I was impressed with the amount to do in the immediate area of Hamamatsucho. Without taking a train you can see historic sights or go shopping. Various restaurants and take away food outlets are in the local area including MOS burger, Zoot, Restaurant Rainbow and many more. I went to Café Harvest which is just a 2 minute walk from Art Hotel; a English menu was available and is open until 10:30pm Monday to Friday. I would also recommend visiting Tokyo World Trade Center within the Hamamatsucho station and has a lot to offer including various restaurants, shops and an observation deck on the top floor which allows you to see the Tokyo skyline.
Zōjō-ji
This popular Buddhist temple that dates back to 1622 and was founded by Yuyo Shoso Shonin. The temple is the main temple of the Chinzei school of Jodo-shu Buddhism. The unborn children's garden has monuments that represent children in Japan that have been aborted, miscarried or stillborn and parents can choose a statue in the garden to decorate. I went to this temple at about 11 pm and it was very quiet and peaceful, although the architecture was not viewable it was still an interesting experience. The temple grounds are vast and and encompass several large buildings. During the Second World War parts of the temple were damaged, including the original wooden gate which was burnt down.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is one of the main symbols of the city being 333 meters high and is the second tallest tower in Japan. It was built in 1958 and reminds me of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Restaurants and shops are located at the bottom and visitors can pay to go to the top. The structure has two observation points, one of which is 150m and one of which is 250m; the price depends on which you want to visit and ranges from 400 yen for children for 900 yen for adults.
- 4-2-8 Shiba-Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-0011
- 9:00 - 23:00 (Closed now)
- ¥900 - ¥2800
Shibadai Shrine
This shrine has a lot of history, dating back to 1005. They offer various prayers, weddings, ceremonies & festivals throughout the year and is open from 8am until 6pm. Although the area is fairly small the shrine is free to enter and is conveniently located.
If you are looking for a place to stay, Hotel MyStays Hamamatsucho is a great hotel within a 10-minute walk to all these attractions. Hamamatsucho is really a fantastic area and has a lot to offer from the early hours of the morning to late at night for individuals and families alike.
