Tokyo Skytree As Seen from the Highway

東京スカイツリー

On a recent trip to Tokyo, we could see Tokyo Skytree from the bus window.

We are still partial to Tokyo Tower, but the downtown venue and the look of Tokyo SkyTree are growing on us.

The area, moreover, is a great ride. Heading out from Ueno Station, there are bike lanes on the wide sidewalk and the side streets are quiet and peaceful.


© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags Japan Touring Kyoto Cycle Japanese

Cycling Ueno Tokyo

東京上野を自転車で楽しむ

The Ueno area of Tokyo is many things.

Ueno Park is home to the city's zoo, a handful of great museums, Shinobazu Pond, a collection of cherry trees that draw thousands of revelers every spring, and Japan's most prestigious arts university.

Across the street from Shinobazu Street is Tokyo University, or Todai, which is home to privileged youth and future bureaucrats.

To the northeast, beyond Tokyo Geidai (Arts University) is the quaint area Yanaka.

Ueno is also a working class neighborhood that was the arrival point for many refugees from Japan's northeast. Following World War II - and prior to that as well - Ueno Station was the first view of the capital for hundreds of thousands of migrants from the rural north who moved to the big city for work.

The working class area today is primarily to the east of the large JR station.

The bike lane pictured above is along Asakusa Dori, which runs from JR Ueno Station to Asakusa, across the Sumida River, and farther into the old working class downtown area known as "shitamachi."

It is a great place to ride a bike. The side streets are slow moving, a world away from the manic energy of Shinjuku and Shibuya and the parts west in the "high" city.

The area is also undergoing a revival of sorts. Tokyo Skytree was built nearby, and young people are moving in because rents are lower than in other parts of the city.

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Ueno

Tokyo Skytree

自転車で東京スカイツリ

Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan. It is 634 meters (2,080 feet) high and, for the time being, the tallest tower in the world.

It is also the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (829.84 meters, or 2,723 feet) in Dubai.

Skytree is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower located in the old downtown area of Tokyo, not far from the Sumida River.

The group of investors that planned and built the Tokyo Skytree includes Tobu Railways, NHK, and other broadcasters. (NHK and other television stations have been relentless in their coverage and promotion of the Skytree.)

Tokyo Skytree opened to the public on 22 May 2012 under rainy skies.

To get to the observation deck, reservations are required.

There are 4 ways to purchase tickets to TOKYO SKYTREE Observation Deck.

1. "TOKYO SKYTREE Web tickets" may be purchased in advance online. Please be reminded that only credit cards issued in Japan are accepted for online reservations.
2. Tickets from May 22 to July 10 are by Advance Reservation Only. No day tickets will be sold during this period. Day tickets will go on sale from July 11.
3. "TOKYO SKYTREE Group Reservation Center" accepts reservations for groups of 25 or more.
4. Use the travel plans of various travel agencies or the accomodation plans offered by TOKYO SKYTREE Official hotels/TOKYO SKYTREE Friendship Hotels.

According to news reports, tickets have been reserved months in advance.

We took a cheaper and more leisurely approach: strolling through the streets of Ueno, there are many views of the tower.

© CycleKyoto.com

 CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Skytree