The Metropolitan Area where Half the Non-Japanese Population live

The number of foreign residents living in Japan exceeds 2 million. Approximately half of them live in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, the center of politics, economics and culture. The Tokyo Metropolitan area usually refers to Tokyo and surrounding prefectures - Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki and Yamanashi. It may be easier to understand if you think that it is the area from where people can commute to Tokyo within 2 hours. Over 40 million people live in the metropolitan area.

Most of the residents living in the metropolitan area work in Tokyo. The main transportation system is the railway network. As this system runs at frequent intervals from the early morning to late at night, for most people cars are not necessary for commuting to companies and schools. The big transportation terminals in Tokyo are Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ueno, and Tokyo stations. It is reported that the number of passengers who get on and off at Shinjuku Station alone is over 3.2 million a day.

Tokyo is a complex combination of different towns, each of which has its own characteristics. Marunocuhi and Otemachi, located on the west side of Tokyo Station are long established office centers. Kabutocho, next to the above centers, is Japan's Wall Street. After a large number of skyscrapers, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, were built in the early 90's, the west side of Shinjuku was spotlighted as a new business center.

Tokyo towns are rich in variety
After "Roppongi Hills," a huge skyscraper complex, was built in 2003 in the night entertainment district of Roppongi, it has been changing into a business center. Successful venture companies such as those in the IT industry have moved into the Roppongi Hills complex, which has now become a symbol of success. Recently, the bay area have been developed as a new business center. Kasumigaseki is an area where many government offices are located.

Ginza, Aoyama and Harajuku are famous shopping and fashion areas where many high class stores jostle for attention. In February 2006, the new landmark "Omotesando Hills" complex opened in Harajuku. Shibuya and Harajuku are hot hangouts for the younger generation. Shibuya is also known as an IT town. Shinjuku, which has almost everything, including business, shopping and entertainment suitable for people of all ages, is a popular town.

With regards to sightseeing, Asakusa comes top of the list due to its many temples and shrines, which with the nearby Ueno, provide a true Japanese cultural atmosphere. Recently, Odaiba, a coastal town facing Tokyo Bay, has become a new sightseeing spot and is especially popular among couples. Roppongi is still popular as a night spot for foreigners. The "Electric Town" of Akihabara, a popular town among tourists, is gradually changing into a town for "otaku" (obsessive hobbyists).

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