Free Bird's Eye View of Tokyo On the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku (wes

t exit) there are two free observation galleries. With stunning views of Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Yokohama, this has to be one of the best free gifts the city has to offer. Open: 09:30am to 05:30 (07:30 on Sunday). Closed: Monday (Tuesday if Monday was a public holiday). Tel 5321 1111. Free Shrines, Temples, Pagoda and Palaces The Imperial Palace There's free admission into the grounds of most shrines and temples. Tokyo's mos t famous are the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Yasukuni Shrine, Sensoji Temple (in Asakusa ) and Zojoji Temple (near Tokyo Tower). Don't forget too, the Imperial Palace. Free Gardens Higashi-Gyoen - The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace (Tokyo Station) The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace are amongst Tokyo's most beautiful. Insi de you'll also find a museum housing Emperor Showa's art collection. Entrance is free. Open: 09:00 am - 04:30 pm (last admission - 04:00pm). Free Parks Yoyogi Park (JR Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line) On a Sunday when Yoyogi Park becomes the centre stage for street performers and bands it's free entertainment all day! Ueno Park (UENO KOEN) (JR Ueno Station on the JR Yamanote Line). Ueno Park is famous for it's cherry blossoms and lotuses. The lotuses bloom in s ummer, the cherry blossoms in late March /early April. Free Museums The Sumo Wrestling Museum (JR Ryogoku Station on the JR Sobu Line) The Sumo Wrestling Museum is next to the Kokugikan Sumo Wrestling Stadium. The e xhibits include pictures of the all-time greats and various bits of memorabilia. (10:30 am - 04:30 pm most days) Another free museum - the Kanto Earthquake Memo rial Museum, is close by. The NHK Broadcasting Museum (Near to Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Subway Line ) With a chance to read your own news bulletin (in English), the NHK Broadcasting Museum also looks at how the 1964 Tokyo Olympics advanced broadcasting technolog y. (9:30 to 4:30 Tuesday to Sunday).

The TEPCO Electric Energy Museum (Shibuya, close to Tower Records). TEPCO stands for the Tokyo Electric Power Company. A large, scale model of a nuc lear reactor is amongst the many exhibits. (10:00am to 06:00pm. Closed Wednesday s). The Kanto Eathquake Memorial Museum (JR Ryogoku Station on the JR Sobu Local Lin e) Situated in the grounds of Tokyo Memorial Temple, the Kanto Earthquake Memorial Museum acknowledges the devastation and loss of life which occurred during the 1 923 earthquake. (9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Mondays.) The Sumo Wrestling Muse um (also free) is close by. Free Places to Soak Up the Atmosphere For a good view of the city skyline go to the promenade that runs along the fron t of the Decks Shopping Mall in Odaiba. (Take the Yurikamome Monorail from JR Sh imbashi Station to Odaiba Kaihen Koen Station) To see more people than you've ever seen before, try walking through Shinjuku St ation in the rush hour, standing at the Ginza Sukiyabashi crossing, or crossing the road next to the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station. For the eccentric and bizarre side of life, go to Harajuku on a Sunday. To feel bang up to date with the latest technology, go to Akihabara. Free Showrooms With all the latest gadgets to try out, the Sony Building in Ginza (near to the Sukiyabashi Crossing) is open everyday from 10:00am to 08:00pm. Toyota Mega Web in Pallette Town, Odaiba is a gigantic car showroom featuring ca rs of the future. It's open 11:00 am to 9:00pm daily. Tel 0070 800 489 000. Free Internet Access In the T-Next Toshiba Showroom in Shinjuku, you can have up to one hour's free i nternet access. The showroom is located on the ninth floor of the Park Tower bui lding. (Leave Shinjuku Station via the South Exit, walk down Koshu Kaido Dori Av enue towards Hatsudai; it's then close to the Washington Hotel). Open 10:00am to 06:00pm, closed on Wednesdays. Tel 03 5322 1048. Almost Free Shopping (100YEN) With everything inside (food, souvenirs, stationery, toiletries etc) costing onl y 100 yen, look out for the "100 Yen" shops! There's one in most districts - the branch in Shibuya has five floors! Free Food and (Coffee Refills) Food

It's free samples galore in the basement food halls of many department stores. A lternatively try the Nakimese Shopping Arcade in Asakusa (Ginza Line or TOEI Asa kusa Line). Coffee Refills Coffee shops and fast food restaurants don't usually offer free refills but Wend y's in Ginza is the exception, as are some branches of McDonalds - watch out for the signs (in English) behind the counter. Free Magazines The listings magazine Tokyo Classified is free, and can be picked up from Tower Records in Shibuya. Free Tissues You won't need to buy tissues in Tokyo. For advertising purposes packet upon pac ket is given out free in the street every day.