Tokyo on Sundays
you can visit the park in front of the Imperial Palace. The roads through the gardens are closed to all cars, a bicycle route is cordoned off for visitors to ride around. Bicycles are provided free in exchange for your hotel address and phone number.
Nicola Martinsen

From Observer Escape
We don't know of any companies that offer specific hi-tech tours, but you could easily build some hi-tech attractions to your own Japanese itinerary. Here are,a few options to get you started. Megaweb (www,megaweb.gr.jp/English) is an exhibition centre for old and new cars, where the most up-to-date and technically sophisticated Toyotas are displayed. It's located in the Tokyo Bay area so is easily accessible from the city. For gadgets, the Ginza Sony Building is tne place to go. Part showroom and part entertainment complex, you can play with cameras, audio and video appliances and a dazzling number of products that haven't even been on sale yet. It's at one of Tokyo's busiest intersections, Sukiyabashi Crossing, and is open every day. If you're keen to go on tours of factories, most companies offer trips to see the production line, with English - spoken on the tours. You do need to book ahead. These include Toyota, Mazda, Nissan and the Toshiba Science Institute (apparently as' full of robot prototypes dancing and changing TV channels as you'd hope). For contact details of the attractions and companies listed above, plus general information on visiting Japan, contact the Japanese National Tourist Office (020 7734 9638; www.seejapan.co.uk).