tokyo ① <shinjyuku-ku, shibuya-ku>

My long-weird journey begins from Tokyo prefecture, the heart of Japan.

Tokyo has 62 municipalities in total: 23 wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages.

My Tokyo adventure starts from Shinjuku City, where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office is located, and the neighboring Shibuya City.

Shinjuku Ward

Shinjuku is home to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office and Shinjuku Station—which proudly holds the record for the highest passenger volume in the world (though part of the station extends into Shibuya ward).

First up is the Metropolitan Government Office, a familiar landmark to everyone living in Tokyo. And here is what the ward office looks like.

When it comes to notable spots in the ward, it has to be the National Stadium, which was rebuilt for the Tokyo Olympics. Known as an "urban grove," it serves as a venue not just for sports, but for major concerts as well.

Shibuya Ward

Next, we've made our way over to neighboring Shibuya ward.

Here is the ward office—it's brand new and very modern.

Shibuya is well-known for its iconic tourist attraction, the Scramble Crossing. As always, it’s completely packed with people, especially a large number of international tourists.

A wonderful place to catch your breath in the bustling Shibuya area is "Kosugiyu Harajuku," a public bath (sento) that recently opened in the basement of a commercial building in Harajuku!

Stepping down into the basement, you can experience a calm, soothing atmosphere that makes you forget you're right in the middle of the metropolis.

On this site, I’ll continue introducing the ward offices, famous spots, and local specialties of each municipality moving forward.

Next time, in Tokyo Part 2, we will explore Chiyoda City, Chuo City, Minato City, Shinagawa City, and Ota City.

You can check out the data for today's stops—Shinjuku City and Shibuya City—via the hyperlinks.