November 2016, part eight - Tokyo 2/2

Tokyo part 2/2

Statue of Ichikawa Danjuró IX, one of the most famous Kabuki actors in Asakusa

So we have already experienced an earthquake, and in addition to this in Tokyo in November for a very unusual phenomenon - snowfall. Specifically, for the first time in 54 years. But the snow was quickly melting and the weather was more than under the dog, so  it did not bring much joy.

View from our room at the Hotel Palace Japan, snowing outside

Of course, on TV they closely followed this natural phenomenon in the news and devoted at least as much as the earthquake before.

24th November 2016 - first snow in Tokyo in November after 54 years

On this wet day we went to the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno.

On the way to museum in Ueno park

Some exhibits were interesting, but I expected more from this museum overall.

A samurai sword - katana

Gold and bronze historical currencies

Not to forget, the day before we visited the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. Ghibli is the most famous Japanese studio producing animated films. Director and screenwriter Hajao Miyazaki, who co-founded the studio, represents a true legend of animation. His most famous works include the Oscar-winning Journey to Fantasy (2001). A little more about Miyazaki and his work here.

Probably everyone knows that Tokyo is an extremely populated city. A visit to Shibuya gave me a new meaning for the term "sea of people". Shibuya is a meeting place for young people in particular, just a hip neighborhood that lives in fashion, cafes and entertainment. With huge illuminated signs, it's practically a Japanese Times Square. Crossing the road outside the train station has been featured in many films, including Lost in Translation with Bill Murray. Nearby is a statue of the famous dog Hachiko, who waited for his master in front of the station.

The iconic Shibuya crossing

Shibuya thus completes the image of Tokyo for foreigners, and many people who were not in Japan will imagine this part of town when Tokyo is mentioned. But I prefer a quieter image of Tokyo, like on the image below:

The quiet Tokyo

A bit closer to heaven

On the last day of our visit (25th November), unlike the previous day, the weather in Tokyo was sunny and we enjoyed seeing it from above. From a respectful height...

Skytree (634 meters) is Japan's tallest building and the second tallest free-standing structure in the world (the first is the 828-meter Burj Chalifa in Dubai). It was completed in 2012. The observation decks are 350 and 450 meters high. The whole complex under this broadcasting tower includes a metro station, many shops and restaurants, as well as a planetarium, a museum and an aquarium (!). It is interesting that the name "Skytree" was chosen by national vote.

On the way to sky

The view from above was just amazing. You really feel like up there in the sky. Visibility was great, although it could have been even better, for example, it was not possible to see Mount Fuji.

Skytree and the building of Asahi brewery headquarters with 'golden flame' (or rather golden poo poo by the looks of it :)

Skytree tower has a shape reminiscent of the Japanese 5-storey pagoda (Buddhist tower). This is also because it fits better into the Asakusa district near which it is located.

Asakusa is a historic Tokyo district with a huge Senso-ji temple. This temple is the oldest and most visited Buddhist temple in Tokyo. The road to the temple is lined with various shops and resembles a market. Here you can find things from the fiction of the world, focusing mainly on tourists and a lot of souvenirs. Senso-ji is visited by over 30 million people a year.

Hózomon - gate leading to Senso-ji temple

Main hall of Sensó-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo

This truly impressive and beautiful place represented my farewell to Tokyo. Each of us has different experiences. We are a little wiser, outlooked and we know what Japan looks like. This image, however, cannot be produced by any document or blog, but only a direct visit to this exceptional country. Nevertheless, I hope that I have revealed at least something about Japan to you and perhaps also aroused the interest to see it there with your own eyes.

Zen

Lastly, please check out this video I made which summarizes my first visit of Japan:
Japan - November 2016

Last short vids are of historical snowing in Tokyo and famous Shibuya crossing: