Meiji Jingu Shrine offers a peaceful escape from the busy streets of Tokyo, surrounded by a vast forest. Visitors pass through towering torii gates before reaching the shrine’s traditional wooden buildings and spacious courtyard. The shrine also features striking displays of sake barrels and offers an insight into the life and legacy of Emperor Meiji.

Explore HMS Colossus (1882), a pioneering Victorian battleship. Discover her design, armament, service history and rare historic photographs

The permanent exhibition floor at the Edo-Tokyo Museum functions as a magnificent physical timeline, guiding visitors seamlessly from prehistoric circular settlements to the bustling entertainment plazas of old Edo. Crossing the full-scale replica of the historic Nihonbashi Bridg transitions you into the modern era, where the rapid Westernization of the city unfolds through stunning, intricate architectural displays. You can step straight into life-sized pre-war cottages and mid-century apartment kitchens.

Tokyo’s Tsukiji outer market remains a fascinating destination, even after the wholesale fish market’s move to Toyosu. Our guided tour offered an insight into the different cuts of tuna, tastings of sushi and seafood, and a walk through the bustling market streets. Whether exploring with a guide or wandering independently, the incredible variety of produce and lively atmosphere make Tsukiji a memorable Tokyo experience.

Our visit to Shikoroyama Stable offered a fascinating glimpse into the discipline and skill behind sumo wrestling. We watched the wrestlers practise and learned about the sport’s history and importance to Japanese culture. A guided tour is a rewarding way to experience this enduring tradition up close.

Rainy skies hid the top of Tokyo Tower, but the observation deck still offered impressive views across the city. Clouds curled around taller buildings, while Zōjōji Temple lay below, waiting for our visit later that day. The glass floor panels added a slightly unnerving thrill to the experience.

At 12 meters tall by 18 meters long the Ni-Tele Really Big Clock lives up to its name. Designed by animator Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli this masterpiece has 32 separate moving mechanical features. Its design includes unusual characters, miniature workshops, bells, and mechanical limbs. Several times a day, these features spring into action during a musical performance lasting almost three minutes. This happens four times a day on weekdays and five on weekends.

Hie Shrine Tokyo: History, Torii Gates & How to Get There Hie Shrine is a peaceful Shinto sanctuary in central Tokyo, set on a hill near Akasaka and Japan’s political district. During the fifteenth century, the warrior Ota Dokan established a shrine within Edo Castle, bringing its deity from Kawagoe’s Hie Shrine. Under the Tokugawa shoguns, it gained powerful patronage and became a spiritual protector of the ruling family and their city.

Even in the rain, Sensō-ji was busy when we arrived at 8:30 a.m., but we still managed to photograph Hōzōmon Gate and the five-storey pagoda. Inside the main hall, the atmosphere felt calmer as visitors paused to pray. Beyond the temple, Nakamise and the surrounding streets of Asakusa gave us plenty more to explore.

Explore the Tupolev MTB-2 (ANT-44), a Soviet four-engine flying boat developed as a long-range maritime bomber, from its design and testing to wartime service.

Photos of the Thai Navy gunboat HTMS Ratanakosindra. Built in the UK in the mid-1920s, she served in theFranco-Thai War and WW2 scrapped 1967

Photos of the Supermarine Walrus amphibious aircraft. Used by British and Commonwealth countries during the Second World War

Photos of the Supermarine Walrus in civilian use where it was used in the whaling industry and for passenger and freight services

Photos of the Supermarine Walrus New Zealand Service. Used aboard HMS Achilles and HMS Leander and land based at Hobsonville by the RNZAF

Photos of Supermarine Walrus in French Service aircraft used by Flottille 53S at the French Naval Aviation School in Hourtin for training

Photographs of the Junkers Ju 86 in Bolivian Service, both civilian with Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano and the Bolivian Air Force

Photos of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm floatplane the Fairey Seafox. 64 production aircraft built. Served at the start of WW2

Photos of the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Naiad. Commissioned in July 1940. Operated in the North Sea and Mediterranean. Sunk 11 March 1942

A history of the operations of the Vickers Valiant V-Bomber in Australia from missile development to nuclear weapons trials

Photos of the Tupolev Tu-4 Bull a reverse engineered version of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber. 847 were produced

España was a dreadnought battleship of the Spanish Navy. She ran aground 26 August 1923, during the Rif War while bombarding rebel positions.

The variation of the T29 concept, the heavy tank T34, mounted a 120 mm gun based upon the then-current 120mm M1 anti-aircraft gun

The Ikarus IK-2 was a 1930s high-wing, single-seat, monoplane fighter aircraft of Yugoslav design built for the Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force

Jaime I was the third ship of the España-class battleships of the Spanish Navy She was destroyed by internal explosion in 1937

The T42 was an American medium tank armed with a 90mm cannon. Deemed to be underpowered only four prototypes were produced.

The Rogožarski IK-3 was a 1930s Yugoslav monoplane single-seat fighter, designed as a successor to the Ikarus IK-2 fighter.

Photos of the Turkish pre-dreadnought battleship Torgut Reis ex German Brandenburg-class SMS Weissenburg Purchased by Turkey in 1910

The T69 was an experimental American medium tank based on the T42 medium tank. Armed with a 105mm gun in an oscillating turret only 1 built

Photos of the Rogožarski SIM-XIV-H, a Yugoslav three seat float plane, used for reconnaissance and light bombing. 19 were built

CGT Yavuz was a Moltke-class battlecruiser launched in 1911. Transferred to Ottoman Empire in 1914 as Yavuz Sultan Selim. Scrapped 1973

The SMK was tank prototype developed by the Soviet Union prior to the WW2. Only one was built It was trialled in the war with Finland

The T-100 was a Soviet twin-turreted heavy tank prototype, designed in 1938–39 as a possible replacement for the T-35. Only one was built