Don Quijote (ドン キホーテ) is a discount chain store with over 160 locations across Japan and Hawaii. Founded in 1980 as Just Co., it opened its first Don Quijote named store in Fuchu, Tokyo in 1989. Referred to in Japan by its shortened name, Donki (ドンキ), it carries a wide range of products from basic groceries and toys to electronics and high end fashion goods.
The Akihabara branch, located at 4-3-3 Sotokanda, features multiple floors of arcade games and well-stocked costume and adult toy departments. It is also is home to AKB48, a a home-grown, all-girl idol J-pop group started in 2005, who perform daily shows at their theater on the 8th floor.
Tags: anime Otaku おたく オタク Don Quijote ドン キホーテ Donki ドンキ Akihabara Akihabara Denki Gai Akihabara Electric Town Akiba Soto-Kanda 外神田 アキバ 秋葉原電気街 秋葉原 Tokyo Tōkyō 東京 東京都 Tokyo-to Japan Nihon Nippon 日本 日本国 本州 manga Chiyoda Chiyoda-ku 千代田 千代田区 Tōkyō-to Tokyo Prefecture 東京府 Tōkyō-fu Tokyo-fu 東京市 Tōkyō-shi Tokyo-shi Kantō region Kantō Kanto region 関東地方 Kantō-chihō Kanto-chiho Honshū Honshu
Città-Gigante, executed by Italian sculptor Luigi Mainolfi in 1987, is part of the Hakone Open-Air Museum Collection and displayed on the streets of Marunouchi, as organized by Mitsbushi Estate Co. Ltd.
Tags: Città-Gigante Citta-Gigante sculpture Luigi Mainolfi Hakone Open-Air Museum Collection Marunouchi 丸の内 Tokyo Tōkyō 東京 東京都 Tokyo-to Japan Nihon Nippon 日本 日本国 本州 Chiyoda Chiyoda-ku 千代田 千代田区 Tōkyō-to Tokyo Prefecture 東京府 Tōkyō-fu Tokyo-fu 東京市 Tōkyō-shi Tokyo-shi Kantō region Kantō Kanto region 関東地方 Kantō-chihō Kanto-chiho Honshū Honshu
Sofmap Co., Ltd. (ソフマップ) or Sofumappu, a subsidiary of Bic Camera, is a Japanese electronics retailer operating 12 shops around Akihabara. They opened up their main branch, a 7-level Megastore covering 4600m² in 2007.
Tags: Sushidisk usb flashdrive Sofmap Sofmap Co., Ltd. Sofumappu ソフマップ Megastore Akihabara Akihabara Denki Gai Akihabara Electric Town Akiba Soto-Kanda 外神田 アキバ 秋葉原電気街 秋葉原 Tokyo Tōkyō 東京 東京都 Tokyo-to Japan Nihon Nippon 日本 日本国 本州 store electronics store sushi Chiyoda Chiyoda-ku 千代田 千代田区 Tōkyō-to Tokyo Prefecture 東京府 Tōkyō-fu Tokyo-fu 東京市 Tōkyō-shi Tokyo-shi Kantō region Kantō Kanto region 関東地方 Kantō-chihō Kanto-chiho Honshū Honshu
Tags: Dear Stage Akihabara Akihabara Denki Gai Akihabara Electric Town Akiba Soto-Kanda 外神田 アキバ 秋葉原電気街 秋葉原Chiyoda 千代田区Tokyo Tōkyō 東京 東京都 Tokyo-to Japan Nihon Nippon 日本 日本国 本州 streetart gate painting graffiti Chiyoda Chiyoda-ku 千代田 千代田区 Tōkyō-to Tokyo Prefecture 東京府 Tōkyō-fu Tokyo-fu 東京市 Tōkyō-shi Tokyo-shi Kantō region Kantō Kanto region 関東地方 Kantō-chihō Kanto-chiho Honshū Honshu 秋葉原 tokyo
Kōkyo (皇居), or the Tokyo Imperial Palace, is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. The Palace is sited on the former site of Edo castle, the former seat of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 until 1867. Built by Tokugawa Ieysau in 1590, it became the world’s largest castle under his successors in the Edo period. In 1868, the shogunate was overthrown, and when country's capital and Imperial Residence were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, Edo Castle was renamed Tokyo Castle (東京城, Tokyo-jō) and then Imperial Castle (皇城, Kōjō). After being destroyed by a fire, the new Imperial Castle (宮城) was constructed in 1888. The palace was destroyed again during World War II, and rebuilt in the same style afterwards.
The inner grounds are only open to the public on January 2 (New Year's Greeting) and December 23 (Emperor's Birthday). During the rest of the year, guided tours of the palace are offered in Japanese, with an English pamphlet and audio guide provided.
From Kokyo Gaien, the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, visitors can view the Nijūbashi (二重橋), a pair of double arched stone bridges crossing the Nijūbashi moat forming an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge) for its looks. The bridge in the back was formerly a wooden bridge with two levels, from which the name Nijubashi, Double Bridge, is derived.
Tags: Kōkyo Kokyo Tokyo Imperial Palace Edo Castle 東京城 Tokyo-jō Tokyo-jo 皇城 宮城 Kokyo Gaien Nijūbashi bridge Nijibashi 二重橋 moat inner moat Meganebashi Marunouchi 丸の内 Tokyo Tōkyō 東京 東京都 Tokyo-to Japan Nihon Nippon 日本 日本国 本州 garden plaza imperial palace garden plaza tokyo imperial palace garden plaza Nijubashi-bori Nijubashi moat Sakurada-bori Sakurada moat Chiyoda Chiyoda-ku 千代田 千代田区 Tōkyō-to Tokyo Prefecture 東京府 Tōkyō-fu Tokyo-fu 東京市 Tōkyō-shi Tokyo-shi Kantō region Kantō Kanto region 関東地方 Kantō-chihō Kanto-chiho Honshū Honshu