We left home a little later than planned, at about 11am, and walked up to the station, where we got the Chuo-line all the way to Tokyo station. We arrived a bit late, and found Georgie talking to a station worker saying that she couldn't find us. We felt so bad! But there was no harm done, and we headed out of Tokyo station, Georgie flashing her Japan Rail Pass at the ticket gate guard to get through.
Our first stop was the Imperial Palace (皇居, koukyo), which is about 10 minutes walk from Tokyo station. It was very warm day (around 30C), but not too humid so it was quite comfortable, and the sky was a beautiful blue for the most part.
You can see Tokyo Tower from near the Imperial Palace.
This is Nijuubashi Bridge (二重橋), which is the famous bridge leading into the Imperial Palace private grounds. The bridge opens to the public only twice a year, once on New Year's Eve, and once on the Emperor's brithday (23rd December).
As we were walking around the grounds, we came across this dead cicada (蝉, semi) on the path. I was surprised at how big they are! But in comparison to the noise just one can make, they're actually tiny! I find the day-long chorus a bit much, but apparently the sound of cicadas brings happy feelings as it signifies summer.
I was amazed at how people thought it was safe to leave their bags here while they wandered round the area. This would cause a bomb scare in Britain!
On the way back to Tokyo station, we passed this cicada making a raucous noise on a tree. They're so loud!
After seeing the grounds, we headed back into the business district.
On the way back to Tokyo station, we passed this cicada making a raucous noise on a tree. They're so loud!
There are lots of sacred koi carp in the Imperial Palace moat - we called this one Koi Boi.
After seeing the grounds, we headed back into the business district.
This is an inspirational poster for the 2016 Olympics, which Tokyo is trying to get. It reads "Nihon dakara, dekiru. Atarashii orimpikku!", which translates as something like "We are Japan, so we can do it. The new Olympic Games!" I hope Tokyo does get the 2016 Games, although it will put London to shame, being in between Beijing and then Tokyo, which are both bound to be spectacular.
I thought this travelator system was quite cool.
We headed for the Yamanote line bound for Akihabara (秋葉原), the electronics district, so Katy could buy a new camera.
I saw an advert for my old company, Gaba, on the train, which was a very surreal experience!
This is one of the screens inside the trains that displays information like the next stop, how long it takes to upcoming stops, delay updates, and which side the doors will open on, in both Japanese and English.
Just outside Akihabara station, there's an escalator leading up to a department store that has cool moisture being blown out onto pedestrians. I'd forgotten about that, and it reminded me of what a good idea it is!
We stopped for lunch in a big food court area.
Before going to the observation deck in the TMGB, we went over the road to the Sumitomo Ginkou building (住友銀行ビルディング) and took the lift to the 51st floor observation deck.
The Sumitomo building is hollow, and you can look right down the centre to the ground floor - I couldn't even see all the way down, it's so high!
I'd never been to this observation deck before, so I'd never seen the TMGB from such a height. The Tokyo Park Hyatt and Yoyogi Park (代々木公園) are in the background.
Not the best photo of me ever taken, but never mind.
We left the Sumitomo Ginkou building and crossed the road for the TMGB.
I remember seeing this building from the Limousine Bus that brought me into Shinjuku from Narita Airport on my very first day in Japan. How strange!
The TMGB observation deck is on the 45th floor, so I thought it might be slightly lower than the Sumitomo one, but it actually looked like it was slightly higher. The Sumitomo deck isn't 360 degrees though, so I still prefer this one.
It was too cloudy to see Mt Fuji but it is there - I promise!
We couldn't stay long, and I'd been there about 7 times so I didn't mind shooting off to our next stop. It's the centre of crazy fashion - Harajuku!
The crepes here are amazing! If you ever walk down Takeshita-doori then please try one!
Yes, God forbid someone would smork or tout...
We did a circular route through central Harajuku and then went back to the Western-style station, with the NTT Docomo building/ The Empire State Building in Shinjuku in the background.
Here's the Yamanote line train bound for Shibuya pulling into Harajuku.
And here it is! The mother of all things young in Tokyo - Shibuya (渋谷)! This is definitely my favourite place to be, for trendy people, flashing lights and loud noises, and of course - karaoke!
And who could forget the world's busiest pedestrian crossing!?
Georgie and Rob were looking forward to taking a rush hour train, and for some reason were very keen to be shoved onto a train by a white-gloved guard, to avoid being trapped in the closing doors.
I thought this travelator system was quite cool.
We headed for the Yamanote line bound for Akihabara (秋葉原), the electronics district, so Katy could buy a new camera.
I saw an advert for my old company, Gaba, on the train, which was a very surreal experience!
This is one of the screens inside the trains that displays information like the next stop, how long it takes to upcoming stops, delay updates, and which side the doors will open on, in both Japanese and English.
Just outside Akihabara station, there's an escalator leading up to a department store that has cool moisture being blown out onto pedestrians. I'd forgotten about that, and it reminded me of what a good idea it is!
We stopped for lunch in a big food court area.
After lunch, we headed for Yodobashi Kamera, which is exactly where I bought my first digital camera last January. It was so weird to think how different my life was then compared to now.
Katy bought a camera she liked, which has 14 megapixels! I was shocked. I thought mine was good, and it's only 8.1!
Then we headed for the one and only Shinjuku. We wanted to show Georgie, and indeed Katy, who had never been to the skyscraper district before, the numerous tall buildings that inhabit the business centre of Tokyo.
Here's my favourite building - the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁, Toukyou Tochou)!
Before going to the observation deck in the TMGB, we went over the road to the Sumitomo Ginkou building (住友銀行ビルディング) and took the lift to the 51st floor observation deck.
The Sumitomo building is hollow, and you can look right down the centre to the ground floor - I couldn't even see all the way down, it's so high!
I'd never been to this observation deck before, so I'd never seen the TMGB from such a height. The Tokyo Park Hyatt and Yoyogi Park (代々木公園) are in the background.
Not the best photo of me ever taken, but never mind.
We left the Sumitomo Ginkou building and crossed the road for the TMGB.
I remember seeing this building from the Limousine Bus that brought me into Shinjuku from Narita Airport on my very first day in Japan. How strange!
The TMGB observation deck is on the 45th floor, so I thought it might be slightly lower than the Sumitomo one, but it actually looked like it was slightly higher. The Sumitomo deck isn't 360 degrees though, so I still prefer this one.
It was too cloudy to see Mt Fuji but it is there - I promise!
We couldn't stay long, and I'd been there about 7 times so I didn't mind shooting off to our next stop. It's the centre of crazy fashion - Harajuku!
The crepes here are amazing! If you ever walk down Takeshita-doori then please try one!
Yes, God forbid someone would smork or tout...
We did a circular route through central Harajuku and then went back to the Western-style station, with the NTT Docomo building/ The Empire State Building in Shinjuku in the background.
Here's the Yamanote line train bound for Shibuya pulling into Harajuku.
And here it is! The mother of all things young in Tokyo - Shibuya (渋谷)! This is definitely my favourite place to be, for trendy people, flashing lights and loud noises, and of course - karaoke!
And who could forget the world's busiest pedestrian crossing!?
This is the 109 building (ichi maru kyuu), a big department store on ten floors in the centre of Shibuya.
Georgie and Rob were looking forward to taking a rush hour train, and for some reason were very keen to be shoved onto a train by a white-gloved guard, to avoid being trapped in the closing doors.
Their dreams were crushed however, when everyone got off at Shibuya and the train was quite empty for the journey back to Tokyo station.
We waved Georgie off at the Shinkansen bullet train (新幹線) barrier, as she was heading back to her friend's house in Utsunomiya (宇都宮), about an hour or so north of Tokyo. We said our goodbyes and waved until she'd disappeared.
I had a really nice day, and it was lovely to see all those parts of Tokyo again. I hope Georgie enjoyed what she saw, even though it was all so fast! I definitely want to go back and explore everywhere in more detail again. Well, I've got a year, so there's certainly time for it!
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