| Continue north alongside the train tracks for
about two or three minutes and you will see the magnificent brick building that
is Tokyo Station (location 18). This red brick edifice was built in 1914 and was
modeled after Amsterdam Station in the Netherlands. While Tokyo Station serves
as the gateway to Japan's capital, former offices and napping rooms there have
been converted into galleries and other facilities, and the concourse on the first
floor is host to concerts during the spring and fall. In addition, the hotel located
inside the station is always popular.
Right in front of Tokyo Station is the high-rise Marunouchi Building (location
19), which was just completed in September 2002. It has more than 140 fashionable
shops and gourmet restaurants. By now you may be exhausted from walking around
and hungry as well, so stopping for dinner at a hot new restaurant may be a good
idea. Visitors can choose from among traditional Japanese food, such as tofu,
sushi, and tempura, or they can opt for top-quality foreign cuisine, such as Chinese
or Italian. While having dinner, you can also enjoy the spectacular view from
the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth floors, where the restaurants are located. These
floors offer choice restaurants and a marvelous view. And even if you do not eat
at one of the restaurants, there is an enormous, two-story observation window
on the thirty-fifth floor. Visitors have the low-priced option of enjoying the
view and eating within the hotel after purchasing food from the deli in the basement.
We have now come to the end of our day trip around Ginza. The Imperial Palace
(location 20) is nearby, so a walk along the moat in the night breeze on your
way back to your hotel may be a pleasant way to end the day. |
