After staring at Tokyo Tower from the Manor for three plus years, the time was ripe for a trip to the viewing station. A slightly taller clone of the Eiffel, the nihon Tower bathes in orange light at sundown with blue lights between 8 and 10 PM. "Yes, let's go," said tomodachi-san, whose little daughter I taught at an afterschool English program (organized by the academically oriented women's group). "I haven't been there since my school days," echoed three other tomodachis. All agreed to meet on a weekday lunch hour on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of June. For Y820 each, the elevator lifted us to the first viewing station at the midpoint of the Tower. (For another Y600 visitors zoom to the top but that entailed a long wait.)
In a city where addresses are expressed by coordinates, landmarks rule: Tokyo Tower stands out from almost everywhere around town. Lording over the friendly sounding park of Shiba Koen, the Tower functions as a glamorous stand for an antenna. (After faithfully broadcasting NHK programs for 52 years, the Tower's function is about to be dwarfed by giant Tokyo Sky Tree going up in Oshiage by the Sumida river.) In the brilliant sunshine, Tower visitors admired the panorama from the Observation Deck. "How many new skyscrapers!" was the consensus of tomodachis. Fun to look down on the construction of the new Tokyo American Club and to find the Manor hidden between a pair of new highrises. Pretty Rainbow Bridge connects Shibaura Pier to Odaiba, one of the many teenage meccas. A quick visit to the "lookdown window" (glass tiled floor board), and the Milky Way display (a cheesy combination of blue holiday lights and saran wrap) completed the tour.
As all proper excursions end with a meal, the food court on the second story supplied a wide selection (pizza, sandwiches, curry and the omnipresent Macdonalds). In a country where purse snatching is unheard of, it is customary to leave personal belongings on the table while going off to purchase food. On the floor below for an extra fee fans may tour a Michael Jackson exhibit or make a reservation for the big "sleepover" planned for the end of June. Michael has a big following, although not among these tomodachis! Before saying sayonara, our organizing tomodachi-san with the English speaking daughter has set up an excursion to Ozu Washi Museum to make paper together. Raishu mata, ne! (See you next week!)
Friday, June 18, 2010
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For me Tokyo Tower is the icon of the city. It's that city's equivalent to the Empire State Building, where Godzila, like King Kong, enchanted citizens. It's so showa.
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