History & Culture in Tokyo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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