Temples, traditional bathhouses, beaches, parks and gardens draw visitors to Ota. The largest of Tokyo's 23 special wards sits on the shores of Tokyo Bay and encompasses Tokyo International Airport, the gateway to Japan. Experience Japanese bathing culture, visit centuries-old shrines and unwind by the sea.

If you've just stepped off a plane after a long flight, relax in one of Ota's many beautiful and tranquil green spaces. Whether you want a waterside stroll, a picturesque picnic spot or a place rich in fauna, there's a park or garden for you.

Walk along the tree-shaded paths of Senzokuike Park then rent a pedal boat or rowboat for a trip around Senzokuike Pond. Wander through Ikegami Baien, a small hillside park with more than 300 plum trees. A good time to visit is in February and March when the trees are blooming fragrant pink and white blossoms. Go for stroll along a sandy shoreline at Ōmori Furusato-no-Hamabe Park.

Enjoy more chilled out moments in any of the onsens, which are natural hot spring water public baths. Ota also encompasses numerous sentos, communal bathing facilities that use hot water from a tap or well.

Go on a temple tour to see ancient architecture and monuments. Climb up the 96 stairs that lead to Ikegami Honmonji Temple, a large hilltop complex. It features a five-story pagoda from the early 17th century and a mausoleum containing the ashes of Saint Nichiren, a Japanese Buddhist priest who died here in 1282. Walk beneath the torii gates of the early 19th-century Anamori Inari Shrine and study the many fox statues.

If you're looking for a good night out, go to Kamata, a downtown district with plenty of bars and restaurants, especially along Bourbon Road.

Reach Ota easily from Tokyo International Airport, known locally as Haneda Airport. Get around by car, public transportation, or by renting a bike from one of the bike stations located across the district.