Au Japon, les accents sont une vraie passion typographique. Pas de gateaux, des gâteaux : on n'oublie pas les circonflexes.
À défaut, on met des accents là où ils n'ont pas lieu d'être, prouvent encore une fois qu'en effet, le mieux est l'ennemi du bien (ça y est, je viens de rentrer dans le 3ème âge avec cette phrase, uh uh …)

Nb. C'est amusant de voir combien c'est répandu dans le paysage urbain, alors que c'est la misère à faire avec un clavier qwerty.

Je jure que je n'ai touché à rien, c'était tel quel dans une pharmacie de Chofu

A wee wander through the heart of Tokyo, past some of its most renowned institutions, most beautiful green areas, and oldest neighbourhoods, you will see many sides of Tokyo, some impressive sights and stories to ponder. Walking time can vary between 1 and 3 hours depending on what you include. This is first run through for me, so this post will cover the basics with hints at what else there is to bee seen. Its a walk I often take to work, and over the years I've had the chance to explore all the little corners along the way, always finding something that I'd missed the last time!

 Ichigaya station is pretty centrally located, it sits on the banks of the  the outer northern palace moat. Fishing available infront of the station should you fancy it. Being a hub of 4 major train lines, there are commuters bustling to the nearby offices and students coming and going to Hosei University near by. To the north lies the interesting old town area of Kagurazaka, but we'll leave that for another time, today we're heading east.

 A path leads away from the station elevated above the moat  and tracks giving views over Tokyo to the north east. This path is the haunt of salarymen taking a break from their offices around Ichigaya station, and students students returning from classes. The path is covered for most of its length my cherry trees, leaning over and down towards the railway.

Soon we turn away from this path which would eventually lead on to Iidabashi, and head up the hill, skirting Hosei University and the a back of Yasakuni Shrine.

Yasakuni is perhaps Tokyo's most notorious shrine, mainly because it houses the remains of soldiers who died fighting for Japan, however its also one of this cities most spectacular,  lying as it does at the end of a broad tree lined avenue, bounded by massive iron gates as well as traditional wooden ones.

Yasakuni grounds contain ornamental gardens, flower displays and of course the War Museam.

If you're in Tokyo over new year or summer holidays you would have the chance to see Yasakuni full of revellers who come to celebrate the season with beer and fried noodles.

Turning our back on the Shrine we head down the avenue, over a foot bridge, past more moats and up through one of the Imperial Palace complex's most defensive old gates to the Budoukan, the premier halls catering for musical concerts (the Beatles played here) and sporting events alike, all topped by the famous Golden Onion! 

Surrounding the Budoukan are some very pretty gardens, ponds, open lawns, museums and art galleries.  After exploring as much or as little as suits one of my favourite gates in central Tokyo, Shimizu-mon, which provides a nice serene back door to this area. Once through this and along the entrance way, we're heading through the back streets of Tokyo again towards Jinbocho, Tokyo's town of books.

Whether youre after century old manuscript, a cheep thriller in any language, Manga or even something a bit saucy, Jinbocho can provide.  One of Tokyo's oldest neigbourhoods with back alleys to explore aplenty, life to observe, things going on, bustle, hustle and strife.  Also full of good eating establishments so a good place to take lunch.

As well as being the gathering place of Tokyo's bibliophiles, Jinbocho also the home of the Ski set with shops to cater for everything you could possibly need should you be heading for the slopes, whilst just up the hill towards Ochanomizu its the turn of guitar shops. Its also a short walk from here to Akihabara, Kanda, the Imperial Gardens or even Tokyo station, so theres plenty to continue on to but, thats the end of this little section. The whole is never complete of course, and thats the joy of Tokyo Trekking.