Recreation

Japan being isolated from its neighboring countries by the Pacific Ocean and Japan Sea, its culture has developed without any foreign influence. Hence, the activities involving the Japanese people mostly centered on festivals and special holidays. While men engaged in martial arts such as samurai, karate, judo etc, for sports, the Kabuki and Noh Drama developed as passive entertainment. Even so there is no dearth of recreational opportunities for the visiting tourists and they have been flocking the city in large numbers.

The sightseeing of structural monuments is incomplete without witnessing the Sunshine 60 (Ikebukuro), the Municipal Government Building (Shinjuku), the World Trade Center (Hamamatsucho), and Tokyo Tower (Shiba).

For kids and other tourist who require more entertainment wont be surprised to find out that this city be is loaded with amusement parks and recreation centers.

Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983 with over 10 million visitors in the first year itself, is considered to be one of the biggest attractions for the east. For the west zone, Toshimaen, with its water park and carnival zone, entices the tourists. The National Children's Castle in Omotesando is another favorite spot for the kids.

If you are looking for family adventure indoors, there is an enclosed amusement park at Sanrio Puroland in Tama City.

For outdoor action, the mid town will provide you the Korakuen that features roller coasters, parachute rides, off-track betting and much more fun activities. You can choose to swim in a real Olympic pool at Yoyogi Stadium or indulge in some indoor snow skiing near Makuhari Messe. The sports buffs could enjoy playing baseball, sumo, soccer and volleyball, which are also the major spectator sports of Tokyo. Another famous activity that has Tokyo hooked on is the betting scene. Though, betting is legally allowed on horse races, cycling and speedboat racing only.

With the number of museums and galleries that Tokyo is scattered around with, you can conveniently entertain yourself even on a rainy day by visiting any one of them.

Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Park

6-32 Minami-cho

Tel: 042 368 7921

Open: 9am - 5pm

Closed: Mondays, also closed on Tuesdays incase Monday happens to be a holiday.

Admission: 50-yen Park Open Air Museum: admission 200 (adults) yen100 (children)

Park Planetarium: admission 600 yen

This is one enriching weekend activity that you must treat yourself to. The place has an open-air architectural museum, a planetarium, botanical garden, several parks, and a huge wading pool.

Next to Kyodo-no-mori park is the city Health and Athletic Center with a large outdoor pool and gymnasium.

Fuchu Lifelong Education Centre

(Shoogai Gakkushu Center)

1-7 Sengen-cho

Tel: 336-5700

Admission: 250 yen for 2 hours

Gym: Admission 150 yen

Training Room: Admission 200 yen.

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum: (Branch of Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum)

3-7-1 Sakura-cho, Koganei-shi,

Tokyo 184-0005 Tel: 042-388-3300

Tue-Sun 9:30am-5: 30pm.

You will find many old, traditional wooden shops, soy-sauce shops, a bar, and a bathhouse. You will also come across many modern residences that were built somewhere in the 1920's.

Tama

Aqua Blue Tama indoor pool complex

Daily pass: 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for children, 200 yen for seniors

Hours: M-F 1:00-9:15 pm, Sat 10 am-9: 15 pm, Sunday 10am-7:45pm

Closed on alternating Mondays and Tuesdays (2nd and 4th Mondays of the month and 1st, 3rd, 5th Tuesdays and when the month begins on a Tuesday, it is closed on the 1st, 2nd, and the 4th Tuesday).

This place has two water slides, four pools, a Jacuzzi and a mist sauna.

Hachioji

Tokyo Sesame Place, Tokyo Summerland:

Tel:042 558 6511

Both, Summerland and Sesame Place are housed here. Summerland has a lot of roller coaster rides, tornado, eagle swings, spaceship, flying carpet, and a huge indoor swimming complex with water lagoon, waterslide, and freefall all providing you with a fun filled evening.