfront.

The Crystal Palace, on the World Bazaar/Adventureland walkway, is the only buffet in Tokyo Disneyland. Its Tokyo DisneySea counterpart is the Sailing Day Buffet, located in the "cargo terminal" adjacent to the SS Columbia.

Tokyo Disneyland has one buffeteria (Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall in Fantasyland), and Tokyo DisneySea has three (Cafe Portofino in Mediterranean Harbor, Horizon Bay in Port Discovery, and Vulcania in Mysterious Island).

Priority Seating
Tokyo Disney Resort's restaurants do not accept reservations per se. A Priority Seating booking is essentially a restaurant FastPass. When you make a Priority Seating booking, you will receive a designated time to return to the restaurant, and you will then be seated with a minimal wait. Waiting times may vary, especially during peak periods.

Priority Seating bookings will be held for no more than 15 min past your designated time frame for a restaurant in either of the two theme parks and no more than 10 min for a restaurant in any one of the three Disney Hotels. Also, capacity is limited and bookings tend to fill up early, and that there may be times when Priority Seating bookings are not available.

Priority Seating can be booked in person at each applied restaurant, or through the Tokyo Disney Resort Reservation Center at +81-45-683-3333. If you know how to read Japanese, you can also make Priority Seating reservations online using the resort's Japanese website.

Priority Seating is accepted at the following in-park restaurants:

Tokyo Disneyland

 * Blue Bayou Restaurant (Adventureland)
 * Eastside Cafe (World Bazaar)
 * Restaurant Hokusai (World Bazaar)

Tokyo DisneySea

 * Magellan's (Mediterranean Harbor)
 * Restaurant Sakura (American Waterfront)
 * Ristorante di Canaletto (Mediterranean Harbor)
 * Sailing Day Buffet (American Waterfront)
 * SS Columbia Dining Room (American Waterfront)

At Ikspiari
Ikspiari has a broad range of dining options, one of which is Japan's only Rainforest Cafe.

Drink
Most drinks are soft drinks. Coca-Cola and Kirin sponsor attractions, and are the main soft drinks to be found. Mets (Kirin's "diet" brand) beverages may also be available.

Alcoholic beverages are available at 16 restaurants in Tokyo DisneySea. Under Japanese law, persons under 20 and those who plan to drive a car are prohibited from consuming alcohol.

Sleep
Tokyo Disney Resort's combined reservations number is +81-045-683-3333, and is open 09:00-21:00.

Online reservations and contact information are available at official websites.

Within the resort
There are nine hotels within the resort, all rather expensive.

Official hotels
These hotels are accessed by taking the free Disney Resort Cruiser bus service from Bayside Station on the Disney Resort Line monorail (see Get around above).

Outside the resort
Because of the excellent connection to Tokyo Station, you do not necessarily need to stay in an on-site hotel. Cheaper accommodations off-site do exist, and arriving at the park when it opens is still easily possible.

Partner hotels
The Tokyo Disney Resort Partner Hotels Program is made up of five hotels located in the Shin-Urayasu area right next to the resort. All of these hotels are located within 1–2 km of JR Shin-Urayasu Station, from which Maihama is the first stop in the direction of Tokyo Station. For some it may be easier to get the complimentary shuttle service that runs frequently to and from the Disneyland park entrance.

Good Neighbor Hotels
There are 15 designated Good Neighbor Hotels around Tokyo and Chiba that offer free shuttle bus transfers to and from Tokyo Disney Resort.

Go next

 * Kasai Rinkai Koen (Sea Life Park) is the first stop from Maihama in the direction of Tokyo Station. Essentially, this is Japan's answer to SeaWorld with an aquarium and a Ferris wheel. The ferris wheel is the biggest in Japan (117 m/385 ft).
 * Makuhari Messe Messe is the German word for "trade fair", and that is just what to expect at this international convention center. You can get here from JR Kaihin-Makuhari Station, which is the sixth stop from Maihama in the direction of Soga Station.
 * Sanrio Puroland An indoor theme park centered around Hello Kitty and her friendsand a must for little princesses. You will need to take three trains to get here from Tokyo Station: JR Chuo Line (from Tokyo to Shinjuku), Keio Main Line (from Shinjuku to Chofu), and finally Keio Sagamihara Line (from Chofu to Keio Tama Center). It costs ¥710, including the trip from Maihama to Tokyo, and takes about 180 min.

title: Tokyo Disney Resort


text:
Toledo (disambiguation)

There are several places in the world called Toledo. You may be looking for:

 * Toledo — A city in Spain
 * Toledo (Ohio) — A city in Ohio in the United States of America
 * Toledo (Oregon) — A city in Oregon in the United States of America
 * Toledo (Brazil) — A city in Brazil
 * Toledo (Belize) — A district in the south of Belize.
 * Toledo (Philippines) — A country town on the island of Cebu.

title: Toledo (disambiguation)


text:
Toledo (Belize)

Toledo is the southernmost district in Belize, bordered by Guatemala to the West and South (with the Sarstoon River forming the southern boundary), and the Bay of Honduras and its offshore cayes to the East. Although the outdated description ‘the forgotten district’ still lingers, the District is becoming increasingly known as a centre for eco, adventure, and cultural travel.

Cities

 * - district capital
 * - the southernmost Garifuna village in Belize
 * - a Creole coastal village in the north of Toledo
 * and waterfalls - the largest Maya village
 * The, founded by the U.S. Confederate settlers, is now the location of a few East Indian villages: Forest Home, Eldridgeville, Jacintoville, and Yemeri Grove.
 * The, founded by the U.S. Confederate settlers, is now the location of a few East Indian villages: Forest Home, Eldridgeville, Jacintoville, and Yemeri Grove.

Other destinations

 * - cave swimming and jungle hiking
 * Columbia Forest Reserve
 * Rio Blanco National Park
 * Columbia Forest Reserve
 * Rio Blanco National Park
 * Rio Blanco National Park
 * Rio Blanco National Park
 * Rio Blanco National Park

There are various Maya and Garifuna villages that can be visited, along with some of the more remote Cayes and large swathes of primary rainforest.
 * Toledo Ecotourism Association

Maya sites

 * - near Indian Creek
 * - near San Pedro Columbia
 * - near Santa Cruz

Understand
With its high levels of rainfall, Toledo contains the only true rainforest found in Belize, along with extensive cave systems, an abundance of wildlife, some of the most beautiful offshore islands found in the country, and one of the widest range of cultures.

The District has numerous national parks and protected areas, and is also an important cacao growing area, supplying organic cocoa for the world-renowned Green & Black's 'Maya Gold' chocolate. The Maya's ancient and modern-day links with chocolate are celebrated in May each year with the Toledo Cacao Festival.

History
Punta Gorda, the district capital, was founded by the Garifuna as Peini and Barranco, the southernmost coastal village in Belize, remains a fairly traditional Garifuna village - famous as the birthplace of the late Andy Palacio. Descendents of the ancient Maya made their way back over the border in the latter half of the 19th century to found the inland villages. US Confederates established a sugar industry in the 1860s and, although few traces of the Confederates remain, the East Indian villages established by their indentured labourers continue to thrive today. (The Toledo Settlement, which still appears on some modern maps, usually refers to the area in the Toledo District of southern Belize that was settled by Confederate Settlers fleeing the US after the end of the civil war.)

Get in
Until the 1960s Punta Gorda was reachable only by boat, but today the Southern Highway from Dangriga to Punta Gorda is one of the best paved roads in the country, with the exception of the 9-mile (15-km) stretch through the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve, which is being upgraded. The journey from Belize City to Punta Gorda takes between 4 and 5 hours.

PG and Toledo are served by several daily busses, with James Bus Line offering the most buses. The express bus takes 5 ¼ hours, and the regular service around 6 ½ hours (US$12).

Three daily water taxis cross between Punta Gorda and Puerto Barrios in Guatemala. The crossing takes between 60 and 90 minutes, and costs US$20 – US$25. There is also a direct crossing from Livingston in Guatemala on Tuesdays and Fridays (on other days, travel via Puerto Barrios). There is an exit tax from Belize of US$3.75, and an exit tax of US$10 from Guatemala.

Get around
Buses come in early from all the inland villages to PG on market days, with most of them returning between 11am and mid-day. Some villages have a daily bus services (Monday to Saturday), and a few have an additional afternoon service.

Hitching is commonplace, although it is polite to ask the driver if you can make a contribution to fuel.

See
Confederate graves can be found at the Forest Home cemetery and in Punta Gorda.

Do

 * Swim into Blue Cave with nothing but a headlamp and tour guide. Find yourself sitting underneath an underground water fall deep into a cave system with the lights out.  Gain a new respect for flashlights.
 * Walk the "Mayan Basket Gauntlet" at Lubaantun to see some great isolated ruins.
 * Watch the sun set from El Pescador and stop by Hickatee's for some great meals. Conch chow mien highly recommend when available.

title: Toledo (Belize)


text:
Toledo (Ohio)

Toledo is a city of almost 273,000 people (2019) in northwestern Ohio's Lucas County, on the Maumee River at the edge of Lake Erie. Although not as important as it once was, Toledo's past as an industrial powerhouse gave it cultural institutions that rival larger cities like Chicago.

History
People had big dreams for Toledo. The location of the city at the end of Lake Erie was an ideal Midwest port, but was in the inhospitable Great Black Swamp. Early settlers spent years digging drainage ditches through the swamp, and lining them with clay tiles, battling disease along the way. Due to a border dispute, Michigan and Ohio briefly went to war over the land containing Toledo in the 1830s. But because of a series of blunders, nobody was killed. By an act of Congress, Ohio was awarded Toledo, while Michigan received the Upper Peninsula. Later settlers came over from Eastern Europe, or up from down south, to work on the Miami and Erie Canal, and still later to work in local factories that made early automobiles and auto parts. Because of its industrial heritage Toledo became the birthplace of Libbey Glass, modern chewing gum, the modern scale, and Jeep vehicles.

Toledo today

Today, Toledo is a city with a metro population of 608,000, the fourth largest city in Ohio. Toledo has a big local university, an independent daily newspaper, and historic buildings downtown, some of which have been turned into artists' lofts. The cityscape today provides some good opportunities for photographs of derelict buildings. Toledo is also home to the local favorite Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball team. They play in the Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. Near downtown, the Old West End is a beautiful neighborhood of Victorian mansions, and is where the world-class Toledo Museum of Art and its glass museum can be found. A world-class Toledo Zoo is a few miles to the south. In the north end, there is the Polish Village where it is common to see storefronts written in Polish. The food in Toledo is worth stopping for. As well as the many diners in the area, many ethnic eateries should not be missed, including Tony Packo's famous Hungarian hot dogs, Hungarian baked goods, classy Middle Eastern places such as the Beirut, and delicious Indian cuisine from the Tandoor. True or not, Toledo likes to think that it has the most restaurants per capita in the entire country. Toledo is also one of the most productive ports on the Great Lakes, and its factories boast one of the highest robot per capita rates in the nation.

Climate
Toledo has four distinct seasons. The spring in Toledo tends to be quite pleasant, and presents a good opportunity for exploring Toledo's parks and gardens. Summers can range from pleasantly warm to sweltering heat, and it is during this time when Lake Erie becomes hospitable for things like swimming and other water sport. The fall is much like spring, and the trees around the city gain vibrant colors as the leaves begin to fall off, giving the parks a different character entirely. Winters tend to be strong in Toledo due to the Lake Effect, and while there are no mountains for skiing, there are plenty of other opportunities for winter sports such as cross country skiing and ice skating.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * All services pass through in the middle of the night, often making rail travel quite inconvenient. Routes stopping at Toledo:
 * Capitol Limited operates daily between Chicago and Washington, D.C. including stops in South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Alliance, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, Cumberland, Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry, and Rockville.
 * Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer).  The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City. . Stops between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer) include South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Schenectady. Stops between Albany (Rensselaer) and Boston include Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham.

By car
Toledo sits at the intersection of I-75 and I-80/I-90, allowing easy access from Detroit, Dayton, Cincinnati, Chicago and Cleveland. Those travelling through the Midwest frequently pass through it.

By boat

As a port city, Toledo has many marinas, offering access to the cities and islands of Lake Erie. There are however no scheduled passenger ferries to Toledo.

Get around
The downtown core of Toledo is fairly walkable. Beyond downtown walking becomes notably less efficient and taking a car, bike, or public transit is ideal.

Architecture
Much of the notable architecture in Toledo dates from about 1860 to 1960, typically in Victorian, Neoclassical, Art Deco, or modern styles.

Work
Professional development opportunities in Toledo can be quite promising, as there are many different employment possibilities across a variety of industries. The city offers job opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, tourism, as well as in fields like technology, marketing, and website design.

Eat
Toledo has a vibrant scene with many restaurants serving cheap but good food.

Toledo has a few local chains that don't extend far beyond the city, notably Rudy's Hot Dogs, Balance, and Gino's.

Stay safe
Drive with caution during the winter. Black ice can easily form on the roads due to the closeness of the lake.

Connect
Toledo has two primary area codes: 419 is the original area code, and 567 is the newer area code. You must dial the area code for all numbers.

Zip codes follow the 436xx format.

Go next

 * Michigan is just north of town and Detroit is one hour north on I-75.
 * Maumee is a historic suburb on the southern edge of Lucas County.
 * Perrysburg is a well to do suburb south of Toledo.
 * Bowling Green is a small college town just south of Toledo on I-75.
 * Cedar Point amusement park is about one hour east in Sandusky.
 * Cleveland is a couple hours east on I-90 and the Ohio Turnpike.
 * Along the southern shore of Lake Erie are a large number of public North Coast Beaches. The beach at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, just east of Toledo is one of the nicest.
 * Located east of Toledo and west of Cleveland, a group of picturesque and festive Lake Erie Islands are accessible via ferry. Ohio Route 2 East Exit 163 North Port Clinton for the Jet Express or Ohio Route 53 North for the car ferry out to Put-in-Bay. In addition to several Ohio State Parks  on the islands, there is plenty to do including wineries, restaurants, bars, marinas and beaches.

title: Toledo (Ohio)


text:
Toledo

Toledo is a historic city in Castilla La Mancha, sitting majestically above the Tagus River and denoted a UNESCO heritage site in 1986. It is a very worthwhile day-trip from Madrid, only half an hour by train.

Understand
The history of Toledo dates back to Roman occupation (Toletum) circa 192 BC. The ruins of the Roman circus are still visible just outside the walls of the city. Roman occupation was followed by Visigoth rule, Muslim rule and finally the Reconquest of Toledo in AD 1085. Toledo was the capital of the Spanish empire until the mid-1500s when the royal court moved to Madrid. The winding, cobbled streets of the old town are often crowded with locals and tourists, as well as a surprisingly large number of cars and vans. Don't miss the 13th century cathedral or the Alcázar which sits atop the town and dates back to Roman times.

As a visitor to Toledo, you are not allowed to pick up or collect anything off the street because the entire city is a gazetted monument. However, there are souvenir shops where one can buy mementoes. You get a better view of the ancient city as you enjoy local meals in one of the hotels across from the banks of the Tagus River.

By train

In Madrid, you will find vending machines for railway tickets. However, be careful with the red vending machines that are signed "Cercanias." For foreigners, it will be easier still to use the Renfe website to purchase tickets or to use a manned ticket booth. If you choose to buy at the booth, be careful with timing - perhaps go the day before - because you may not be guaranteed a seat or the time you want.

From Toledo station, urban buses numbers 5, 22, 61, or 62 stop on the street in front of the train station and take you to Plaza de Zocodover, the city center. The buses are €1.60 (pay the driver). All passengers must exit at Zocodover as it is the last stop on the route. It's a pleasant 30-minute downhill walk back to the train station. City buses are blue; a private company operates red buses that wait outside the train station and charge €2.50 for the same route as number 5.

By bus
Buses run between Toledo and Madrid's Plaza Elíptica bus station (on the grey Circular metro line) every half hour until 21:30. The company is Alsa. The trip takes about one hour and a return ticket costs €9.75.

Getting there/away: from the Toledo bus terminal it is a steep but picturesque 20-minute walk up to the old town. A local bus service is also available. To catch a local bus from the Toledo bus station to the center of town, head out of the station for a bit and you will see a bus stand, catch a bus going to Plaza Zocodover. Among other buses you can also catch Line 5 from the same stop which runs every 15 minutes and will drop you off right in front of Plaza Zocodover.

By car
From Madrid, Toledo is about 70 km southwest on the A-42 freeway, which is marked "Toledo" on all road signs. This used to be labelled the N-401, and old maps or signs may still refer to that, although almost all road signage appears to have been updated. There is often spot congestion during peak hours, sometimes as far out as Parla (25 km).

In case of traffic congestion, there is a tolled alternative, denominated AP-41. However, time difference between driving on the A-42 or AP-41 is usually not worth paying the toll.

Parking on the narrow cobbled streets of inner Toledo is virtually impossible except for short loading/unloading stops, but there's a big garage in Calle de Santa Úrsula, right in the centre.

See
Arm yourself with a map to avoid getting completely lost!
 * The Museo Victorio Macho is a small museum dedicated to the local sculptor, Victorio Macho, split between an interior gallery, and exterior gardens. Admission also includes a short film describing the history of Toledo (M-Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 10:00-15:00, closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, €3).
 * The Military barracks. There is a tourist pass available for €9 that allows entrance to 7 sites around the city (normally €2.5 each); but does not include the cathedral or other major sites so It would be of questionable value.[[Image:Toledo street.jpg|thumb|200px|Labyrinth in old Toledo]]
 * The Museo Victorio Macho is a small museum dedicated to the local sculptor, Victorio Macho, split between an interior gallery, and exterior gardens. Admission also includes a short film describing the history of Toledo (M-Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 10:00-15:00, closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, €3).
 * The Military barracks. There is a tourist pass available for €9 that allows entrance to 7 sites around the city (normally €2.5 each); but does not include the cathedral or other major sites so It would be of questionable value.[[Image:Toledo street.jpg|thumb|200px|Labyrinth in old Toledo]]
 * The Museo Victorio Macho is a small museum dedicated to the local sculptor, Victorio Macho, split between an interior gallery, and exterior gardens. Admission also includes a short film describing the history of Toledo (M-Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 10:00-15:00, closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, €3).
 * The Military barracks. There is a tourist pass available for €9 that allows entrance to 7 sites around the city (normally €2.5 each); but does not include the cathedral or other major sites so It would be of questionable value.[[Image:Toledo street.jpg|thumb|200px|Labyrinth in old Toledo]]
 * The Museo Victorio Macho is a small museum dedicated to the local sculptor, Victorio Macho, split between an interior gallery, and exterior gardens. Admission also includes a short film describing the history of Toledo (M-Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 10:00-15:00, closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, €3).
 * The Military barracks. There is a tourist pass available for €9 that allows entrance to 7 sites around the city (normally €2.5 each); but does not include the cathedral or other major sites so It would be of questionable value.[[Image:Toledo street.jpg|thumb|200px|Labyrinth in old Toledo]]
 * The Museo Victorio Macho is a small museum dedicated to the local sculptor, Victorio Macho, split between an interior gallery, and exterior gardens. Admission also includes a short film describing the history of Toledo (M-Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 10:00-15:00, closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, €3).
 * The Military barracks. There is a tourist pass available for €9 that allows entrance to 7 sites around the city (normally €2.5 each); but does not include the cathedral or other major sites so It would be of questionable value.[[Image:Toledo street.jpg|thumb|200px|Labyrinth in old Toledo]]
 * The Military barracks. There is a tourist pass available for €9 that allows entrance to 7 sites around the city (normally €2.5 each); but does not include the cathedral or other major sites so It would be of questionable value.[[Image:Toledo street.jpg|thumb|200px|Labyrinth in old Toledo]]

Do
You may actually want to get lost in Toledo. Take some time to lose yourself in Toledo's medieval streets. The city is surrounded by the River Tagus on three sides and two medieval walls on the fourth side. The old city is relatively small and can be crossed in 45 minutes, so you are never too far from the center. When you want to head back, just head uphill and you are virtually guaranteed to end up at the main plaza, Plaza de Zocodover.

Buy
The gold and black enamel work by local artisans is known throughout Spain. Many shops in Toledo sell decorated plates, shields, spoons and key rings.

Swords – Toledo is well known for its swords, so be sure to look for a conquistador sword, which should set you back around US$300. As you can't bring it on a plane, or even on a train, you'll need to send it. Fortunately, many shops will ship it for you for a reasonable price.

Ceramics – Talavera de la Reina (outside of Toledo) has a centuries-old tradition of glazed ceramics. Toledo is filled with handpainted ceramics of varying degrees of quality (upscale shops and boutiques are pricier, but generally carry higher-quality pieces).

Damascene – Another famous handicraft of Toledo is damascene, from the ancient Moorish art of interlacing gold on iron or steel, then firing it so the underlying material oxidizes and becomes black, with the gold in sharp relief. Every shop in Toledo will carry some form of damascene work, most frequently as small decorative plates and jewellery. Damascene also tends to be on the expensive side, so be sure to comparison-shop around Toledo. The traditional manufacturing process consists of several steps, as it is shown in MadeInToledo.com.

Eat
If you want authentic paella, Toledo is not your best option because it is so far inland.

Sweets
The region around Toledo and southward in Castilla La Mancha produces typical almond sweets known as Mazapán, which is not to be confused with the Scandinavian almond paste called "marzipan".

Drink
Try Picaro or Circulo de Arte for a hip night scene, Circulo de Arte is in a renovated church and plays good dance music. It also has some of the best batidos (milkshakes) in town! O´Brian's serves good tap beer, and boasts a strong tourist and student crowd most nights.

Sleep
Toledo has plenty of accommodation, though it still can be difficult to get a room during the peak period from July to September. Many international visitors prefer to visit on a day trip from Madrid. Toledo is a popular weekend destination for Spaniards, leading to room rates are 20 to 30% higher on Fridays and Saturdays compared with midweek.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Imperio, Cadenas 7 - situated close to Plaza Zocodover. (**)
 * Hotel Alfonso VI, ****, close to Plaza Zocodover, some rooms with terrasses overlooking the town and valley.
 * Hotel Alfonso VI, ****, close to Plaza Zocodover, some rooms with terrasses overlooking the town and valley.
 * Hotel Alfonso VI, ****, close to Plaza Zocodover, some rooms with terrasses overlooking the town and valley.

Stay safe
Toledo is a relatively small town, and so is rather safe. Toledo's medieval streets are labyrinthine, so the biggest danger is getting lost, especially at night.

Cope
Due to the location of Toledo upon the top of a hill, the city is exposed to quite a bit of sunshine in comparison to Madrid. Therefore the average temperature you sense may be considerably higher than what you would expect from the forecast. Temperatures can be in the high 30s C (100°F) as late as nine in the evening. Be sure to bring plenty of water or get some refreshments in Toledo to support the local shopkeepers. Do not forget to put on sufficient sunblock on a hot summer day or try to stay in the shades of buildings and trees.

The historic center of Toledo is rather steep and hilly and most streets are cobblestone, so sensible shoes are a must. Those with wheeled luggage might also struggle

Practical

 * Laundromat OpenBlue24h; very close to Plaza Zocodover; washing (30 minutes) from 5€, drying (20 minutes) 3€

Go next

 * Madrid - connected to Toledo by Avant high-speed shuttle trains (requires reservervation and can fill up quickly during peak travel times, such as weekends; make sure to book ahead or prepare to use the bus service), Alsa buses (direct, from central bus station), A-42 motorway and AP-41 tolled motorway.
 * Aranjuez, with its summer Royal Palace - Aisa and Rubiocar offer direct bus routes, while national route N-400 also connects the two towns.
 * El Escorial, with its winter Royal Palace and Pantheon, and Alcalá de Henares, with its reknowned university, are other monumental cities in the area. - Reaching those cities would need connecting in Madrid if using public transportation, or driving through Madrid bypasses.
 * Consuegra, home to the reknowned Don Quixote windmills and castle - connected to Toledo by Samar buses, CM-42 motorway, and the Don Quixote Trail literary route.
 * If driving to Extremadura (Cáceres, Badajoz, Plasencia, Jerte Valley,...) through A-40 and A-5 motorways (former N-403 and N-V routes), some worthy stops on the way are Talavera de la Reina and Oropesa, a picturesque hill-top town with an impressive castle.
 * Another option, also if driving on the N-403 (and its upgraded sections, renamed A-40) up to the walled city of Ávila, would be visiting the Los Gredos Mountains (Sierra de Gredos in Spanish), with a variety of scenic 1,000+ meter hill tops and impressive wildlife.

title: Toledo


text:
Toliara

Toliara is a coastal city at the southern terminus of RN7 in the Toliara Province of Madagascar.

By bus (taxi brousse)
Mini-buses are the cheapest way to get to Toliara. In Tana you can catch them at the Fasan-karana taxi brousse station. They leave around 09:00 and 16:00. They cost 35,000 Ar and take 18 - 24 hours to get to Toliara depending on the quality of the car and the number of times you break down. You can also catch a taxi brousse to Toliara from any of the major cities on the RN7.

By car
Many travellers rent a car and work their way down the RN7 over a few days. This is a great way to see a lot of different parts of the country. Major attractions on this route are Parc National Ranomafana (near Fianarantsoa) and Parc National Isalo. Cars usually run 130,000 Ar a day plus fuel. Car rentals almost always come with a driver.

Get around
Rickshaws, locally called, "pousse-pousse" are seemingly everywhere in Toliara. They are the cheapest form of transport available and are great to get you out of the hot sun or to go short distances with heavy luggage or shopping bags. While it may seem a bit odd for the first-time tourist to be pulled around the street by a man, rest assured that this awkwardness is only one way. These guys are proud of their pousse-pousse and the work they do. These aren't just for tourists, everyone uses them so go ahead and hop on-board!

Buy
The downtown craft market "Tsena Cociagy" is behind Etoile de Mer and the Alliance Francais. Numerous handicrafts and shells are available. Dome of these shells are endangered species and bringing them into your home country can get you in a lot of trouble. Handicrafts are not made locally, but are brought in from Ambositra and Fianarantsoa so if you come down the RN7, better to buy them there or in Tana as prices are lower there and the selection is greater.

Supermarkets
Score and three Supermaki in Toliara.

Money
ATMs are located at the BNI, BFV and BOA banks in town, 24/7. The former two will accept MasterCard and Visa, BOA will only take Visa.

Stay safe
As of 2023, Batterie Beach (just north of Toliara) has been the scene of violent crime, with some fatalities. Global Affairs Canada has issued an Avoid All Travel advisory for the area, and the government of New Zealand has issued an "Exercise increased caution" warning for Batterie Beach.

Go next

 * Anakao - This fishing village is located south of Toliara and is accessed primarily by boats that make the journey in the morning.
 * Ifaty - Located north of Toliara on a rough road, this coastal town is known for its diving opportunities, beaches, and spiny forest.

title: Toliara


text:
Toliara Province

Toliara Province is a region in the southwest of Madagascar. It is the poorest region of the country, but home to many nature parks and reserves.

Cities

 * — a coastal city with a great arboretum
 * — a pair of fishing villages that now host large numbers of tourists seeking sand and surf
 * —  an ideal place for a relaxing stay, with good beaches
 * — the first permanent French settlement in the country has a 17th-century fort, a national park, and two natural reserves

Other destinations

 * — its long and white beach is good for fishing, diving and surfing
 * — world-famous for its lemurs, and home to a large colony of Madagascar flying foxes (fruit bats)
 * — its varied terrain includes sandstone formations, deep canyons, palm-lined oases, and grassland
 * —  (60 km south of Morondava) a seldom-visited national park that encompasses a wide variety of ecosystems: beaches, inland lakes, 7 offshore islands, spiny forest, vast Baobab forests, and extensive coastal mangroves

Understand
Toliara was a province until provinces were abolished in 1997.

Masikoro Malagasy and Tandroy Malagasy are the chief languages.

The climate of southern Madagascar is a particularly dry semi-arid climate along the west coast. The lack of rainfall and the difficulties of water supply are recurring problems for the population, which has to face difficult lean periods between two harvests. In this region, locusts cause major damage to crops.

Get in
There are airports with commercial flights in Taolagnaro and Toliara.

Taxis brousses (mini-buses) are the cheapest way to get to Toliara. From Antananarivo, they take 18 - 24 hours to get to Toliara.

Many travellers rent a car and work their way down the RN7 over a few days. This is a great way to see a lot of different parts of the country.

Get around
Taxis brousses are the main way of getting around.

See and do
Reniala Forest Private Reserve, near Ifaty, protects 60 hectares of spiny forest, and a 1200-year-old baobab with a diameter of 12.5 meters. Ifaty also has a tortoise reserve.

The world-famous Avenue of the Baobabs in Morondava is a photographer’s paradise.

The Antsokay Arboretum in Toliara covers an area of 52 hectares, with more than 920 plant species, lemurs, radiated tortoises, snakes and chameleons. There is also an oceanographic museum where you can see a coelecanth that was fished nearby.

Taolagnaro is home to a 17th-century French fort.

title: Toliara Province


text:
Tolland

There is more than one place called Tolland:

Australia

 * Tolland (New South Wales) — A town in New South Wales.

England

 * Tolland (England) — A village in England.

United States of America

 * Tolland (Connecticut) — A town in Connecticut.
 * Tolland (Massachusetts) — A town in Massachusetts.

title: Tolland


text:
Tolmin

Tolmin is a city in Slovenia.

Understand
Tolmin is the largest town and an administrative centre of the Soča Valley. Its greatest attractions are the old town centre, great sports facilities and the Museum of Tolmin which features an ethnological and archeological collection.

The most visited attraction nearby are Tolmin Gorges, the lowest entrance into the Triglav National Park. Confluence of two Alpine rivers into a gorge is quite rare phenomenon. Gorges are one of the deepest in Slovenia, too (60 m under the Devil's bridge).

A few kilometres away we can see Javorca, the most beautiful monument from the First World War in Soča Valley. It was entered into the list of European cultural heritage in 2006.

By car
From Ljubljana via Idrija town is 104 km (1 hour 40 minutes). From Ljubljana via Nova Gorica is 150 km (1 hour 50 minutes). From airport Brnik 110 km. From Nova Gorica is 41 km (40 minutes).

By train
From Ljubljana to Most na Soci train station: about 10 trains per day (about 3 hours drive). From Trieste, there are regular trains to Gorizia Centrale; from there you can walk or short bus ride across the Slovenian border to Nova Gorica and take a train from there to Most na Soči.

By bus
There is a bus route for Ljubljana - Tolmin - Bovec and for Tolmin - Nova Gorica.

Get around
The best option is renting car, because public transport is infrequent. Furthermore, up to many sights there is no public transport.

Another, environmentally-friendly option is renting a bike.

Do
The Soca Valley and consequently Tolmin is great place for outdoor activities.
 * Walk in nature, nearby river or into a gorge can be very relaxing.
 * Cycling trails are also interesting choice.
 * Soca Valley is popular place for mountain biking (there are many cyclist from abroad writing about MTB in Soča Valley). Fishing is possible on the Soča River - near Tolmin there are over 145 km of waterways where fly-fishing is allowed.
 * Adrenaline sports in the Soča Valley are rafting, kayaking, climbing and paragliding.

title: Tolmin


text:
Tolo

Tolon is a village in Greece on the Peloponnese peninsula. Sini, Agia Paraskevi, Kallithea, Dreapano, Lefkakia are nearby villages.

Understand

Although it is a relatively new addition to the map by Greek standards, its modern history starting in 1830, the area where it is situated and its surroundings go back much further. The bay of Tolon was first written about by Homer, as was Asini in the Iliad, named as one of the cities whose fleet took part in the Trojan War. In the centuries to come the bay of Tolon gave refuge to battle ships at various times and then during the Byzantine period was revived as an auxiliary port to Nafplio and became the place to come for a summer stroll.

From the middle of the 20th century, with its natural beauty and situation allowing easy access to the neighbouring archaeological sites, Tolon saw the beginning of the tourist industry and evolved into the popular summer resort that it now is, offering hospitality to tourists from all over the world.

Get in
By the local KTEL bus from Nafplio, 1.6e, 20minutes.

See

 * Archaelogical Site of Asini, near Tolo

Do

 * Daily cruises to the islands of Hydra and Spetses are offered, starting at Tolo.

Sleep
Many mid to low range options around the seafront.

title: Tolo


text:
Toluca

Toluca (also Toluca de Lerdo) was a pre-Columbian cultural center and is now the capital of Mexico State. The city has several tourist attractions that are due to its great cultural and artistic heritage, some of the attractions are its traditional portals, the Cosmovitral botanical garden, the annual Alfeñique Fair on the occasion of the Day of the Dead festival and the International Festival of Toluca Cinema.

Understand
Toluca is one of the most industrialized and prosperous cities in Mexico, a city of numerous factories, hospitals, universities, athletic events, and cultural venues. Toluca is due west of Mexico City, at 2,660 m (8,700 feet) above sea level. After coming from Mexico City, you will be impressed with the clean air, but may get altitude sickness your first day there, so take it easy. Also, bring warm clothing. Nights are always cold, and there may be severe hail any time of year.

By plane

Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City is a reasonable alternative, especially for international visitors. A bus station inside airport Terminal 1 offers departures every 30 minutes for Toluca.

By train
The old intercity rail network was shut down in 1997 in a sign of the privatization mania of the time. A new commuter rail service called El Insurgente from Mexico City is under construction. The first section opened in 2023 with the full route planned to open in late 2024.

By car
The highway between Mexico City and Toluca is one of the most modern in the country (and an expensive toll road).

By bus
Toluca has one of the largest bus terminals in the country. From Mexico City you can get several lines to Toluca at the western terminal called Observatorio (at the end of the east-west subway line). Flecha Roja has regular service to the northern terminal, Autobuses del Norte, as well. Buses for Toluca depart every few minutes. Some lines (e.g., Caminante) have on board movies and frequent service between Toluca and the Mexico City Airport (Benito Juarez). From the main Toluca terminal you can go to any points west (e.g., Michoacan), south (Ixtapan de la Sal), or north (e.g., Queretaro).

Get around
Toluca has the best taxi system in the world: over 5,000 taxis for a city of about half a million. Just walk to any major street and wave at a passing taxi. The city is fairly compact, so fares are pretty cheap: M$30 will take you to most places.

See
The place to be is the Portales downtown, then you are in walking distance of many interesting parks, gardens, museums, churches, theatres, stores, restaurants, hotels and government offices.

Another interesting location is Parque Urawa and the library.

On the southwest corner of town by ITESM (Tec de Monterrey) is the Centro Cultural Mexiquense with an anthropology museum, folk arts museum, modern arts museum, and library.

UAEM (state university) related events and centers and located all over the city, though most are located in the Ciudad Universitaria and stadium on the west side.

Do
Avoid coming to Toluca on Fridays. Some guide books talk about a "quaint Indian market" but it is a flea market that clogs many streets. Also, when the afternoon comes, many Mexico City families come through Toluca to get into the countryside.

Learn
The state university (UAEM) is here with several campuses for medicine, dentistry, nursing, chemistry, humanities, engineering, business, public administration, economics, behavioral science, and neuroscience. The most prestigious private university is a Tec de Monterrey campus (ITESM). There are dozens of newer private universities, some for-profit.

Buy
Casa de las Artesanias. On the corner of Tollocan and Urawa Av. There you can get many nice hand made typical things.

Stay safe
This is one of the safer cities in Mexico, in terms of sanitation, traffic, and crime. Nevertheless, take extreme caution in the following neighborhoods (even during daytime):
 * El Seminario
 * La Unión
 * El Cóporo
 * Santa Barbara
 * La Teresona
 * Zopilocalco
 * San Miguel Apinahuizco
 * Nueva Oxtotitlán
 * Moderna de la Cruz
 * Cacalomacán
 * Capultitlán
 * Las Margaritas
 * Las Palomas

Go next
If you find Toluca too calm, take the hour bus ride to Mexico City.

If you find Toluca too traditionally Mexican, just taxi to the southeastern suburb of Metepec, and you will think you are in southern California with malls, multiplexes, big box stores, and luxury car dealerships.

If you find Toluca too stressful and modern, take a taxi or bus southwest, past the big prison, to Almoloya de Juarez. Walk around the sleepy town square and look at the church built on the grotto of water (ojo de agua). Look for the magic line in the water.

You can get out of Toluca for a daytrip to the volcano (El Nevado de Toluca) but that might trigger altitude sickness in some, or the Zacango Zoo, or the spas at Ixtapan de la Sal, or Valle de Bravo.

title: Toluca


text:
Toluca (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Toluca:

Mexico

 * Toluca - Capital city of Mexico State.

United States of America

 * Toluca (Arkansas)
 * Toluca (Illinois)
 * Toluca (Montana)
 * Toluca (North Carolina)
 * Toluca (Texas)

title: Toluca (disambiguation)


text:
Tomakomai

Tomakomai (苫小牧) is a port city in Hokkaido, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

By train
Tomakomai is the junction point for the JR Muroran, Hidaka and Chitose lines. The trip from Sapporo, via Chitose airport, takes about 45-60 min.

By boat
Tomakomai is best known as a major port, with shipping services to points throughout Honshu. There are two separate terminals, both served by local buses from JR Tomakomai station (~20 min to either) and by long-distance buses direct from Sapporo (around 90 min).

 * Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen (川崎近海汽船) "Silver Ferry" to Hachinohe, 4x/day
 * Shosen Mitsui Ferry (商船三井フェリー) "Sunflower" to Oarai, 2x/day
 * Taiheiyo Ferry (太平洋フェリ) to Sendai (daily) and Nagoya (3-4x/week)

Go next

 * Shiraoi
 * Noboribetsu
 * Toyako
 * Muroran
 * Atsuma
 * Mukawa
 * Hidaka
 * Shinhidaka
 * Chitose

title: Tomakomai