Tokyo Part I

Tokyo was another city that I wanted to cross of my sightseeing list. Unfortunately it is a really big city and there are tons of things to see and do. In one respect this is difficult because there is no way you can really do everything in just a few days. But because there is so much variety, you can generally find things really catered towards your interests (there is a street that is literally lined with used bookstores (ie. heaven) but on to that in the next post).

Being a big city filled with skyscrapers (Japanese architecture has really mastered the vertical climb as land is so little and so expensive) and Tokyo best seen in panorama at the top of a tall building. In 1958 the Tokyo TV tower was built primarily for broadcasting purposes, but soon became an attraction open to the public to get a good view of the city.

Tokyo Tower (Japan-Guide.com)

The orange Eiffel Tower shaped building sticks out when you get up near it, but because the city has expanded so much since it's construction, it actually doesn't give you a complete uninhibited view. Many of the building surrounding measure up just as tall and imposingly when you're looked. Nevertheless it was quite cool to see.

 THE VIEW FROM THE TOP!

Because the Tokyo Tower just isn't high enough any more, the city has constructed a newer modern counterpart called the Tokyo Sky Tree which just opened up in 2012. The building is almost twice as tall as the TV tower but it's purpose is specifically for tourists to see the city.

Tokyo Sky Tree (Japan-Guide.com)

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP!

What I liked most about the Tokyo Sky Tree was actually inside of the building, before you got up to the viewing platform. All over the entrances there were murals with animated flat screens integrated into the painted backdrop showing the city in motion and little clipping of history or fun facts about the city. It made the half hour wait (and that was short!) go a bit shorter.

Asakusa Temple is probably the one of the most visited temples in Japan, because it's right in downtown Tokyo. Like many temples in Japan, it is a little mecca in the bustling downtown, except that Asakusa is so popular, it's basically like being in the city any way. The large red lantern that is visible from the main street is the entrance to Temple.

Surrounding the large temple is shopping street with lots of foreigners and locals haggling over snacks and souvenirs. Once you get past the crowd you get to the temple itself which is very large and very ornate. There was a pretty sizeable crowd of people inside, praying. There is also a pagoda and a torii gate belonging to the Asakusa shrine, but again there is a bit of crowd maneuvering involved with getting a good view.