Remember when I went all the way to Kawaguchiko just to get a glimpse of Fuji-san? And failed because of the weather? Well, guess what. I managed to see Fuji-san. From Tokyo. All the way from the main observation deck of the Tokyo Tower.But I’m getting ahead of myself.
November 27 started out with a smile because, yes! the sun is finally out! This day, I was set to meet up with Sil, a friend from Costa Rica (whom I met online because of Arashi) who also happens to be in Tokyo for three weeks. And she booked the two of us on a bus sightseeing tour via HatoBus. We took their “Tokyo Morning Tour”, which runs from 9am to 12:20 noon, and costs JPY5,000 each. This half-day tour covers the “Big Three”: Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, and Asakusa.
Normally, I’m not one to take guided tours, preferring to go about it my own way. But I took an exception for this one, because I wanted to see how it looks like from a bus. You see, I mostly spent my time using the subway.
Sil and I met (finally!!!) at the Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal and went on the tour bus. We tried to retrace the steps of our unlikely friendship (which was made likely by Arashi) and I think it dates back sometime between 2010-2012. We were quite psyched at how we were finally able to meet, and in Japan, of all places! It’s fate, I tell ya.
Meet Haruko (or, as she said, we can just call her Harry), our tour guide for the morning. She’s verrrrrry good in English. The bus was also very clean and comfortable, and the driver, Shimokita-san, made it a pleasurable and safe experience.
The Tokyo Tower
It is a famous and well-loved landmark of Japan, particularly Tokyo, and it has also become a subject (and even the main character) in numerous films and television dramas.
The Tokyo Tower, in the words of Haruko-san, was copied from Paris’ Eiffel Tower. At 333 meters, it is the world’s tallest self-supporting steel tower. Unlike the Eiffel Tower’s brownish color, however, Tokyo Tower is painted a bright orange, mainly to make it visible to various air crafts, especially at night.
She said that it takes at least 28 years for the whole tower to be repainted; and repainting is done every 30 years. So when it’s done, they will start all over again. I don’t know how true it is, but hey, she’s the guide.
There was a time that it was the tallest in Tokyo. Now there is the Tokyo Skytree, which stands taller at 634 meters.
We headed towards the main observation deck, which is 150 meters off the ground. Here, you get a 360 degree view of Tokyo through vast glass windows.
Haruko-san pointed out various landmarks and buildings, rattling off so many facts about several skyscrapers. This is one of those moments I wished I had photographic memory.
One of the infos that stood out, however, was the bit about Toranomon Hills. It’s the skyscraper with the uniquely-sloped roof in the pic below.
Toranomon Hills is currently the tallest building in Tokyo in terms of its highest point, which is 255.5 meters.
And now, do you see what I see?
No? Then what about this? Can you see it?
Yes, it’s Mt. Fuji! After two days of rain, the sun shone and, along with it, the “capricious” (Haruko-san’s description of Fuji-san) mountain showed itself to Tokyo. On that day, even actor Mizushima Hiro tweeted about this special occurrence.
At this point, I am not ashamed to say that I went nuts taking pictures. Because I totally did.
But that’s not all that you’d see, although I must admit the sight of Fuji-san captured most of my attention. I spotted a bit of the Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba and, down below, the Zojoji Temple, which is one of the major Buddhist temples in Tokyo.
I’m pretty sure we are looking at the Shibuya district. You can spot the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, which was designed just like the Empire State Building in New York.
There were several spots on the floor of the Observatory which lets you take a peek down below.
We spent only around 30 minutes there, which was not nearly enough, if you ask me. But it was still a short but sweet half-hour!
From there, we went back on the bus, and headed to the Imperial Palace, the main and official residence of the Emperor of Japan and his family.
The Tokyo Imperial Palace
Ok, I am putting this place on my list of “places-to-go-back-to”, for obvious reasons. It’s such a beautiful place, so serene even amid a thriving metropolis area. Stand on the side of the road, and you’ll have skyscrapers and office buildings on one side, while the historic Imperial Palace is on the other. It’s like you’re treading a line that no one sees, but you can definitely feel that there is one.
Imagine this conversation when you get up in the morning:
Someone: Where are you going?
You: Running
Someone: Running where?
You: Oh, at the palace.
Rad, my friend. Sooooo rad~.
Even a glimpse of the well-manicured lawns and gardens on the exterior, as well as the vast parking area, was enough to make me go ooh and aah.
We spotted a lot of joggers in the area. Who wouldn’t want to have their run around here?
Here’s what I was talking about. On one side is a city; on the other is a palace. It’s akin to having the best of both worlds.
Here goes my fascination for reflections yet again.
I also had a slight boo-hoo moment. You see, when we arrived at the place, guests weren’t allowed inside because, according to the guard, the Crown Prince is inside. Again, for obvious reasons, no one other than his security detail could go in. So we just hung around the front, outside the gates, beside the moat, taking photos.
Then this line of sleek, black cars started filing out of the palace gates. The first car passed, followed by the second… the third car was going past us, and the window was rolled down. An old woman peered out and waved oh-so-gracefully.
Haruko-san was beside me at that moment and, while taking photos of the cars, I asked her, “Who is that obaasan (grandma/old woman) waving from the car?”
Haruko was suddenly excited, “THAT’S THE EMPRESS!! Wave back!”
Oh.
Goodness.
I just called the Empress of Japan a grandma/old woman.
I don’t think I’m cut out for royal audiences.
She looked so regal, so beautiful, so… serene. The same word I used earlier to describe the atmosphere surrounding the Palace itself.
My one regret has been being unable to step foot inside the Palace. I am taking that as a reason to come back here in the future.
After spending more than half an hour here, we boarded the bus again and drove towards Asakusa, which I’ll be talking about in my next post. See you then!