| As the summer arrives and the sun leaves, many UK | | | | a childlike and playful day out. The museum includes |
| holidaymakers are now reconsidering their plans for | | | | permanent exhibitions on the history and |
| the holidays. As the recession-hit travel industry | | | | development of animation, as well as temporary |
| becomes increasingly competitive, Tokyo in Japan | | | | collections that display pioneering works in the field |
| has never been more accessible to the curious | | | | from all corners of the world. Past exhibitions have |
| holidaymaker - and offers an unforgettable holiday | | | | included Aardman, Pixar and Spirited Away. |
| experience. What follows are some great places to | | | | Japanese Sword Museum |
| visit in the capital of J-Pop and monster movies. | | | | In contrast to the Japan's love for all things cute, |
| Tokyo Tower | | | | fans of Kill Bill and the samurai tradition of Japan may |
| At the mention of monster movies, the Tokyo | | | | be interested in a visit to the Japanese Sword |
| Tower as an icon is perhaps as recognizable as | | | | Museum. The museum is dedicated to the art of |
| Godzilla and Mothra themselves. The 333 metre | | | | sword-making, and houses over 150 items including |
| tower, that bears a structural similarity to the Eiffel | | | | katana (the traditional curved samurai sword) and |
| Tower in Paris, is one of the most visited attractions | | | | O-yoroi (or, great armour). It is located in Shibuya-ku, |
| in the city whilst also boasting a practical purpose as | | | | but closed on Mondays. |
| a support for media antennae. However, the tower is | | | | Museum of Contemporary Art |
| much more than a tall building with observation decks | | | | For something a little more high-brow, the Museum of |
| (which are certainly worth the climb), at the base of | | | | Contemporary Art offers much variety with a fair |
| the tower is FootTown, a four-storey building that | | | | amount of popular culture influence. For example, |
| includes a wax museum and the Guinness World of | | | | throughout the summer The Colors of Mary Blair |
| Records Museum. | | | | focuses on the work of one of the most influential |
| Ghibli Museum | | | | animation colourists famed for her work with Disney. |
| No doubt one of the biggest exports from Japan in | | | | Permanent works include eastern artists such as |
| recent years has been the output from anime | | | | Teppei Kaneuji, as well as western legends of pop |
| producers, Studio Ghibli. The Ghibli Museum is located | | | | art: Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. |
| in the western suburb of Mitaka in Tokyo, and offers | | | | |