On Sunday I woke up early and headed to Tokyo to go to the Sky Tree. I was hoping that by going early in the morning the sky would be clear and I would get a good view! When I got there, the sky was a gorgeous blue! I went to the courtyard of the tower where I got in a big line.
I soon learned that the line was not to get in to the tower, but to get a ticket to return at a later time. A time when I could then buy an actual ticket that would let me into the tower!
Luckily I had made other plans close by in Asakusa, so I took the subway one stop to Asakusa Station. (Not to be confused with the other station named Asakusa station...!) I visited the Senso-ji, a very famous and large temple.
This 4 level pagoda was very impressive!
I always love the mix of old and new, it always feels so significant to me for some reason!
There was some incense burning outside the temple - people wave it on to themselves. Especially if they have body aches or pains, they try to get the smoke on that area.
This lantern was GIANT!
A side view of the main temple building. It was really quite large and nicely kept.
After visiting the temple I took advantage of the the sprawling street market shops and restaurants For fear of tetrodotoxin poisoning, I did not have lunch here - there were lots of people taking picture of the puffer-fish!
Another view of the sky tree!
After getting tired of fighting the crowds at Asakusa, I took my shopping spoils back to the mall underneath the sky tree, where I took a break with some hot chocolate from Starbucks. :)
And then it was time to go buy my ticket. Notice how the clouds have rolled in - bummer!
The elevator on the way up to the first observation deck was really pretty!
This is a bad picture, but I thought it was neat how they showed you the current height and speed of the elevator. It was very fast!
At 350 meters, I could see the shrine I visited earlier in the day!
The fall leaves are starting to turn in Tokyo - soon it will be winter!
It's busy as far as the eye can see!
After paying another fee, you can go up to the second observation deck at 450 m. The windows here were rounded outwards, and it gave me a feeling of vertigo!
The shape of this observation deck. It spirals up the outside of the tower.
Looking down, it looks like some sort of fountain thing going on in the river below!
Just more views - I think I see a ferris wheel! :)
I managed to ask someone to take my picture - I really need to learn how to say this in Japanese instead of just miming it with my camera!
At the end of the observation deck you can look down to see where you started! Pretty cool!
This is the highest point you can reach in the Sky Tree.
Back at 350 m there was a small portion of glass floor. I put one foot on it, but that was it. Tons of kids were all jumping on it at once, so I had to leave!
As I was leaving the sun was just starting to set - what a wonderful day I had!
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