Feast your eyes on the best restaurants in Tokyo: from hearty cheap eats to modern Japanese cuisine and Michelin-starred stalwarts. Emergency telephone numbers can be called from home phones, mobile phones, and public phones. Here is filled with a striking amount of diversity offering some must-see areas for travelers and natives. 2. : JR Ebisu (Yamanote line) and Tokyo Metro Ebisu (Hibiya line). There are some things that Japan really gets right. With this the techniques that Japan transferred to developing countries will later be “re-transferred” to neighboring countries. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... 41 terms. There are also cases of local governments learning about the results of community policing and independently raising funds and constructing a koban, then placing a regional police officer in it. With a little interior renovation work it could be turned into one of those classic kissaten cafés that were all the rage in the early 20th century.  Incidentally, this koban faces the equally stylish Police Museum. Intersections in Tokyo are called a crossing (and more recently a scramble); it seems every district has a famous crossing. use them to make their rounds throughout the day. However, not everyone is comfortable about putting one’s self at risk. As you can see from the pedestrian traffic outside -- and the area map on the right -- many people use these places as information centers and often stop by to ask for directions. It's filled with old buildings that attract young business owners. “Koban” is located in urban areas, where police officers work in shifts. They serve 2 main functions: offer information to those in need of assistance, first line of defense to maintain law and order, surveys. Each koban is usually staffed by a group of 4 police - 3 officers under the command of a sergeant working on 3 shifts of 8 hours under the control of the city or ward police station. A “koban safari” is a fun alternative way to explore Tokyo. A typical koban is a small two-story building with two or more rooms. TOKYO - SEPTEMBER 23: Close-up of a Japanese police car on September 23, 2011 in Tokyo. Koban, or "police boxes," can be found throughout the various districts of Japan's cities and towns and are staffed by police officers who give directions, help resolve disputes among residents, patrol the neighborhood, and respond to local emergencies, with strong link with local residents. The view on the Tokyo Skytree in the distance is amazing and the wind blowing along the bridge is nice and refreshing especially during the hot summer months. To report a fire or ask for an ambulance or rescue services, contact the nearest fire station at 119. Not only do the countries of Central America have a common language, they have similar social and cultural backgrounds and often face the same development challenges. It is the focus of the vast metropolitan area often called Greater Tokyo, the largest urban and industrial agglomeration in Japan. Garden landscaping is another. In Japan, neighborhood safety is placed in the hands of middle-aged, no-nonsense cops. Here are just a few examples you can find around Tokyo. The location is amazing bec there’s a lot of good restaurants and stores in the vicinity. Train and subway stations have also closed their trash cans and added warning signs in their stations. From 2011 to 2013, the Third Country Training Program (2) was carried out in Brazil for El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras. The rooster is the tenth symbol in the Japanese zodiac. In this kind of area, it was reported that police officers who speak the indigenous language holding meetings, giving explanations and holding discussions with residents had the effect of shrinking the distance between the police and residents. I’ve been trying to write a book about Sanya, my neighborhood in Tokyo. For the Japanese, they have done what they can to eliminate the dangers looming about them. The police can sometimes go to great lengths to blend with their surroundings. Here, the brave copsquad is constantly in danger of succumbing to the relentless assault of a mixed bunch of lost tourists and nightlife-loving high school girls. guards the northern limits of the chic Ginza district. A firm relationship of trust has been built between the police and residents and this is expected to lead to improved security. 1. Why, they give directions to crowds of shopaholics while trying to look inconspicuous -- hence the mirror camouflage. People are inclined to listen to the explanations of police who speak their local language (Guatemala)A police officer teaches crime prevention classes and lead physical exercises at elementary schools (El Salvador). 20. Sixty years ago, 3 types of gold coins from the 17th and 18th centuries were discovered at a construction site in downtown Tokyo. Why, they give directions to crowds of shopaholics. : Tokyo Metro Ginza (Ginza, Marunouchi and Hibiya lines). In Central America, atrocious crime by the youth gang MS-13 and others is becoming more serious as worsening security has become a social problem because of the region's status as a waypoint for the narcotics trade. The host country provides training for participants from neighboring countries that have common social, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Possibly not by chance, this stunning-looking koban is just a few meters away from Mandarake’s underground anime and manga megastore. Based on such trends, JICA is supporting SICA's activities by continually dispatching regional cooperation advisers. As a result its home to many offbeat shops, cafes and bars. Extra Tips: 1. Tokyo, and Japan in general, are justly praised for their overall safety. the rural koban, more like a house in a village, over 7500. Steel and sharp angles -- a cool look for one of the more-visited police stations in the whole of Japan. Tokyo consists of about 14 urban hubs, each of which is like a small city. Tokyo is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — have a look at each of them.. Tōkyō (東京) is the capital of Japan.With over 13 million people within the city limits alone, Tokyo is the core of the most populated urban area in the world, Tokyo Metropolis (which has a population of over 37 million people). The Japanese “koban” system was developed as a mechanism of community policing that inhibits and prevents crime (1). Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana in Spanish. It is located at the head of Tokyo Bay on the Pacific coast of central Honshu. I’m trying to figure out what the book is —maybe it’s a memoir of a year spent living in the neighborhood. Originally the “rakes,” called “kumade,” were used as agricultural tools, but they soon became a symbol of “raking in” luck and monetary fortune, so they became decorative. Chuzaisho. Ginza 1-chome Koban. Brazil's initiatives have drawn interest from various Central American countries with the same kind of security problems Brazil faces. At the approach to the shopping street, there is a well-known photo spot called “Yuyake Dandan” which is gentle sloped stairs where the charming view of the shopping street can be captured. Nearest stations: JR Shibuya (Yamanote line) and Tokyo Metro Shibuya (Ginza, Hanzomon and Fukutoshin lines). And creating a … Note the bicycles, with their white rear clipboard boxes, parked in front of the. If you are tired and not up to walking and taking the train, the taxis are great and super cheap (starting at 410 yen and increasing by 80 yen per 237km after the first 1.052km). In 1995, the state of São Paulo, Brazil, faced a serious security problem, and a block of São Paulo city was even designated by the United Nations as "the world's most dangerous area." 7. When not editing and publishing his many 'zines, he writes on all things Japanese for "Vogue Italia. The 175m street is lined by numbers of small locally owned shops, cafes and food stalls. The koban system is steadily becoming established in Brazil and establishing a record for improving public safety. It is a very old and well established restaurant. Police officers from each country visited Brazil, and for 10 days they underwent training on the theory and practice of regional policing, building relationships with residents, mediation techniques and other topics. There are neighborhood Police boxes (called "koban") all over the place. Up to ten policemen are known to crowd these Lilliputian bastions of law and order, day and night. In Japanese it is often called tori, and it is associated with gain and business fortune. Tokyo, formerly (until 1868) Edo, city and capital of Tokyo to (metropolis) and of Japan. Today the koban system is spreading to Central and South America with Brazil as the point of origin. In 2013, there was an incident in which soldiers were placed in koban in Tegucigalpa to replace police officers, but residents living near the koban protested, "We don't need any soldiers. With the cooperation of the National Police Agency of Japan, JICA has assisted with the introduction of the koban system in various countries since the 1980s. . More on CNNGo: Police turn a blind eye to Tokyo sex clubs. They were made in the Edo period, and are called 'koban.' Take this austere-looking, fake brick building that guards the northern limits of the chic Ginza district. Both Fukagawa Fudo and Reigan-ji are free to visit. Next, cross the Sumida River via the simple yet magnificent Kiyosu Bridge. This page lists all of the Tokyo districts of interest to travelers. 19. Dispatching qualified people from developing countries to other developing countries. As you can see from the pedestrian traffic outside -- and the area map on the right -- many people use these places as information centers and often stop by to ask for directions. They belong to the most wanted criminals du jour including some yakuza and a couple of Aum Shinrikyo cultists the cops haven’t managed to nab, 16 years after their deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.Â. Police car at the Gion Matsuri festival at hot summer day in Kyoto. To overcome their common challenges, they are advancing regional integration and intra-regional cooperation through regional organizations such as Central American Integration System (SICA, 4). We call police boxes in two ways; “Koban” and “Chuzaisho”. Excessively naughty people and drunk salarymen often spend the night on the upper floors of these police stations. : JR Shibuya (Yamanote line) and Tokyo Metro Shibuya (Ginza, Hanzomon and Fukutoshin lines). Nearest stations: Tokyo Metro Asakusa (Ginza line) and Toei Asakusa (Asakusa line). With a little interior renovation work it could be turned into one of those classic kissaten cafés that were all the rage in the early 20th century.Â, What do the cops do in the shopping capital of Japan? More on CNNGo: Go round the bend at Tokyo’s driving-test centers, Gianni Simone is a mail artist and freelance writer from Italy. in urban areas, staffed by 2-12 per shift, over 6500 koban. A Brazilian expert, right, visiting El Salvador, listens as a local policeman talks about activities there. Notes: What do the cops do in the shopping capital of Japan? So in 2005, the Sao Paulo Police Department began exchanging techniques with police organizations in other Central American countries for them to learn community policing practices based on the experience of the Sao Paulo police. From traditional Japanese architecture to art deco and ultra-tech futurism, every style is represented in these quirky little boxes. Moreover, in various parts of El Salvador, officers from the Sao Paulo Police Department carried out training as JICA Third Country Experts (3) and gave guidance to police officers in areas where community policing is being expanded. Note the mug shots plastered on the right. With a number 1 ranking in population among the world's urban areas, it's no wonder the city has so much to offer. JICA supports such activities. Show Prices . It is called Yabu. “ Good option for Shinjuku/ downtown tokyo ” “ It is very accessible to the metro. Also, here you will likely see some of the rare breed of female police officers -- an unusual event in a male-dominated field. In June 2013, in La Union city in the eastern part of El Salvador, the first koban in the country was built with JICA's cooperation. This mirror-walled beauty sits just near Ginza Crossing, one of the most famous places in Japan. Koban and Chuzaisho. And Osaka City is located 50 km or 31 miles from Kansai Airport, which is situated on a manmade island in Osaka Bay. 4. I start with the Tokyo Station and Marunouchi Area and then work out from there. 1. Tea is one of those things. Koban. The police can sometimes go to great lengths to blend with their surroundings. This koban is right next to Ebisu's JR and subway stations. GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN Tokyo City is located about 100 km or 60 miles West of Narita Airport. Japan Stations are subdivided into police boxes called. The breakfast buffet is good. ” JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Shinjuku. One of those countries is Brazil. Kaminarimon koban stands at the entrance of one of the most visited tourist spots in the world: Sensoji, Asakusa's famous Buddhist temple. 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