A Day in Tokyo - Monday 14 October

A slow day planned with not too much as we were to meet up with Kumiko and Marika at the Tokyo Sky Tree at 10am. According to the JApanese the Sky Tree Tower is the tallest in the world at 650 metres, or there abouts. Today was a national holiday in Japan so still lots of sightseers around but the train was not crowded when Alison and I headed off just after 8am.

Philip had gone for a little stroll yesterday evening and found a more direct route to get from our hotel across to Shinagawa Station and so we used that path this morning. There is a McDonalds along the way and Alison has mentioned that she might be in need of a burger and fries one day soon! Caught a train on the Yamanote loop line to Ueno and changed there to the Tokyo Metro Ginza line at great expense (Y160 each) for the journey to Asakusa. All was going smoothly until we realised that we were heading the wrong way on the Metro train away from Asakusa! Disembarked at the next station, crossed the platform and we were soon on our way in the right direction.

The walk from Asakusa Station to Tokyo Sky Tree is about 15 minutes and we had a pleasant stroll including crossing the Tokyo River.

Alison on the bridge across the Tokyo River with Sky Tree in the background

Along the way we saw a lady taking her little dog for a ride with her on her pushbike - Patch would be jealous.

Arrived at the Sky Tree plaza where we were scheduled to meet Kumiko and Marika and they spotted us from the Starbucks where they had been having breakfast. We being the last of the big spenders had breakfasted on banana and apple in the hotel before leaving! Then headed past a shop specialising in dog accessories and dog themed human clothes and accessories. The window display caught our eye but we only looked and did not buy. There was even a model of a golden retriever at the door dressed in a black witches hat and cape.

Then headed into the lobby of the Sky Tree building where Alison and Marika decided to use the toilets and were astounded to discover after they had queued that there was in fact only one cubicle in the facility on that floor. No wonder the queue was so long. Maybe it is regarded by the building owners as good training for the queueing that is necessary if one wants to actually go up to the observation levels of the Sky Tree. Whilst we were waiting in this area we came across the two characters below!

Where else in the world would you see men dressed like this???

We went up to the entry area to check on the wait time and also to have a look up at the tower from the outside viewing area. 

Also spotted another costumed person, this one all in black and wearing a full black gas mask!

Up to the shopping levels and we parted company from Kumiko and Marika for an hour whilst they shopped and we circumnavigated the food areas and some of the other shops. This place is full of clothing and accessories and food shops. Again many focused on Halloween.

Great display of salad items

Fresh fish

Another female all dressed up and this time a little prettier than the gas mask outfit

Just to show that we didn't just look at food stores - note the name of the store and carriage at the front

Alison with Sky Tree Banana promoter!

A happy Marika with Bella the ballerina doll after lunch

Lunch in the food court, Alison and Philip enjoyed sauteed vegetables and a little bit of pork, shrimp and squid with rice. Still no octopus balls for Alison even though they were available at one of the food court outlets. We all walked back to Asakusa Station and caught the Ginza subway and farewelled Kumiko and Marika as we left the subway train at Ueno.

Made a stop at Yurakucho so that Alison could see the Ginza and the Mercure Hotel where Jessica and Philip stayed in 2008. Philip could not find the Mercure easily and Alison was feeling a little off so we headed back to the train station and were soon home at Shinagawa Station. Have stocked up on some bakery items for dinner tonight and breakfast for our trip to Mt Fuji area tomorrow. There is another Typhoon heading up the coast and there is a forecast for a very wet Tuesday night and Wednesday. We are hoping that tomorrow is okay for our cable car and ropeway ride to see Mt Fuji.