TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER – Tokyo

The sun is still out and its a pleasant 24 degrees around Tokyo city today. We venture into the city again to one of Tokyo’s landmarks, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Its double towers and complex of buildings on the ground make it a formidable structure. The main reason for coming here is to visit an observatory at the top of its towers. Normally you can choose between the northern and southern towers but today the southern tower is closed to visitors. This is a popular thing for tourists to do because its free. There are taller structures around, particularly the new Tokyo Skytree Town, but you pay for the privilege. The northern tower is busy with visitors today but the wait isn’t too long. The lift takes you up to the 45th floor and from there you get some great views of Tokyo and how densely organised it is. Remember it is ‘the most populous metropolitan area in the world’. There is some adventurous architecture around but generally the sky scrapers are of fairly conventional design. The view helps to put our city travels at ground level in perspective. From here we plan to visit the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden but it is closed because of a dengue breakout. Apparently over 200 people in Tokyo have come down with the disease. I know how much such a problem can be for a city as Cairns has experience.

Meiji Shrine honours the spirits of the revered Emperor Meiji, who died in 1912, and the Empress Shoken. Its associated garden is a forest of beautiful big trees, making the Shrine a peaceful escape from the manic cityscape of Tokyo. The Shrine was established a year after the Emperor’s death. He is highly regarded for modernising Japan. The Shrine was destroyed during WW2 but rebuilt in 1958. The mammoth entrance gates make for some great photos and there are many tourists here taking advantage. Its a long pleasant walk from the gates through the forest garden to the shrine. I move hotels to another location close to the Sumida River and its long walkways.