History & Culture in Tokyo

Discover 42 history & culture in Tokyo.

Tamon-ji (Tanuki Temple)

Home to a legend of the supernatural raccoon dog, a rare wooden structure of Edo, and witnesses of the Tokyo bombings.

Kastori Bookstore

Kastori Bookstore

This one-of-a-kind indie publisher-bookshop specializes in archiving historic red-light districts and niche cultural topics of the Shōwa era.

Hanashi Zuka (Grave of Censored Stories)

Hanashi Zuka (Grave of Censored Stories)

This “grave” memorializes the 53 rakugo stories that were once banned by the national censorship.

Okuno Building Manual Elevator

Okuno Building Manual Elevator

This atmospheric pre-war building is home to one of the few manually operated elevators left in Tokyo.

Suribachiyama Tumulus

Unbeknownst to many, an ancient burial mound hides in plain sight in Ueno Park.

Niimi Jumbo Cook

Niimi Jumbo Cook

Rumored to be a giant robot in disguise, this colossal chef has been the beloved symbol of Tokyo’s kitchenware district for decades.

Site of the Rokumeikan

Here once stood an opulent state guest house that symbolized the Westernization of Japan.

Takagi Shrine

Takagi Shrine

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.

Yayoi Archaeological Site

The original location of the eponymous site of Japan’s Yayoi period is now lost in time.

Yukku-Rhythm Pendulum Clock

This unassuming office building is home to what was once the world's largest pendulum clock.

Commercials from some decades ago.

Ad Museum Tokyo

This museum celebrates the history of Japanese advertising, from feudal business tricks to modern T.V. commercials.

Nigao-e Coin Laundry

Nigao-e Coin Laundry

A small laundromat covered wall-to-ceiling with portrait drawings.

Runestone replica.

Stone Monuments of Hibiya Park

This park boasts a unusual collection of curious monuments from around the world, from Micronesia to Antarctica.

Gold Bug Guardian Statue

Gold Bug Guardian Statue

Guarding the city of Chiyoda is a bizarre insectile creature with a name no one can pronounce.

The clock tower.

Ariake Incineration Plant Chimney Clock

The enigmatic symbol on this incineration plant's smokestack is, in fact, a one-of-a-kind clock.

The Sakura Mansion of Demura.

Onihei Jokei “Historical” Markers

“Historical” markers commemorating the sites of fictional events depicted in a popular jidaigeki novel series.