Another town, another tower—and for me, another case of jelly legs while looking down for the view. Somehow, it’s always worth it!
This time, I was on an overnight layover in Tokyo after a 14-hour flight from New York, so I figured my still-on-my-feet Tokyo time was just about enough for a quick trip into the city and one activity. And it had to be one that was open late enough for my schedule.
A quick question at the tourism desk in Haneda Airport sent me off by train to Japan’s ‘pseudo-Eiffel,’ the Tokyo Tower in the Shiba district, the second-tallest building in Japan.
The half-mile walk from the station to the tower gave me a chance to see a tiny little bit of Tokyo, including quite a few neon-lit storefronts and fast-food outlets, as well as a walk along the garden of the centuries-old Zojoji Temple, which was once the temple and mausoleum of Japan’s shoguns.
The quiet streets with few pedestrians quickly gave way to crowds and motion at the base of the tower, with individuals and groups arriving and lining up too buy tickets. There are two observation levels, one at 150 meters and the other nearly twice as high; unfortunately, tickets for the top level were sold out the night I was there and I had to settle for ‘second-best.’
Once at the top, I had Tokyo spread out before me, islands and clusters of towers, open spaces, and bright lights in every direction.
Despite how little traffic I saw as I walked to the tower, the bright gashes of yellow-lit roadways made it clear that Tokyo doesn’t close up early, if ever!
The pictures largely speak for themselves, and they’ll have to. Unlike tower visits in cities I know or have had a chance to survey, I’d never seen Tokyo before—but someday I will!
The observatory also has a number of cafes, shops and displays in case you need a break from the wonders at the windows.
One thing to note: While the elevators to the observation floors leave directly from the ground level, the elevator down when you’re finished leaves you at the top floor of a four-story mall that’s tucked under the tower. You can’t leave without at least passing dozens of shops and food places, more or less the way most airports lead you through the shops on the way to the gate.
I went to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and cable cars to very high peaks. Each one gave me the vertigo shakes. Don’t know how you do it so frequently. Terrific photos from above and below.