History and Architecture: A Tokyo Walking Tour with Context

Discover the links between Tokyo’s history and its architectural designs on a walking tour of the world‘s largest metropolis. Context Travel expert, Fernando Ortiz, will give you a deeper understanding of the city‘s complex history, as well as a better appreciation of Japanese architecture, aesthetics, and design trends. You‘ll learn how Japan became a symbol of civilization and enlightenment thanks to ambitious projects, including the creation of a new satellite for international broadcasting and the introduction of other cutting-edge technology. You‘ll also find out how Ginza‘s “brick town“ served as a model for modernisation projects in many other Japanese cities when it was transformed into a top shopping district.

Our tour starts with a walk through Meiji Jingu, the nationwide project that had people from all over Japan contributing both labor and funds till it was completed in 1921, only to be destroyed during the air raids during World War II. As you walk from Meiji Jingu shrine and through Ginza, you‘ll learn how Japan simultaneously modernized and industrialized during the Meiji era to encourage the rapid growth of cities. Tokyo benefited from its new position as the capital of Japan and began to enjoy new physical and social infrastructure, including roads, railways, banks and educational institutions. Along the way, you‘ll see Yoyogi 1st Gymnasium which opened for the 1964 Olympics and symbolized the nation‘s transformation from a wartime adversary to a peaceful and forward-looking country. You‘ll find out how, in less than two decades, Japan reinvented itself on the world stage.

On this Tokyo tour, you‘ll:

• Behold the grandeur of a torii (a traditional Japanese gate) and learn about the deep cultural and spiritual symbolism behind it
• Understand Japan‘s harmony-loving culture and how “kawaii“ (the quality of being cute) has become a prominent aspect of Japanese popular culture, infiltrating entertainment, clothing, food, toys, personal appearance, and mannerisms
• Trace Edo‘s journey from a quiet fishing village in 1603 to the bustling metropolis that Tokyo is today
• Get the inside scoop on Tokyo’s most expensive buildings’ interior and exterior designs
• Learn more about architect Toyo Ito‘s architectural philosophy which centers on the concept of architecture as ‘clothing‘ for urban dwellers, particularly in contemporary Japanese cities
• Find out how a colossal 7.9 magnitude earthquake devastated Tokyo in 1923, lasting minutes and causing widespread destruction, compounded by fires and a tsunami
• Grasp the meaning behind the city‘s many Shinto shrines
• Hear how Japan‘s adaptation of Western techniques and its massive infrastructure boom made it one of the world‘s largest industrialized nations
• Explore the Yoyogi Gym, once the world‘s largest suspended roof structure, which elegantly merges with its surroundings
• Notice how architectural structures have moved from the simplicity of rectangular forms to more complex and dynamic geometries
• Stroll along the vibrant Harajuku and Takeshita Streets, which play a pivotal role in the city‘s cultural landscape
• Take in breathtaking views from the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando

After this 90-minute tour, you‘ll go home with a better understanding of how the history of Tokyo has influenced its architectural design.