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How to Make the Best of 3 Hours in Tokyo
It is the last day of your trip and you have three hours left before departing for the airport. Don’t know what to do with the time? WAttention did the homework for you. Here is a three-hour itinerary that will leave you entertained, refreshed and with lots of memories of Japan!
SHINAGAWA 品川
Shinagawa was a post station (a place for travelers to rest and resupply) on the Tokaido, the main road taking travelers from Tokyo to Kyoto in the Edo period. Although known as a town which provided lodging to weary travelers in the past, the Shinagawa of today plays an important role in the transportation and commerce sectors. Discover a different side of the city by taking a stroll along the Tokaido highway while you imagine a Japan without high technology, or walk a bit further to enjoy the scenery of Tennozu Canal.
Maxell AQUA PARK SHINAGAWA マクセルアクアパーク品川
The park features the world’s first touch controlled aquarium and a gigantic underwater tunnel where you can watch all kinds of fish dancing around you. The 360-degree stadium, equipped with water curtains, lights and sound, is where the dolphin show takes place. Jumping dolphins and splashes of water may be just what you need to make your trip more exciting and vigorous.
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Access: 2 minutes’ walk from Shinagawa Station Takanawa Exit
Admission: High school students or older 2,200 Yen, elementary and middle school students 1,200 Yen, children 4 years and over 700 Yen. *Extra charges apply to attractions and performance shows
Address: 4-10-30 Takanawa, Minato-ku
URL:http://www.aqua-park.jp/aqua/en/
Shinatatsu Shinagawa 品達品川
Just next to Shinagawa Station and below the railway tracks of the Keikyu Line lies Shinatatsu, an alley lined with seven distinct ramen shops and five donburi rice bowl dishes. Whether you’re a big fan of tonkotsu or shio, the different flavors are guaranteed to satisfy picky eaters. Before hopping on a train, don’t forget to enjoy some delicious slurping here!
Access: 1 minute’s walk from Shinagawa Station Takanawa Exit
URL:http://www.shinatatsu.com/index.php (Japanese)
Gotenyama Garden 御殿山庭園
Gotenyama was a notable spot for cherry blossoms viewing during the Edo period and it also served as a hunting ground for the Tokugawa Shogunate. For those interested in art, its beauty is captured by ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai in the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. The garden belongs to Gotenyama Trust City, and is home to four hundred cherry trees, attracting tourists from both Japan and abroad every spring. In summer enjoy hydrangea, in autumn, red leaves and gingko, and in winter camellia hiemalis flowers. Enjoy a cup of tea at the tea house and let time pass you by in this colorful, aromatic garden.
Access: 10 minutes’ walk from Shinagawa Station Takanawa ExitAddress: 4-7-36 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku (inside Tokyo Marriott Hotel)
Shinagawa-juku 品川宿
Shingawa-juku was one of the post stations along the Tokaido (a road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo period). It is located between present-day Kita-Shinagawa Station and Aomono-Yokocho Station. Although the area sustained fire damage in the past and is not as crowded as it used to be hundreds of years ago, a stroll through this nostalgic neighborhood is still charming.
Tennozu Isle 天王洲アイル
Located in Tokyo Bay, Tennozu Isle is popular among Tokyoites as a holiday resort. The area is home to a variety of cultural establishments such as art galleries and theatres surrounded by water and green spaces. This is the ideal place to encounter Japanese art and culture. There are also chic shops and restaurants on the waterfront for you to explore. Visit Tennozu Isle and indulge in a relaxing atmosphere in the middle of the bustling city of Tokyo.
Shibaura Chuo Park 芝浦中央公園
A calm oasis nestled in the middle of busy streets, Shibaura Chuo Park is where wild nature joins in perfect harmony with the skyscrapers of Tokyo. If you happen to visit between May and mid- October, you’ll have the opportunity to see roses in full bloom.
Access: 10 minutes’ walk from Shinagawa Station East Exit
Url: http://shibaurachuopark.com/shibaura-chuo-park (Japanese only)
SHINAGAWA SEASON TERRACE 品川シーズンテラス
The open terrace on the second floor of Shinagawa Season Terrace commands an excellent view of Tokyo Tower, with cherry blossoms blooming in the background in spring and vivid autumn leaves adding a touch of nostalgia during fall. You can also take in a gorgeous view of the tower in the evening with all its lights on. If you are a lover of Japanese drama, don’t miss the chance to visit this actual shooting location.
Access: 6 minutes’ walk from Shinagawa Station Konan Exit
Address: 1-2-70 Konan, Minato-ku
Url: http://shinagawa-st.jp/en/
Access: 11 minutes’ walk from Shinagawa StationAddress: 3-16-16 Takanawa, Minato-ku
Tozenji Temple 東禅寺
This temple has a history that dates back to the Edo period. In 1859, one year after Britain and Japan signed a treaty of commerce, the British Embassy was opened in the temple precinct. However, the temple was attacked by locals who fiercely resisted foreign intrusion. It is said that sword cuts and bullet marks still remain in the pillar of the Okushuin and the genkan. History comes to life when you step into this magnificent temple.
