Hotels Fort lauderdale, Apartments in Fort lauderdale, Accomodation, Fort lauderdale vacations

The first traces of Tokyo, or Edo as it was known at the time, are from the Temple of Asakusa which was built in 645AD and it would be another 8 centuries before Edo Castle would be built, which still stands in the gardens of Kokyo Imperial Palace.

Tokyo became the de facto capital of the Japanese Empire in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu finally united the warring factions that had plagued Japan for generations and based himself in Tokyo despite the Emperor remaining in Kyoto. Within a century the city had a population of over 1 million people and the city was developing at an incredible rate.

1869 would see the end of the rule of the Shoguns and the return of direct imperial rule, which cemented Tokyo as Japan’s capital when the Emperor moved the royal court to Edo Castle.

Modern Tokyo is as modern as it is possible to get, with a skyline jostling with skyscrapers and glass glittering in the sun and neon signs advertising the latest gizmos and gadgets as well as famous brand names.

For such a sprawling and vibrant city, Tokyo is remarkably easy to escape from and get into the peace and tranquility of the countryside, due mainly to the excellent high speed rail links, which can travel up to 185mph. The city also has many fine parks which are the ideal place for a more sedate stroll.