Eki-citing Tokyo: Solving the riddles of Tokyo Station
Located in the heart of Tokyo (東京都 Tōkyō-to), many of you have probably passed through it to catch a shinkansen (新幹線) or hop onto the Yamanote Line (山手線 Yamanote-sen). Yet, how well do you actually know Tokyo Station (東京駅 Tōkyō-eki) and the plethora of shops, restaurants, and lines that make it up?
Join us for a livestream from Tokyo Station, as our hosts try to solve three riddles at Tokyo Station. Successfully solving all three riddles will be rewarded with an exclusive look at the unseen side of Tokyo Station.
Riddle #1: The riddle of the gourmand
A wide variety of food choices are available to whet every appetite. (Image credit: Kakunoshin Hamburg & Bar, NIPPON RAMEN RIN TOKYO)
With a chock full of restaurants, cafes, and food stands across all sorts of cuisines, it can be really hard to pick one to eat at.
What do you think is the top type of cuisine amongst foreign visitors at Tokyo Station? Pretty hard to guess, right? Here’s a hint, the top three types are: sushi (寿司), meat, and ramen (ラーメン). Recall your favourite restaurant or the ones that you always see with snaking queues, and maybe you can figure out the answer.
Riddle #2: The riddle of souvenirs
Shopping galore! The choices are endless, just like these colourful acrylic tags that cover A to Z, and much more. (Image credit: VINYL)
Whenever my friends head to Japan, I always look forward to the omiyage (お土産 souvenirs) they bring back. While most people might think of getting their omiyage at Haneda or Narita airports, Tokyo Station is actually a very popular choice for the locals after getting off their shinkansen.
Which traditional Japanese gift is considered to be “sustainable wrapping”? Need another hint? That’s going to be tough. Well, without giving too much away, all I can say is that it’s not a type of food or snack.
Riddle #3: The riddle of history
Tokyo Station: now and then. (Image credit: Jeremy Jee, JR East)
If you’ve only explored Tokyo Station through its underground passageways, you would be forgiven for thinking that Tokyo Station is just another station. Entering the station from the Marunouchi (丸の内) side, you would be greeted by a majestic red-brick building. With a history that spans over 100 years, this building was most recently restored in 2012.
What are the sculptures that sit within the North-South Dome (南北ドーム Nanboku Dōmu) at Tokyo Station? Not going to give you any clues for this one.
Reward: The unseen side of Tokyo Station
Cue flashbacks to all the embarrassing questions you had to ask the station staff. (Image credit: Tokyo Station City)
You’ve seen them ready to talk behind the counter window. You’ve asked them for help when you lost something on the train. You’ve been saved by their helpful directions when lost at a station. Despite the language barrier, the station staff always go the extra mile to try and understand your request, and lend a helping hand.
What happens to these station staff after the last train stops? Do they magically go poof after the last train, and magically reappear before the first train? Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the life of a station staff at Tokyo Station.
Join us to solve these three riddles of Tokyo Station at TJRF 2021
Meet Yuriko, who will be one of your guides this coming 16 of October.
Follow our hosts, Yuriko and Jet Ti, on a livestream featuring Tokyo Station on 16 October, as they solve these three riddles of Tokyo Station. As they take you on a journey through Tokyo Station, pick up clues to solve each riddle, and then make your final guess. At the end, they will be joined by a very special guest from Tokyo Station. Watch it below!
(Image credit: JAPAN RAIL CAFE)
A virtual trip to Japan with TJRF 2021
(Image credit: JAPAN RAIL CAFE)
Following the success of last year’s first ever The Japan Rail Fair, JAPAN RAIL CAFE is back for another virtual trip with TJRF 2021 (16–17, 23 October 2021)! This year’s TJRF coincides nicely too with Japan’s Railway Day (14 Oct), so I’m rail-ly excited to check out what kind of webinars will be in store this year. If you’re a train fan like me, programs such as DISCOVER NOW LIVE and workshops conducted by the friendly crew from Hachinohe Train Depot and Fukushima Train Depot will surely pique your interest as this is a rare chance to get up close and personal with the people that keep the stations running.
But more importantly, I’m tuning in to DISCOVER NOW LIVE because that’s where the answers to the riddles above will be revealed. I can’t wait!
This article is written in collaboration with Tokyo Station City.
Header image credit: LERK / CC-BY-SA 4.0
Related Articles
Jeremy Jee
Latest Topics
