Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo's Shibuyu district by night. Photo Creative Commons License Anthony J. Hicks.

Tokyo (東京, "Eastern Capital") is the home of the Japanese government and the emperor. It is also the nation's most populous urban area: 12 million people - 10 percent of the country's population - live in Tokyo. A vibrant modern city, Tokyo may not have the wealth of historic religious sites boasted by cities like Kyoto or Nara, but it is still home to an interesting array of Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and other sacred sites ranging from Christian churches to Confucian temples.

Meiji Shrine
A Shinto shrine dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, Meiji is surrounded by lush forests that are a haven of peace in the big city.
Yasukuni Shrine
A Shinto shrine honoring Japanese soldiers killed in combat, Yasakuni also functions as a Japanese war museum.
This ancient temple in Asakusa is home to the biggest festival in Tokyo and features a huge main gate, a five-story pagoda and a main hall dedicated to Kannon.