Dogstar Travel

Day 8 - 2014/10/07 (Tuesday)

Tokyo Tower, Mori Tower and Bunkyo Civic Center

A very late blog of day 8 of my trip so some photos such as those of items are outdated. Omatase Shimashita.

Mina, Ohayou.

The toilet in the hotel is pretty standard and would heat up the seat (ah bliss). The impressive ones are in the office buildings. The toilet facilities are extremely clean but every now and then a lady may go into the mens toilets to ensure everything is in order. Don't be shocked.

Due to the large number of lines and stations in Tokyo it is important to plan ahead before heading out each day. Richmond Hotel have free wifi which is so convenient. Check out the address, cost and hours for each place or venue you will be visiting such as observatories, parks, shrines.

Some more photos of side streets surrounding Sensoji.

A wall mural depicting theSsanja matsuri held at Sensoji on the 3rd Sunday of May every year. A very large festival I have only seen in youtube.

On a budget these small eateries are perfect. The quality of their food is very good.

Yoshinoya a large chain budget restaurant. Their beef bowl and tempura were very good.

Cannot find a bin to discard your trash? Just find a convenience store which are everywhere and sort your trash and dispose of them accordingly.

There are a few of these around the streets. This one is outside Don Quijote obviously.

Go up the escalators of Don Quijote and you get good views.

There is so much to see that little things like this statue can be easily missed.

Quiet now but busy at night especially at the pachinko parlor.

Bicycles are everywhere. Because bicycles are considered viehicles you are also not allowed to drink and ride. You are also not allowed to ride 2 abreast, ride talking on your cell phone and ride holding an umbrella but people do it anyway. As a tourist don't do this but obey their laws.

The mamachari (mama's chariot) is the most common type of bicycle. It is so cute seeing a mother riding a bicycle with a child/babay at the back and the front.

There is a designated smoking area next to the Asakusa Tourist Cultural Information building. You are not allowed to smoke while walking.

A portable shrine displayed in Asakusa station. Many of these can be seen paraded during the Sanja Matsuri.

Yes there are women only carriages. The carriages are women only during specific times.

Making my way to Tokyo Tower.

Mascots for Tokyo Tower. It is the 55th anniversary of the tower. The structure looks brand new. It is so well maintained. Just like Skytree there were no lines. There were only a few people who went up to the observatory.

To compete with Skytree there is now a One Piece exhibit at Tokyo Tower which opened in 2015.

Photo below is looking towards Minato and Hamarikyu Gardens which I visited previous year.

Below you can see all the way to Odaiba.

I did not go there but you get unobstructed views of Tokyo Tower from Zojo-ji and Park Tower below.

The skyline of this area has certainly changed. I watched a documentary on Tokyo Tower which showed how this area below looked during its construction and opening. It is all high rise buildings now. The only thing still the same is Sakurada dori (the road stretching up the middle) in the photo below.

Cannot see Mount Fuji. I have since learned that the best time to see Fuji-san is sun-rise or sun-set.

My next destination is Mori Tower. It is the tall building on the left in the photo below. It is located in Roppongi Hills. I didn't catch a train but walked.

You can see Shinjuku in the distance (photo below). Notable landmarks are the NTT tower and the 2 towers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. If you do not already know the metropolitan govt building has a free observatory. Worth a visit definitely which I did the previous trip. Go just betfore sunset so you can see Fuji-san.

Afterwards checked out the souvenir shop and had lunch at the food court. Only a few people were present. Diohrama of the area during edo? (I cannot remember).

Near Tokyo Tower is the Masonic Building which houses Tokyo's Free Mason's. True. I watched an episode of 'Why did you come to Japan' where the japanese crew followed some tourists who had business here to swear in a new grand master.

Made it to Rappongi. I had no set route. Just navigated the streets an headed towards Mori Tower.

All the observatories I visited this trip had very few customers. Tokyo Tower to the right and Skytree in the distance on the left.

Shinjuku Gyoen and Shinjuku in the distance (below photo)

Below is the National Art Center.

It is difficult to say which observatory is better as they each have unique views of the landscape. Visit them all if you can. Put Skytree and Metropolitan govt building on your list. Kitte observation terrace is a must if you are anywhere near Tokyo station. Choose either Tokyo Tower or Mori Tower (flip a coin if you cannot decide).

Back to Asakusa and convenience store snack.

Next observatory was Bunkyo Civic Center near the Tomkyo Dome Entertainment precinct. One of the best observatories (and also free) to photograph Mt Fuji behind the Shinjuku Skyline. Unfortunately my photos were all blurry.

The roller coaster at the Tokyo Dome entertainment area.

Very blurry photo of Shinjuku. If you have a very powerful telephoto lens you can photograph Mt Fuji in the background of the Metropolitan Government Building in the distance.