Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward: In the heart of the City

In densely populated Tokyo, Chiyoda (千代田区) is unique among the city’s 23 special wards as it is the least populated one and yet, it is at the center of Toyko and contains a significant amount of open space. The reason for this is the fact that the Imperial Palace complex occupies the central area of the ward along with many government institutions such as the Prime Minister’s residence, the Diet, the Supreme Court and fifteen embassies. Other important landmarks in the area include the Yasukuni Shrine, the Nippon Budokan (a popular rock concert venue) and Tokyo Station – one of the busiest train stations in Japan and the starting point or terminus of many of Japan’s high speed bullet trains. In addition, the area also contains Hibiya Park – a popular venue for open-air concerts that is also known for its tennis courts.

Chiyoda also contains a number of residential neighborhoods (a number of which are considered to be upper class) and commercial districts. Among these neighborhoods and commercial districts is Marunouchi, which also happens to be located next to the Tokyo Station just opposite of the Ginza district and was recently profiled in a New York Tines article as an up and coming district worth exploring. Other areas worth mentioning include Uchisaiwaichō which is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel and a number of bank headquarters and Ōtemachi, also home to a number of Japanese financial institutions.

For business travelers and expatriates seeking long term accommodations in the area, Bureau Kioicho offers studio apartment type accommodations and is only a few minutes walk from several subway station. It also happens to be near the Imperial Palace grounds – a great location for early morning or evening jogs.

So if you need a centrally located neighborhood to call home that also has the added benefit of open space, a rare commodity in densely populated Tokyo, look no further than Chiyoda.