Two very diverse areas sit side-by-side in the West Tokyo Bay region: Located on a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Odaiba is filled with elegant shopping malls, innovative amusement spots and attractive waterfront parks. On the other hand, the adjacent Shinagawa district has long been one of Tokyo’s most important business centers, with a multitude of dining establishments, traditional temples, and shopping streets. The West Tokyo Bay region is also home to Ariake Arena, a brand-new stadium and Tokyo landmark constructed specifically for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The multi-sport 15,000-seat capacity stadium Ariake Arena was completed in 2019 and served as the venue for Volleyball during the Tokyo Olympic Games and then Wheelchair Basketball for the Paralympic Games. It became one of Tokyo 2020’s most memorable venues when Japan’s men’s wheelchair basketball team won the country’s first-ever silver medal in the sport during a spectacular final match against the USA team.
Ariake Arena features a striking concave roof, an interior that incorporates the warmth of Japanese cedarwood, and a design that employs environmentally- and diversity-friendly features. The concave roof saves space indoors, minimizing the need for lighting and air conditioning, while solar panels and geothermal heating equipment further help to reduce the impact on the environment. Almost all of the wood used in the making of the facility was sourced domestically, with the entrance made of wood from the local Tama area. Wheelchair-accessible seats carefully positioned for unobstructed views, non-barrier entrances and exits and the availability of multiple universal restrooms throughout the facility are just a few examples of the arena’s attempt to make all spectators feel comfortable.
Following the official re-opening in September 2022, the facility will serve as an event hub, uniting Tokyo’s time-honored traditions with the emerging new global culture, and further enhancing the appeal of the West Tokyo Bay area. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, such as high-speed 5G networks and augmented reality (AR), Ariake Arena will host international sporting competitions and other major live entertainment events.

One of Japan’s largest indoor amusement parks, the concept at Joyopolis is “Digitareal” — where digital reality meets the real world through a wide range of exciting games and thrilling rides. Joyopolis is particularly popular with young people and families, or anyone keen to experience attractions that incorporate innovative technology such as computer graphics (CG) and virtual reality (VR). Joyopolis is located inside the DECKS Tokyo Beach shopping mall, making it an ideal destination regardless of the weather. There are also various options for dining and shopping nearby.

In preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tokyo has invested significant effort into multilingual support for overseas travelers and newcomer residents. This is reflected in the great increase in English, Chinese and Korean language guidance, as well as pictograms, at stations and tourist information centers.
Shops, eateries and hotels throughout the city offer various unique types of multilingual support for international residents and visitors. One particularly innovative example is the introduction of a “Visual Interpretation” system, or “Mieru Honyaku,” at over 50 locations within Shinagawa ward: a video interpretation service offering both multilingual and sign language support through an interpreter in real-time, via smartphones and tablets.
Shinagawa is also home to the popular Aomono-Yokocho Shopping Street, a traditional area dotted with shrines and temples. An English-language guidebook, “AOYOKO welcome book,” has been produced to offer information on the shops and other local facilities.

Known as the venue of Tokyo City Keiba (TCK), the Oi Racecourse in Shinagawa was built in 1950 and offers a range of entertainment options. In 1986, Oi Racecourse began offering Japan’s first nighttime horse racing, known as “Twinkle Races,” an event that is still popular today. On selected days during winter when no horse racing is taking place, visitors can see the spectacular “Tokyo Mega Illuminations,” a massive-scale winter lights event taking place on the racecourse, and there are also events where you can meet the racehorses up close. An onsite restaurant and specialty sweet shop add to the appeal of the venue.

The Tokyo Bay area is a symbol of the city’s technological and cultural progress. A near-250-km-squared area of reclaimed land, the bay is home to neomodern architecture, sprawling entertainment hubs and legacy venues from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Odaiba, one of Tokyo Bay’s most prominent areas, was modernized in the early mid-1990s to help with Tokyo’s expanding population and ease traffic congestion. Today, the area is regarded as one of the capital’s top districts for entertainment and shopping.
Along with Odaiba, Shinagawa, a key historical area that prospered as the first post station along the Tokaido Road, was also featured in the Tokyo 2020 Games. The Odaiba Marine Park, a public greenspace skirting the coastline, hosted triathlon and aquatics events along with the five-ringed Olympic symbol (and subsequently the Paralympic symbol) rising above the bay waters. While Shinagawa, a cosmopolitan neighborhood clinging to the Tokyo mainland, hosted the Olympic hockey tournament at the Oi Hockey Stadium.

An artificial beach and parkland first opened in 1975, the Odaiba Marine Park is a popular sunny-day destination casting its gaze towards the Tokyo skyline. After dark, the scenery lights up with the nearby Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower dominating the cityscape. A 12.5-meter-high Statue of Liberty was also erected in 1998 to celebrate improved diplomatic relations between Japan and France.
The park hosted Olympic marathon swimming at Tokyo 2020 and triathlon events during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Japan won its first-ever Paralympic triathlon medals there, winning both the silver medal and the bronze.
Swimming is prohibited for visitors to the park, but watersports, such as paddle boarding and windsurfing, remain popular daytime activities. The Odaiba Marine Park deck renovation in 2021, which now features chic seating areas and verandas, can accommodate families and visitors who prefer lounging to thrill-seeking.

Since its opening in 1997, Aomi Minami Port Park, located in Koto Ward not far from the Tokyo 2020 Games’ waterfront venues, has been known for its spectacular views of the Tokyo Bay coastline. Stretching to a total land area of over 45,400 square meters, on the land side of the park is a traditional Japanese garden populated by a grove of trees and a duck pond. The seashore side is fronted by a promenade and a year-round fishing area. Visitors can also enjoy an unimpaired up-close view of the Port of Tokyo, lined by the Aomi large-scale containers and gantry cranes at the adjacent Aomi container berth. Looking out into the ocean, one can easily see Haneda Airport. Mount Fuji can also be seen on the horizon on clear days.

The Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, which was established in September 2020 to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Games, is located near Rainbow Bridge. The brand-new terminal features a state-of-the-art, four-story building inspired by the shape of waves, which was constructed with Tokyo-grown wood. It further offers a spacious view from the observation deck on its 4th floor and can also be used as an event space.
The Tokyo International Cruise Terminal works in tandem with the city’s “International Tourism City of Tokyo” vision that will further spread the word on the tourist attractions available in the Japanese capital. It is expected to serve as the latest hub for sightseeing in Japan, leading many to view it as the capital’s new gateway.

In 2015, two years after Tokyo won the bid for the 2020 Games, Tokyo’s first company specializing in water taxis began operations. These 6.3-meter-long vehicles ferry up to eight commuters or sightseers along the bay area. While the company started operations with only two boats initially, in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Games, the total number of boats increased to 60 to bolster their future usage.
A reservation is required to board the water taxis. There are various boarding plans, including customized sightseeing and business rides. Fares change according to the total distance between ports. Strollers, bicycles and pets are allowed on board.
The boats were featured successfully in various Tokyo 2020-related projects, including the “Tokyo 2020 Olympics 1,000 Days Ahead” project, a series of events rolled out to mark 1,000 days until the inauguration of the Games.

For fans of water sports and railways, there is no other place like East Tokyo Bay. The area fuses historical and modern Japanese infrastructure with the legacy left behind by Tokyo 2020. Kasai Rinkai Park, facing Tokyo Bay, is a signature attraction in the area. The park, which opened in 1989, achieved global recognition during the Tokyo Games as the host of the canoe slalom event. The newly constructed facility is the first artificial slalom course of its kind in Japan.

The Kasai Canoe Slalom Center facility is an entirely new facility built in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The center was built on government-owned land adjacent to the expansive Kasai Rinkai Park. The course, which employs technology to create an artificial flow in the waterway, is approximately 200 meters long, 10 meters wide, and has a height difference of 4.5 meters. A Japanese canoe male slalom canoeist and 2016 Summer Olympics bronze medalist rejoiced the opening of the Kasai Canoe Slalom Center at the facility unveiling ceremony in 2019, adding that he is proud to see a world-class facility take roots in Tokyo.
Following Tokyo 2020, the Kasai Canoe Slalom Center will be combined with the surrounding parkland to form an integrated leisure area with water sports activities, such as rafting and kayaking.

Tokyo’s subway system developed rapidly as a result of the Tokyo 1964 Games, and the Tokyo Metro Museum is a place where visitors can feel the infrastructural development of the capital up until the Tokyo 2020 Games, more than half a century later. The perfect destination for train buffs of all ages, the museum dwells underneath the elevated tracks of Kasai Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. It first opened in July 1986 and is nicknamed “Chika Haku” (meaning “underground museum”) and has since been dedicated to exploring the history of Tokyo’s subway network through seven separate exhibit spaces, each showcasing a theme — from everything from the train carriages of yesteryear to information on how the transport network works in practice. The museum boasts over 600 items on display, including Tokyo Subway artifacts, model train layouts, poster exhibitions and a hands-on train simulator.
At the Tokyo Metro Museum you can see not only how Tokyo's subway system developed rapidly after the Tokyo 1964 Games, but also feel how Tokyo has grown up until the Tokyo 2020 Games more than half a century later.

One of Tokyo’s most famous lines for train photography, the YURIKAMOME Line — Tokyo’s first fully automated transit system controlled entirely by computers — connects the city center with the Tokyo Bay area. Equipped with large windows and running on an elevated route through Tokyo Bay, YURIKAMOME Line is a top destination for anyone wishing to capture the speed of a moving train along with some of Tokyo’s best scenery.
Riding the Yurikamome is also a great way to discover the latest additions to Tokyo, as it offers a panoramic view of the areas and facilities that have been developed in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Games. As the line has no drivers’ seats, sitting in the front of the train gives full exposure to the rails at the backdrop of Tokyo. However, one has to be quick as these seats are popular and tend to fill up quickly.
Another point of interest unique to the YURIKAMOME Line is that while it lacks personnel on board, it certainly doesn’t lack presence — the line employs the voices of 16 voice actors popular for their work in anime for announcements at stations, ticket counters and restroom information maps. Will you be able to recognize them all? Go check for yourself the next time you’re in the area.

Just as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games aimed to advocate for diversity and inclusion through the power of unity, culture and sport, a new system called “shikAI” was developed “to realize a world where all people can live with peace of mind” through the power of technology. This system helps navigate visually impaired train passengers through stations through a special iPhone application.
The ShikAI app is simple to use. It scans QR codes on Braille blocks at stations using an iPhone camera, and then derives a route within the station from the user’s current location to their exit destination. The app verbally guides the user all the way to the exit.
ShikAI is currently displayed on Braille blocks at nine Tokyo Metro stations, including Gaienmae and Tatsumi stations, both within walking distance of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic venues. The service has recently expanded to areas outside stations, such as the route from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station to the nearby Toshima Ward Office. To use the app, one simply needs to download it from Apple Store, register their phone number, email and other information, and then wait for a confirmation phone call. An instructor will call to guide the user through the app in a short phone orientation session required before using the app. After completing the verbal tutorial, the user will then be granted an authentication key and will be able to use the system at stations.

The east side of Tokyo Bay is a place that skillfully merges nostalgia with modernity and history with the present and the future. This is on full display in inner-bay areas like Tatsumi, Kasai, and their environs on the east of Tokyo Bay, where new Olympic venues and shitamachi (old town) neighborhoods thrive side-by-side.
This area of the city was once extensive tidal flats. Nowadays, Kasai is one of the few areas where tidal flats remain. Nearby Toyosu, Yumenoshima, Tsukishima, and Tatsumi are the result of land reclamation projects. Of these, Yumenoshima, the site of the Tokyo 2020 archery competition, is the newest.

Yumenoshima Park Archery Field, completed in February 2019, was used for Tokyo 2020’s archery competition’s preliminary rounds. Grass fields make up 18,000 square meters of this 21,500-square-meter facility, while a paved shooting area makes up the remaining 3,500 square meters.
Following the successful end of the Tokyo 2020 Games, the future of Yumenoshima Park Archery Field is both athletes- and community-centered. The venue, which officially opened to the public on October 31, 2021, will continue to promote archery in Japan through tournaments and various sports classes and events for children and adults. When not in use, the grassy area will be open to the public for leisure activities.

Toyosu Market is a wholesale market of fish and seafood that was moved from Tsukiji in 2018. Visitors can watch live tuna auctions from an observation deck and viewing platform, as well as buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the adjacent fruit and vegetable market. The Toyosu Market also has dozens of shops and restaurants where visitors can enjoy fresh seafood and other kinds of traditional Japanese cuisine.

In preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Games, Tokyo launched a bus rapid transit (BRT) system to connect the city center to the waterfront. The new service was introduced to ease traffic congestions during the Tokyo 2020 Games, as well as to provide a more accessible, fast and convenient traffic options to Tokyo residents and visitors.
While still in an ongoing trial implementation phase, Tokyo BRT has buses currently running between Toranomon Hills and Harumi. Once fully operational, the system will boast many advantages, including high transport capacity, efficient fare collection, enhanced speed and punctuality, and improved accessibility. When the service is launched officially, it is expected that there will be 20 BRT buses during peak hours to service 2,000 people per hour and 12 buses during regular hours to service 1,200 people per hour. The buses are further expected to utilize accessible design inside the vehicles and at bus stops to ensure smooth riding for passengers on wheelchairs or those carrying strollers.

An older Tokyo can be found in the streets of Tsukishima, where shitamachi culture lives on. Shitamachi is a term that translates as “lower city,” used to describe the culture and lifestyle of regular people’s neighborhoods before World War II. Tsukishima’s famous Nishinaka-dori Street, also known as “Monja Street,” is one example of the nature of shitamachi and its thriving food culture. The street is known for its high concentration of restaurants specializing in the traditional local dish called monjayaki. The dish offers a delicious culinary experience and quite the entertainment — diners make monjayaki themselves by stir-frying vegetables, seafood, meat, and sometimes even snacks, on a teppan grill at their table before pouring on the batter, mixing, and cooking it to a not-quite-firm consistency.

The Yoyogi area in central Tokyo is best-known today for its eponymous Yoyogi Park, which sprawls across downtown Tokyo, sandwiched between the lively Shinjuku, Shibuya and Omotesando-Harajuku districts. The park, which opened in 1967, is today a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in spring, experiences the cinematic autumn leaves phenomena in fall, and is home to Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo’s most significant Shinto shrines, which deifies the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.

Yoyogi, however, also has rich Olympic history going back to Tokyo’s first Olympic Games in 1964, which profoundly helped lay the groundwork for the global city Tokyo would eventually become. Visual reminders of this era include Yoyogi National Gymnasium and a legacy construction, the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center, which is still used as a sports, arts and events center, as well as for accommodation purposes.

In 2021, Yoyogi once again became the capital’s hub for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Yoyogi National Stadium’s sweeping roof of high-tension steel, which fuses Western design themes with those of a Shinto shrine, is one of the most iconic examples of post-war architecture in Japan. Designed by one of Japan’s leading architects, Kenzo Tange, the stadium was built in 1964 as the leading venue for Japan’s first Olympic Games. After the 1964 Games, the stadium was primarily used for ice hockey, figure skating, futsal and basketball international tournaments, as well as a concert hall. Among the world’s most famous singers and bands to perform there are Queen in 1985 and Britney Spears in 2017.

Nearly 60 years after the first Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, today the 10,200-seater stadium remains in excellent condition and was used to great effect for Tokyo’s second Olympic Games. It hosted the Tokyo 2020 handball competitions, and subsequently, Paralympic badminton and wheelchair rugby. In a historic win for Japan’s Paralympics Games, Japanese athletes won nine medals in badminton and a bronze medal in wheelchair rugby.

With a history of hosting two Olympic games, Yoyogi National Stadium’s legacy will continue to shine a light on the capital. The stadium will be used for various events in the wake of the Games, including future sporting showcases, tournaments and concerts. The stadium is equipped with various food stalls and a cafe for those in need of a break in between watching the games. For visitors in wheelchairs and/or strollers, ramps and elevators are set up to get from the adjacent station easily; universal toilets are available inside the stadium and in the parking lot, and accessible seating options are also available. Audio guidance and tactile maps are available for the visually impaired.

In 2021, Yoyogi National Stadium was registered as an important cultural asset.

Located next to the Japan National Stadium, the Japan Olympic Museum is the go-to place for anyone interested in the history of the Olympic Games. Opened in 2019, the facility covers two floors, an outdoor area and over a century of Olympic history. Monuments, including the Olympic Rings and a statue of International Olympic Committee (IOC) founder Pierre de Coubertin, take precedence outside. The first floor has a welcome and information zone and promotes the Olympic spirit through various memorabilia. The second floor offers an exhibition space that follows the history and development of the Games, and there is also a corner where visitors can try to match the physical abilities of Olympians. The museum hosts various Olympic and Paralympic Games-themed exhibitions throughout the year.

Tokyu Plaza, commonly called “Omohara,” is a commercial complex situated between Harajuku and Omotesando stations in Tokyo, sitting less than one kilometer from the Yoyogi National Stadium. Opened in 2012, Omohara (“Omo” for Omotesando and “Hara” for Harajuku) hosts many global brand shops, restaurants, and cafes as is also home to one of Tokyo’s most famous and Instagrammable spots — a kaleidoscope-inspired entrance created by some 300 mirror-polished stainless-steel panels that reflect the people as they pass by or enter the store.

On the 6th floor of the complex, visitors can also find Omohara Forest, a rooftop garden and viewing spot which provides a stunning look over the bustling city streets below. Each year, the warm glow of 16,000 lights is used from mid-November for the popular Omohara Christmas illumination event.

Regardless of how safe and clean a country is considered to be, there is always a factor of insecurity when using a public toilet — especially those in parks. Knowing whether the toilets are clean, safe, or occupied is something most people would be relieved to know before entering. Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park Toilet in Yoyogi Park, which appeared in the summer of 2020 when the Tokyo 2020 Games were originally scheduled for, addresses those issues and solves them perfectly. Created by architect Shigeru Ban, those public transparent-walled toilets’ buildings are covered with a dimmer film and utilize a new lighting technology that turns the glass opaque when the toilet is locked. When non-occupied, the toilets are transparent, allowing users to see how clean and safe the toilets are before use. Also equipped with a universal bathroom and using the latest technology, playful colors and design, this public toilet serves as an example of Japan’s advancement and efforts in ensuring public safety, hygiene and comfort.

Walking down the streets of Yoyogi in central Tokyo, one can’t help but notice the many hats the neighborhood wears: it houses vast, beautiful parks, numerous landmarks; it has served as a historical area for Tokyo’s thriving youth culture, and it has been a two-time Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games central hub. It also brings people together through various international venues, uniting cultures, traditions and cuisines. The wide Yoyogi area is a place that continues to evolve, always keeping its visitors entertained regardless of the reason they’re there.

Following the success of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games when Yoyogi served as the primary venue, at the Tokyo 2020 Games, the neighborhood once again welcomed the international event to create a brand-new legacy and many memorable events.

Is it a spaceship, or is it a samurai helmet? Or, perhaps, it’s beautiful origami? When approaching the gorgeously designed Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, one of Tokyo’s most significant sports landmarks, those thoughts come to mind. Initially built in 1954 as the venue for the World Wrestling Championship, the gymnasium was the official facility for gymnastics and water polo at the 1964 Summer Olympics. The building we know today was redesigned by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki in 1991, giving it a futuristic design that resembles a round spaceship at a glance.

Boasting a maximum seating capacity of 10,000 at its main arena, the gymnasium is also equipped with a sub-arena, a swimming pool, a training room, futsal court and athletic track field, many of which are open to the public for use. The gymnasium has served as a hub for various sporting competitions and international events, including the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, 2007 World Figure Skating Championships, and the World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge 2019. The gymnasium is also a popular concert venue that has welcomed many domestic and international stars.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium hosted table tennis tournaments, bringing Japan the long-awaited gold medal in Mixed Doubles, and two bronze medals in Men’s Team and Women’s Singles, and one silver for the Women’s Team.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium is equipped with accessible seats for spectators using wheelchairs, universal toilets and slopes leading to the main arena at three locations, and tactile signage and support for the hearing impaired. Entry with guide dogs is also allowed. For those in need of light snacks and drinks when visiting, the gymnasium also has several cafes, restaurants and shops.

No trip to Tokyo is complete without a visit to Meiji Jingu. One of Japan’s most beautiful and historical shrines, Meiji Jingu is a distinctive Tokyo landmark and a popular destination for many residents and travelers.

There are many reasons why Meiji Jingu is the famous venue it is. From a historical perspective, the shrine is significant because it enshrines the spirits of Emperor Meiji, the first emperor of modern Japan, and Empress Shoken. It was built several years after their passing to commemorate their virtues. The occasionally held Shinto ritual ceremonies and festivals also attract tourists from all over Japan and the world.

Meiji Jingu is also famous for its beauty. It is surrounded by a vast man-made forest made of over 100,000 trees, donated from across Japan and planted by volunteers during the shrine’s construction. Because of its connection to the shrine, the forest is considered sacred, and as such, there has been no human intervention since it was created. This has resulted in many new species making their home in the forest, creating a stunning, natural environment like no other in Tokyo.

As one walks down the green paths toward the shrine, it is hard to imagine that they’re right in the heart of Tokyo, just a few minutes away from the famous Harajuku Station, one of the city’s busiest areas. At the entrance to the approach to the shrine stands a giant torii gate, which, with the green at its backdrop, is one of Tokyo’s most photogenic places. A further walk leads visitors to numerous sake barrels — offerings to the shrine — displayed at the two sides of the path, creating another photo-perfect opportunity.

Just a short walk from Meiji Jingu, hidden in a quiet street in the fashionable district of Aoyama, is a giant wooden nest-like building one can’t help but stop and stare at. This spectacular piece of art is the Tokyo flagship store of SunnyHills, a famous Taiwanese pineapple cake shop. Also designed by architect Kengo Kuma, the store is built in the shape of a giant bamboo basket and uses a traditional Japanese joint architectural method of assembling wood called jigoku-gumi. The store sells SunnyHills’s famous pineapple cakes, which visitors can sample with Taiwanese tea at the store’s seating space. A visit to this store feels like taking a walk in the woods on a beautiful sunny morning — the scent of cypress, the warmth of wood and the smell of fresh cakes and tea is an extraordinary experience on its own.

To accommodate foreign tourists, Tokyo Metro has continued to actively introduce free Wi-Fi over the past several years. Currently, travelers can log in for free at the majority of Tokyo Metro stations and onboard all subway lines. Introduced specifically for overseas travelers in mind, the service does not require complicated sign-up procedures. To use the Wi-Fi, users need to simply select the “Metro_Free_Wi-Fi” SSID on their device, launch a browser and follow the instructions to connect. After registering with their email address, users will be able to use the service for up to three hours every time they connect.

One of the grandest rewards of tourism is communicating with the local people. But while we often perceive “valuable communication” as a memorable verbal exchange, at times, it could take other, more subtle, or indirect forms of expression — the thoughtfulness in welcoming others, the attention to detail, the willingness to do everything in their power to help travelers create wonderful memories during their stay — or a simple smile that goes a long way. In some countries like Japan, this approach to hospitality has long been a part of their local culture.

Mentioned as early as in ancient books of over 1,000 years ago, the “omotenashi” culture of Japan and Tokyo is deeply rooted in modern society too. To share this unique culture of hospitality with the world, the Tokyo 2020 Games brought together 11,913 volunteers — known as “City Cast” — people of various backgrounds and interests who contributed immensely to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their outstanding response and hospitality fascinated many people across the world.

To find out more about hospitality in Tokyo, we interviewed Yoshiko Takayama, a former City Cast member who took part in various Tokyo 2020 volunteer activities, including welcoming and seeing off athletes at the airport. Takayama also participated in the “Presenting the attractions of Tokyo by City Casts” promotional event, where she introduced her neighborhood in a presentation titled “Akigawa Valley and its surrounding scenic beauty.

Q. How did you become interested in participating in the Tokyo 2020 Games as a volunteer?

A. I first started volunteering in 2011 after a friend of mine got affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. At the time, I went to the earthquake and tsunami-stricken regions and participated as a relief volunteer. I met many rescue volunteers from different countries, and it helped me realize how crucial it is to work together with compassion beyond national borders while also sharing the sorrow of the people affected by the disaster.

A few years passed since then, during which time I kept thinking that I would like to continue such volunteer work. It was around that time when the recruitment for volunteers for the Tokyo 2020 Games started, and I applied.

Q. What kind of activities did you do as a City Cast member at the Tokyo 2020 Games?

A. There were many different activities, but, for example, in July, we welcomed the athletes at Haneda Airport. When they arrived at the airport, we welcomed them with handmade panels and saw them off to the bus after their PCR tests were complete. In August, we handed out towels, fans, and other goods to prevent heatstroke in Odaiba and issued warnings about the spread of COVID-19. These activities were aimed at ensuring the smooth operation of the event.

Q. What was your most memorable experience as a volunteer?

A. It meant a lot to me to see how happy the athletes were. When we met them at Haneda Airport, I knew they had traveled for many hours and were probably tired and nervous. I wanted to cheer them up, so I put the origami cranes I had made in a pouch bag and put them on a folding fan when handing them over — as we couldn’t make physical contact. I could see that they appreciated the gesture. I also had a chance to meet the Brazilian gold medalists, and to my surprise, they took a picture of us, the volunteer staff, which was very touching.

Also, when I was working outdoors in Odaiba in August, a family said to me, “Thank you for coming in such hot weather. We are supporting the Tokyo 2020 Games. Please take care of yourself.” They even took a picture with us. It was one of those moments when I truly felt grateful and happy that I took part in the Tokyo 2020 volunteer program.

Q. Now that the Tokyo 2020 Games are over, what would you like to focus on from here on?

A. Working as a Tokyo 2020 Games volunteer was a precious experience, but in addition to that, meeting other volunteers with various talents was a great asset for me. Thanks to these encounters, I would definitely like to continue volunteering in the future.

I registered as a Tokyo sightseeing volunteer and I look forward to joining the various training programs scheduled to start soon. One of the people I met through my English lessons had already participated in the program, and she said that it’s “a great way to learn English and it’s fun to get to know people from different countries,” so I’m really looking forward to it.

Q. Tokyo has many sightseeing spots, but what is your favorite?

A. My recommendation is the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei City. When I went there before, there was a tea ceremony going on, and I enjoyed tea with foreigners. I also experienced making plant bead accessories at an old house in the garden, and I have a good memory of making matching accessories with a person from Australia.

Another excellent place I would like to recommend is the Jindai Botanical Garden near Jindaiji Temple in Chofu City. Not only can you admire the colorful flowers of the season, but you can also enjoy a whole day at the nearby delicious soba noodle shops and souvenir shops.

Q. What is the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games to you?

A. For me, it is a “connection with the world.” I think that many people, including the athletes and staff from overseas, the people involved in the Games, and the international media, have come to understand the actual quality of hospitality in Japan. I believe that we were able to appeal to Japan’s beauty, safety, and diligence. I think that the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games is that we were able to help share the beauty of Japan with the world. Also, volunteering with people of all ages is something that I don’t get to do very often, so it was a valuable experience that will enrich my life in the future.

Japan has many beautiful landmarks worth visiting over and over again.

In a survey conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government after the Games, 96% of the City Cast members answered that they would like to continue volunteering. More than half of them said that their involvement in the Tokyo 2020 Games had inspired them to “participate in various volunteer and community activities and to provide support to people in need.”

The Tokyo 2020 Games have inspired many to continue contributing their efforts toward creating a better society.

In west Tokyo, beyond the city’s urban limits, parklands and rolling hills starkly contrast the high-rise downtown façade. This is exemplified by natural landmarks like Mt. Takao and Mt. Mitake thrusting upwards from the verdant landscape along with seasonal flower parks and botanical gardens. While it has always been a popular destination for locals, in recent years, Western Tokyo has also become a regular port of call for domestic and international tourists who want to experience Japanese nature without straying too far from the capital. In 2021, it was here in this part of Tokyo, where the world’s best equestrians and their horses gathered to make history at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The Equestrian Park in Setagaya Ward was regarded as one of the finest equestrian stadiums on the Olympic circuit by many foreign journalists who attended the Tokyo 2020 Games. It was initially opened in 1940 to provide training for riders and horses, and to host equestrian competitions and various training programs. With a competition venue able to hold many spectators, it was only natural that it was later selected as the host for all equestrian events at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.

The park has a dressage and event arena, and various horse-training facilities. Much like the western Tokyo outskirts, it’s also home to seasonal flowers which bloom at various points throughout the year, providing a space for spectators to relax and picnic in between events. In line with Tokyo’s continued push for inclusivity, the park was renovated for the Tokyo 2020 Games and now features wheelchair accessibility and assisted toilets for visitors with guide and hearing dogs.

Though currently temporarily closed due to construction, once reopened to the public, Equestrian Park will continue to thrive following Tokyo 2020 Games as a center for promoting equestrian activities in Japan.

While many people first think of Mt. Fuji when they think of Japanese mountains, Tokyo has its own mountain gem in the western suburb of Hachioji, that’s as busy as it gets on any given day during the year. With over three million people climbing Mt. Takao annually, it is regarded as the “most visited mountain in the world” thanks to its abundant walking trails, a humble summit of 599 meters which can also be reached via cable car, and its location within Tokyo’s city limits. Boasting over 1,600 plant varieties, Mt. Takao is a natural paradise, beautiful throughout all seasons, though particularly mesmerizing in autumn. In 2007, the mountain was awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan because of its seasonal flora, city views and cultural assets, such as the over 1,200 years old Yakuoin Temple, which has many impressive buildings and memorials. The mountain is also famed as the residing place of the legendary tengu (a long-nosed goblin), monuments of which can be found in multiple locations.

Aside from offering stunning sceneries in all seasons, Mt. Takao is also a gastronomic hub with many tea houses, tororo (grated yam) soba shops and dumpling restaurants along the way. These can be found at both the base and the summit of the mountain, along with market stalls selling quintessentially Japanese produce like dango (sticky rice cakes) and tenguyaki, a hot-plate grilled original pastry inspired by the mountain’s tengu goblins.

Kakigori, shaved ice with syrupy flavoring, is a popular summer treat and festival staple in Japan. The kakigori visitors will find at Kooriya Peace in west Tokyo’s bohemian Kichijoji neighborhood, however, exceeds all expectations: think ice canvas of ever-changing spectacular culinary creations that look too perfect to be eaten. Served in a variety of regular and seasonal flavors, from fresh fruit to caramel, cheese and roasted chestnuts, Kooriya Peace’s shaved iced desserts are among the highest-rated shaved ice sweet indulgences in Tokyo. The shop, which has only eight seats, is so popular that the owners had to develop an on-the-day slot booking system to ensure that everyone has tasted the treats. The ice itself, the key ingredient of this dessert, is what makes it stand out from the competition — it’s dozens of fine, fluffy shards of ice that dissolve instantly on your tongue. A visit to Kooriya Peace will keep visitors busy until the last minute as they’ll be torn apart by the dilemma of whether to keep taking photos or eat the dessert before it melts away.

In line with the preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Games, Tokyo invested a significant effort into further enforcing multilingual support for visitors throughout the city. In Western Tokyo, too, restaurants, accommodations and public facilities increasingly began implementing various original approaches to ensure that multilingual support is in place. English, Chinese, Korean and pictogram displays can now be found at most stations and tourist information centers. These include the Takaosanguchi tourist office, which supports English and Chinese, and the Tokyo Tourist Information Center Tama, which features information in English, Chinese and Korean.

Most travelers to Tokyo are familiar with the bustling heart of Tokyo and its 23 wards, but the beauty of this vast city certainly does not end there. Western Tokyo, while still being a part of the greater Tokyo metropolis, offers visitors the chance to experience a variety of natural attractions, including extensive parks, mountains, and gorges. Nishitokyo is home to numerous sport and leisure facilities, the most famous being the Tokyo Stadium, which played an essential role in the Tokyo 2020 Games. The facilities showcased here can all be reached within an hour from central Tokyo.

Built in 2001, this multipurpose stadium is located in the city of Chofu and is notable for being the first stadium in Japan that offered naming rights to sponsors. These were sold to Ajinomoto Co., Inc, a major food and biotechnology corporation, and as a result, the venue is also known as Ajinomoto Stadium. The stadium can seat up to 48,000 people and additional seating for wheelchair users was installed in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The stadium’s environmentally-friendly design includes a solar-power generating roof, the largest of its kind among Japanese stadiums, a large green wall, which reduces up to approximately 31 tons of CO2 a year, and two wind power equipment installed to power outdoor LED lights. Tokyo Stadium is home to two teams in the J-League (Japan’s professional soccer league) — F.C.Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy — and was also the location for a total of eight matches during the Rugby World Cup 2019™ in Japan. In addition to sports, Tokyo Stadium also hosts concerts, flea markets and various community events.

In the Tokyo 2020 Games, Tokyo Stadium was used as the venue for three different disciplines: football, rugby, and modern pentathlon, which comprised swimming, fencing, horse riding, pistol shooting, and cross country running.

This expansive park in the city of Tachikawa covers some 180 hectares and offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities to visitors. It is particularly popular with families and nature lovers. The park was established in 1983 to mark the 50th anniversary of the reign of the late Emperor Showa. Among the facilities on offer are Japanese and Western-style gardens, walking trails, a large pond, museums and various sports facilities. An ever-changing array of colorful flowers can be enjoyed throughout the year, and the park is also known as a prime spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring and fall foliage. Visitors can ride a small train or rent bicycles to get around the park, and strollers and wheelchairs are also available for free use while in the park. The park’s restaurant and restroom facilities feature ramps and other considerations for wheelchair users. There are 39 universal toilets available in the park.

During the Tokyo 2020 Games, Miraitowa and Someity, the official mascots of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, respectively, were displayed at the park, cheering up visitors and staff alike.

This museum dedicated to “curiosity and discovery,” is located near Mt. Takao, a mountain in Hachioji City, which is very popular for hiking. Mt. Takao is 599 meters high, which inspired the name of the museum. Visitors can learn about the area’s history, culture, animals, insects and plants through innovative displays using projection mapping. The museum also includes a café, a shop selling locally-made souvenirs, and a relaxing open lawn space, making it an ideal spot to visit before or after hiking. In celebration of the Tokyo 2020 Games, monuments of the Olympics and Paralympics are on display in front of the museum.

In preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Games, efforts were made to further offer UD (universal design) transport options to cater to a wide variety of users’ needs. UD taxis are designed to allow easy access for any passengers, including wheelchair users, pregnant women, stroller carriers, and people carrying heavy luggage. Many of those taxis also incorporate multilingual and cashless payment systems.

While charging the same amount as regular taxis, UD taxis offer plenty of ample space inside the vehicle, sliding doors and a lowered ground level of the entrance and exit to enable safe and smooth entry and exit. The taxis are also equipped with a slope for people on wheelchairs or those carrying heavy luggage. In 2020, the Japanese government set a new target to make UD taxis account for about 25% of the total number of taxis in each prefecture. Currently, there are over 11,000 UD taxis in Tokyo.

Chiyoda. When a neighborhood bears a name meaning “a field of a thousand generations,” the chances are that there is something special about it. The wide Chiyoda area is strategically located in the center of Tokyo and is home to many of Japan’s key political and national institutions, including the National Diet Building, the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan, the Supreme Court, the Tokyo Imperial Palace, and numerous embassies and diplomatic establishments.

The wide Chiyoda area, however, is not all about politics and decision-making. The region is also home to dozens of cultural venues and some of Tokyo’s best-known landmarks: Tokyo Station with its fantastic red-brick architecture; Akihabara, Tokyo’s electronics and pop culture town, and Chidorigafuchi, one of Japan’s most scenic cherry blossom viewing spots in spring, are just a few of the many sites worth noting. Chiyoda and its surrounding neighborhoods are full of vibrant destinations — and being connected in every direction by several rail lines and other public transport, are also some of the capital’s most accessible districts.

On the opposite side of the Sumida River and just a short train ride from central Chiyoda is another cultural hub of Tokyo — the Ryogoku area in Sumida Ward where the country’s gentlest giants reside: the sumo wrestlers. Ryogoku is where visitors can find Kokugikan Arena, the spiritual home of sumo wrestling, and many venues that sustain the livelihood of sumo players. During the Tokyo 2020 Games, Kokugikan Arena was the host of another sport that has been taking Japan by storm over the past decades: boxing.

You know you’re getting closer to the stadium when you start seeing them walking down the street, usually wearing a yukata and geta sandals, with their hair tied in the signature chonmage style. The sumo wrestlers of the Ryogoku area are a living landmark of the capital, and their home, the sumo tournament arena Kokugikan Arena, with its conspicuous green roof, is the area’s most remarkable landmark. While Kokugikan Arena is best-known for sumo, the facility is also widely used for wrestling, boxing, and martial arts. It was not a coincidence, therefore, that Kokugikan Arena was selected to host Tokyo 2020’s boxing competition.

While the current Kokugikan Arena facility has been in use only since 1985, the Ryogoku area has been Tokyo’s sumo mecca since the beginning of the 20th century when Japan’s first permanent sumo hall was built there due to the rising popularity of the sport. The Kokugikan Arena we know today has a seating capacity of about 10,500 and the seat placement — built strategically in a bowl shape surrounding the fighting area — allows spectators to see the wrestlers from wherever they are seated. Seats secured for wheelchair users, as well as universal restrooms and parking spaces for wheelchair users, are available. Kokugikan Arena also houses the Sumo Museum, a free museum dedicated to the history of sumo wrestling.

During the Tokyo 2020 Games, Kokugikan Arena gathered much media attention during several historic boxing matches, including the unforgettable women’s featherweight class final that gave Japan its first female boxing Olympian. Following the end of the Tokyo 2020 Games, Kokugikan Arena will continue to host wrestling tournaments and various events.

Ryogoku is also famous for diners serving sumo’s favorite soul food: the chanko nabe. Chanko nabe is a one-pot hot dish typically made of broth, vegetables, and high-protein foods, such as chicken, tofu, or fish. The chanko nabe is typically served in large quantities to ensure that the wrestlers aren’t short on calorie intake. One of the dish’s best features is that it is also highly versatile — there isn’t a strict recipe and many restaurants or people recreating it at home have developed original recipes, which also gives them the freedom to regulate the serving size.

While there are plenty of delicious chanko nabe restaurants to choose from around the Kokugikan Arena area, Chanko Kirishima Ryogoku Edo Noren, located just across the stadium and inside the JR Ryogoku Station, is a signature stop where visitors can taste the dish and experience an almost real sumo stadium interior. Opened in 2016 at the newly revamped station, Ryogoku Edo Noren brings together multiple food shops under the concept of “enjoying Edo-style cuisine.” Equipped with a full-scale sumo ring at the center, the venue invites visitors to immerse themselves in Edo-period Japan while enjoying various authentic Japanese food, including, of course, chanko nabe at Chanko Kirishima, a restaurant produced by former Ozeki-rank sumo wrestler, Kirishima Kazuhiro.

As a host of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tokyo promoted various initiatives to ensure that mobility within the city is equally well facilitated for elderly visitors, those with physical disabilities, and people with strollers. The Barrier-Free Law enacted in 2006 urged local governments and railway operators to promote a more diverse barrier-free design of buildings and public transportation systems nationwide, including increasing the number of elevators, slopes and accessible toilets at stations and securing tactile paving, among other. As a result of combined efforts across the country, as of March 2020, a barrier-free design was introduced at 3,580 stations (out of about 9,500 stations in Japan) with an average of over 3,000 users per day. Furthermore, the new Basic Policy on Promotion of Transportation Facilitation, developed in December 2020, ensures that all stations with more than 2,000 but less than 3,000 users per day on average have barrier-free facilities within the next few years.

With elevators, increased width at ticket counter gates, accessible universal toilets, and other features in place, just like the pictured Ryogoku Station, more and more public stations in Tokyo are becoming increasingly barrier-free.

“What a place. #Tokyo2020” While this now-famous tweet by a foreign correspondent visiting Japan to report on Tokyo 2020 was used in reference to the Olympic Games, it was written about a surprising ‘champion’: the Japanese convenience stores. With restricted areas to go during their coverage of the Games due to COVID-19, foreign journalists staying in Tokyo were quick to fall in love with the Japanese convenience stores for being always open, fully restocked, delicious, and full of items to keep even regular users entertained.

According to the Japan Franchise Association, as of January 2022, Japan was home to 55,956 convenience stores, over 7,000 of which can be found in Tokyo only. While there are several theories on the rise of the concept, it is believed that Japan’s first convenience stores opened in the early 1970s, aiming to provide “convenience and comfort” to customers. Functioning as “miniature supermarkets” and operating longer than other stores, convenience stores today are stocked with most things people may urgently need: from warm food and fresh produce to daily necessities and even underwear and makeup.

While convenience stores can be found all across Japan in various sizes and brands, those located near Ryogoku Station are unique as they offer sumo-inspired merchandise perfect as souvenirs. A large characteristic of convenience stores are that they provide literally “convenient” services that suit the needs of the area; at convenience stores near Ryogoku Station sumo fans can get a hold of tools needed for hand-made cheering crafts, from hard paper (for placards) to stickers.