Category: Japan

Tokyo Tower

I made my way south to Tokyo Tower from Okachimachi station to Hamamatsu-cho station, via the Yamanote line.Ā The sun seemed like it was really trying to break out of the clouds along the way.

Hamamatsu-cho station was still familiar to me from the week before so navigating through it was nice and quick.Ā Emerging out onto the street in front of theĀ World Trade Center BuildingĀ that sits next the station, I hopped in a taxi and made my way to Tokyo Tower.

The ride was actually much shorter than Iā€™d anticipated, and before I knew it, Iā€™d arrived right in front of the ticket windows of Tokyo Tower.

Standing on the ground and looking skyward, Tokyo Tower was impressive enough, with itā€™sĀ international orange painted girdersā€™sĀ reaching high into the sky above. Maybe itā€™s not as elegant as say the Eiffel Tower, but itā€™s still magnificent enough and I was looking forward to the grand views of Tokyo that awaited me. The tower itself is 1,093 feet tall with the main observation deck located just about halfway up at a height of 450 feet. There is a higher deck (at 820ft high) but it seemed to have long wait for it, so I passed on it.

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Ameya-yokocho

Morning had arrived and I was dragging a bit waking up. I was definitelyĀ missing the first few days after arriving in Japan, where I could easily wake up at 6am and go all day. I was officially on Japan time just as my trip was wrapping up- perfect.

I got up and did my normal routine- ate my yogurt with Frosties, had some coffee, showered, gathered my gear then called home. While I was Facetimeā€™ing with home, I began to notice balloons floating up past my window on the 26th floor. It was amusing to watch them float higher and higher, up past the top of the Tokyo Government Building (and itsā€™ 48 floors) and then off into the far distant blue. Curious as to where the balloons came from, I peered out my window down to the street far below and saw some sort of celebration coming to an end. To mark the end of it, they released the balloons. Definitely a fun sight the to start the day with.

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Kyoto to Tokyo

The cab ride back fromĀ Nishiki MarketĀ to Kyoto Station was pretty quick. It was hot in the back seat, and I began to sweat like crazyĀ as we sped down the back alley streets. My driver didnā€™t seem to have any interest in using the air conditioning (at least not in a way that emitted any cold air) so to make the best of the situation, I used myĀ hand fanĀ to cool off and listened along to theĀ classical music coming from theĀ radio.

We sped passed the curiously named ā€œTits Cafeā€ before emerging out onto Karasuma Dori, upon which we made a left turn and headed south, towards Kyoto Station. I had the driver stop early to let me out in front of the Yodobashi Camera store, just a block north from the station. It was new since the last time I had been in Kyoto and not really any different from any other Yodobashi Camera, but still, why not have a look, right?

I did a fairly quick walk through of the floors of the giant Yodobashi, ending my tour in the basement. Then it was out the connecting tunnel that leads into the underground Porta shopping area. I saw my beloved KYK Tonkatsu restaurant and bid it farewell until the next time. Then up the escalator and I was back outside standing in front of Kyoto Station in the rain.

The time was now about 4pm and my train was departing at 4:56pm. I decided to spend a few minutes in the large station entrance, having one last look around. Itā€™s such a huge complex, the main open area feels like some sort of modern cathedral.

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Nishiki Market, Kyoto (part 2)

So, with my newly bought tea stashed in my camera bag, I continued on.

This house was just outside the market on a side street. I love the shape and pattern of the womanā€™s umbrella against the verticals in the house.

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