Trivia about Tokyo: A collection of fun facts useful for sightseeing
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is full of sightseeing spots and famous foods, isn’t it?
There are all sorts of fun facts about Tokyo’s highlights!
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of Tokyo trivia, from the well-known to the lesser-known.
You’ll find everything from tidbits you’ll want to share with someone to information that’s useful for sightseeing.
As you read, have fun counting how many of these fun facts you already knew.
Tokyo trivia: A roundup of fun facts useful for sightseeing (1–10)
A tank was used as construction material for Tokyo Tower.
In fact, tanks were used as building materials for Tokyo Tower.
Shortly before construction began on Tokyo Tower in 1957, the Korean War had broken out.
The U.S.
military sent many tanks to the Korean War, but many of them ended up completely destroyed and battered.
Rather than going to the trouble of transporting and repairing the damaged tanks, the U.S.
military preferred to build new ones.
At the same time, Japan was suffering from a shortage of steel, so it purchased the broken tanks from the United States at a low price to use as construction materials.
Tanks are made of durable materials, and they were used as building materials for the section above the Tokyo Tower observatory.
You can walk across the Rainbow Bridge.
The Rainbow Bridge connects central Tokyo with the waterfront subcenter.
The bridge illuminated at night is lovely, isn’t it? Many people think cars and the Yurikamome line are the only ways to cross, but you can walk across the Rainbow Bridge as well.
You can access the Rainbow Bridge promenade from two Yurikamome stations.
From the sidewalk along the roadway, you can enjoy views of Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, and Odaiba.
On clear days, you can even see Mt.
Fuji.
There are two routes, north and south, and it takes about 30 minutes to walk across and enjoy the Rainbow Bridge.
There is a factory in the basement of Ryogoku Kokugikan that makes yakitori.
When you think of Ryogoku Kokugikan, you think of the place where grand sumo tournaments are held, right? Did you know that there’s actually a factory in the basement of Ryogoku Kokugikan that makes yakitori? The reason they make yakitori is that chickens walk on two legs and don’t put their hands on the ground, which is considered auspicious.
It might seem odd to eat yakitori in the stands, but watching sumo while enjoying a good-luck food could be something special.
By the way, it’s the “Yakitori Department” of Kokugikan Service that does the grilling.
Tokyo Banana, the famous Tokyo souvenir, is a girl.
Tokyo Banana is a famous and classic Tokyo souvenir.
It’s a popular treat: a banana-shaped sponge cake filled with sweet cream.
There’s actually a reason it’s written as “banana” in hiragana using the character 奈—「ばな奈」—rather than the usual katakana.
In fact, Tokyo Banana is imagined as a girl, representing a lively girl from Tokyo.
If you look closely at the banana pictured on the package, you’ll see it wearing a ribbon.
These days, there are many varieties, like raisin-sandwich style and castella-style Tokyo Banana.
You can find them online, but if you visit Tokyo, be sure to check them out in person.
Roppongi Hills has a theme song composed by a famous composer.
Roppongi Hills is a mixed-use complex centered around a high-rise office building and including residences, a hotel, a movie theater, and cultural facilities.
It’s quite rare for a complex like this, but Roppongi Hills actually has its own theme song! And it was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
In addition to being released as an audio track, it’s played once every hour within Roppongi Hills.
It’s a refreshing piece that blends an electronic beat with a Japanese flair, incorporating the hichiriki.
The birthplace of radio calisthenics is Sakuma Park in Asakusabashi.
Many of you may remember doing radio calisthenics early in the morning during summer vacation in elementary school.
The birthplace of Radio Taiso is said to be Sakuma Park in Asakusabashi.
In 1928 (Showa 3), the Postal Insurance Bureau introduced radio calisthenics—originally created in the United States—renaming it “National Health Exercises” to promote public health.
Once the broadcasts began, the exercises became popular nationwide, and Radio Taiso groups sprang up across the country.
A police officer from the Manseibashi Police Station, together with local neighborhood associations, started the nation’s first early-morning Radio Taiso group.
The location was Sakuma Park.
Even if you join a Hato Bus tour, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get to ride a lemon-yellow bus.
With Hato Bus, you can take day-trip bus tours centered around Tokyo.
When people hear “Hato Bus,” many probably picture the bright lemon-yellow buses.
However, that doesn’t mean you’ll always travel on a yellow bus.
In fact, about 70% of Hato Bus day-trip tours use buses operated by partner companies.
Although Hato Bus day trips run almost every day, you may not often get to ride a yellow bus because partner-company buses are used so frequently.
If you specifically want to travel on a yellow bus, try choosing the bus type when booking or use other ways to ensure it.