General Description

The part of Tokyo near Tokyo Bay lies on the Kanto Plain, the nation's largest lowland. Crossing it are several rivers, largest of which are the Ara and the Sumida. Just west of the Sumida's mouth, in the heart of the city, is the Imperial Palace. In this core area are government and office buildings, department stores, hotels, and theaters.

Marunouchi, a district just east of the palace, is the main business area and the home of many multinational companies. In the Kasumigaseki district, south of the palace, are numerous ministries, courts, and offices of the Japanese government. Nearby is Tokyo's most famous district, the Ginza. Here are the nation's most fashionable department stores and shops and many theaters and nightclubs. Shinjuku, Akasaka, and Roppongi districts are also notable for their theaters and nightclubs. Shinjuku, in addition, is a major business district, with many of the city's high-rise office and hotel buildings. Located here is the Metropolitan Government Office; at 802 feet (244 m), it is the tallest building in Japan. North of the Imperial Palace, especially in the Kanda and Kongo districts, are many universities, colleges, and bookstores. At the mouth of the Sumida River are the harbor and the port of Tokyo. Five wards on the east side of the river form the principal industrial district.

Except for some thoroughfares, Tokyo's streets are unnamed. Addresses are based on block area (chome), precinct (cho), and ward (ku).