Tokyo Station and Marunouchi

Located between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, Marunouchi (丸の内) is one of Japan's most prestigious business districts. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), Marunouchi (literally "within the enclosure") was located within the outer moats of Edo Castle and contained the residences of some of Japan's most powerful feudal lords. Together with neighboring Otemachi, Marunouchi is now home to the headquarters of many of Japan's most powerful companies, particularly from the financial sector.

Over the past decades, Marunouchi has been receiving a major facelift, led by the Mitsubishi Estate company, which owns a lot of the land in the district. Many older office buildings were replaced by new skyscrapers with offices on their upper floors and a variety of shops and restaurants on their lower floors. These newly opened shopping and dining complexes have revitalized the formerly unexciting business district and are drawing an increased number of non-business visitors and tourists.