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PLACES & LOCATIONS +++++++++ Tokyo Babylon makes Tokyo come alive, as though the city were a living, breathing entity with special characteristics of its own. All the places listed here have been mentioned at least once or twice Tokyo Babylon or X manga, and most are central to the development of the story. Thanks to Wikipedia, TokyoPop and various tourist sites for the useful info. Ikebukuro >> JR Ikebukuro Station is a large subway station in Tokyo visible from the Sunshine 60 and other high-rise buildings in Shinjuku. Connected to four private railways and situated in the culture center that is downtown Ikebukuro, the station is frequented by thousands of commuters everyday and also the place where Subaru and Seishirou met for the second time. Kabuki-cho >> Kabuki-cho is a district of Tokyo located near Shinjuku Station. Cho means district and kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theater. Also known as the city's red-light district or "pleasure center", Kabuki-cho is home to a variety of department stores, restaurants and nightclubs as well as Seishirou's animal clinic. The Sumeragi twins also live in the vicinity of Kabuki-cho. Nakano Sun Plaza >> Nakano Sun Plaza is a large venue near Nakano Station in Nakano-ku, one of Tokyo's 32 special wards. It's a cultural hall where special events such as music concerts or exhibitions in Tokyo are held, and its collection of old records or used items attract a lot of people. Over the years, a lot of music bands from overseas have held concerts at the Nakano Sun Plaza. Rainbow Bridge >> The Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing Tokyo Harbor and connecting the Tokyo waterfront with Odaiba. The two main towers are distanced 570m from each other and the entire bridge is stretched over 918m. The bridge was built in the 62th year of the Showa Era (1987) and completed in the 5th year of the Hese Era (1994). Its name derived from the changing colored lights on the bridge that can be seen in the evening. The bridge is the backdrop of the infamous Rainbow Bridge incident where Subaru and Seishirou's last showdown took place. Shinjuku >> Shinjuku is a special ward as well as a major commercial and administrative center located in central Tokyo. It was founded in 1947, and is now home to the headquarters of the Tokyo government, the Self-Defense Force barracks and other prominent locations. For tourists and shoppers, it's a trendy district with countless department stores, boutiques, clubs and quirky cultural attractions. Commonly known as the capital of Tokyo, its subway the Shinjuku station is a major transit hub for thousands of people who commute daily to and from work. Sunshine 60 >> Sunshine 60 is a 60-storey building in the east of the Ikebukuro district. It was built in 1978, and is one of the tallest buildings in Japan containing offices, shops, restaurants and a hotel. In X, Sunshine 60 is one of the seven major barrier fields that protect Japan from destruction. Tokyo Tower >> At 11 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, the Tokyo Tower's design was based on the Parisian landmark and stands as one of the tallest self-supporting steel towers in the world. The tower was constructed in the 1950s when Japan wanted a monument to symbolize its economic rise and completed in 1958. There are two observatory floors in the tower providing breath-taking views of Tokyo, making it a popular tourist attraction. The tower also broadcasts 14 television/radio signals, and houses various museums, souvenir shops, restaurants and an aquarium. Ueno Park >> Ueno Park is a spacious public park in the Ueno section of the Taito ward. It's another tourist attraction that draws as many crowds as do Central Park in NYC or Hyde Park in London. The surrounding area is a cultural hub with restaurants, restaurants and concert venues as well as the popular Ueno Zoo. In Tokyo Babylon, Seishirou and the twins love visiting the park, either for a leisurely stroll, picnic or simply to watch the cherry blossom in first bloom. The largest cherry tree in the park is supposedly rejuvenated by having human souls fed to its barrow by the Sakurazukamori. |