I’ve always known that the air quality in Hong Kong was poor at best but it only struck me fully on my second day in Tokyo when I woke up to the bluest skies I had seen in years. It not only looked cleaner but felt way fresher also, which despite the cool temperatures was a very welcome change.
![Kinshichō Station](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8236374701_bcaac606b6_b.jpg)
Heading east along the JR Chūō-Sōbu Line I alighted at Kinshichō Station (錦糸町駅) where directly outside the entrance I came across what appeared to be two giant croissants suspended between two massive columns – if someone could enlighten me what this is actually about that would be great! Hiding in the background I also got my first glimpse of what I’d come to see – the recently opened Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリ).
![Colour Coordinated Taxi/Bus](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8237442888_9500bac3b5_b.jpg)
Even though Hong Kong uses the same Toyota Crown Comfort model taxis, the ones I saw in Tokyo seemed to be rather better maintained (or at least cleaned!).
![Skytree Painting](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8237443260_7fa4661990_b.jpg)
You can get to the Skytree more directly by train but coming from Kinshichō provides a nice walk there, including passing through Kinshi Park where I spotted a number of people drawing oil paintings of the tower which looked particularly nice framed against the blue sky surrounded by autumn coloured leaves.
![Tokyo Skytree Reflection](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8237443714_6a70afa405_b.jpg)
The Skytree is currently the tallest tower in the world at 634 meters tall and only second to the tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa (830 m). Using a broadcasting tower and observation deck its lattice frame design is a thing of beauty. The steel tubes on the outside are connected to a solid concrete core using shock absorbers which make the structure earthquake-resistant.
![Tokyo Skytree from Asakusa](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8236378511_47637db5e2_b.jpg)
The tower, which opened in May this year, boasts stunning views from its higher echelons but because it’s still beset by hordes of eager pilgrims I decided to decline the long queues to ascend this time. Instead, I’ll leave you with this shot of the Skytree next to the somewhat less savoury Asahi Beer Hall – colloquially referred to as “the golden turd” (金のうんこ). Readers with good memories may remember this from my trip to nearby Asakusa in 2010.
![Cute Bus](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8237446596_b236e5e726_b.jpg)
Japan’s obsession with cuteness (kawaii – かわいい) even extends to its busses.
![Photo Opportunity](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8237446778_d481a2ba39_b.jpg)
My Japanese friend who I was with lamented that when travelling abroad the stereotypical Japanese tourist (camera-wielding and clueless) has been replaced with a new stereotypical Chinese tourist (cash-laden and tasteless), but regardless that doesn’t seem to have stopped them from enjoying things closer to home!
Reply