my story: 5.China Japan Trip . PART ONE : JAPAN : DAY FIVE .TOKYO

DAY FIVE - 12 May 2015.TOKYO

Tokyo , The capital of Japan mixes the ultramodern to the age old treditions. From Skyscrapers to the Temples , Shrines and the Cherry Trees. Considered , by some to be the most densily populated human habitation in the world.

Now , we totally depends on Kesari and the Tour Manager as to how much and what all we see of this wonderful city :-)

However first things first .

The early morning before breakfast photo shoot . Here we are staying in Room no 1410 in Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel , Bay area Tokyo . Somehow we have been lucky so far as hotel stay in Japan was concerned as we did get rooms on higher floors with good city view . Early morning photo sessions were made easy , I could shoot lots of good pictures without even leaving the room . :-)

View from Room .White rectangle top left is entrance to Tokyo Bay Tunnle.

Museum of Maritime Science.Odiaba , Tokyo.View from room 1410.

Zoom View of Tokyo Gate Bridge taken from Great Pacific Le Daiba Hotel .Room 1410.

The Lobby Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel .

View from out side , Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel

Dining & Bar on the 30 Floor.Aptly named " Star Road "
Braekfast at Star Road Dining and Bar , 30 Floor , Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel .

View from Star Road Dining and Bar , 30 Floor , Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel .This is Hotel Nikko Tokyo .

View of Rainbow Bridge from Star Road Dining and Bar , 30 Floor , Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel .

view from .Star Road Dining. Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel .

In the foreground Statue of Liberty in odaiba kaihin koen (odaiba seaside park).

view from Star Road Dining.Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel .
Toritsu Shiokaze Park . In the background near the bay , The Yuhi no To (tower of the evening sun),It was built as a sundial, and two times a year on the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox, one can see a mysterious light when the sun sets in a gap in the center of the tower.

View from .Star Road . Tokyo Gate bridge on Left and Cranes of Qinghai Container Terminalon Right

Crossing the Rainbow Bridge. On the way to Tokyo Tower.

At the foot of Tokyo Tower .
Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower located in the Shiba-koen district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 332.9 metres (1092 ft), it is the second-tallest structure in Japan.

View from Tokyo Tower.
Play ground complex . literal tranlslation from Japanese script on google map " Lawn water stations park playground multipurpose exercise open space "
Sky scraper on the left of the play ground is Holland Hills Mori Tower
Hall Green roofed building in the foreground is Machinery Promotion Hall .

View from Tokyo Tower. Green roofed building houses Tata Consultancy Services Ltd , Japan .

View from Toyko Tower. Zojo-ji Temple Tokyo ( Old style Buildings with tiles , three fourth way up on photo.)

At Tokyo Tower .

At Tokyo Tower . Depicting Cherry Blossom bloom .

Looking down at the base of Tokyo Tower , through the viewing glass floor about 3 ft by 4 feet in size .

Wonderful blooms . Base garden of Tokyo Tower.

Departing from Tokyo Tower.

Entrance Gate , Sangedatsu Gate of Zojo-JI Temple seen on the way to Venus Fort Palace Tower . Next place on the itinerary .

Seen on the way to Venus Fort Palace Tower . Next place on the itinerary.( Could not find out what it was )

One of the Gate for Zojoji Temple , seen on the way to Venus Fort Palace Tower . Next place on the itinerary . Skyscraper of Princes Park Hotel on the left.

Daikanranshai Ferris wheel , a 115-metre tall Ferris wheel at Palette Town in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan. When it opened in 1999, it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel. Wikipedia
a 115-metre tall.
Seen on the way to Venus Fort.

Mega Web , Tokyo .
Mega Web is, "Look, you ride, you feel" theme park.created by Toyota Motors , Here,
Sprawling over vast area the facilities has three main display themes .
1. Tokyota City Show Case .
2. Ride Studio .
3. History Garage ,
Venus Fort and Mega Web located in same sprawling bldg.

Mega Web Store ,
Enjoying the cars in Toyota City Show case.
With Madhuri Mandpe and Vandana Joshi .

After the Toyota City Show case.
Proceeding to Venus Fort.

The Venus Fort .
Venus Fort Odaiba marks the birth of the first metropolitan style outlet in Tokyo'.
Three Floors . Three colour schemes.
1st Floor Green , 2nd Floor Pink and 3rd Floor Blue .

The theme on third floor is Blue Sky .
Changes in the sky (Roof) with predawn riots of reddish pink colours and gradual changes in the colours and hues of the sky as the day progresses over a period of 24 hours has been faithfully tried to be replicated .The colour schemes of 24 hour period being covered in real time span of 30 mts.

Even after lot of search I could not find name or any other details about this fountain .
I therefore decided to christen this as
" The Fountain of Venus"

Priti at "Venus Fountain". Venus Fort.

Fantastic Fountain with statues of beautiful women with lovely figures and diaphanous dresses . Truly justifying the name " Venus Fort " .

Section History Garage of Mega Web. This is spread over 1 and 2 Floor
Here Priti is with White French Citroen - 1953 Model .

Section History Garage of Mega Web .
We visited History Garage section on 2F.
Here Priti and Madhuri with America 1981 formula DeLorean DMC-12 .

Priti with toyota 7 race car gt5.
The Toyota 7 is a Race Car made by Japanese car manufacturing company Toyota Motors. It made its first appearance in Gran Turismo 4. It made its debut race in 1968 in the Japanese Grand Prix. It was later going to be entered for the Canadian American Challenge Cup (Can-Am), but when their two test drivers were killed in separate accidents, Toyota pulled out at the last moment.

A Group of Toyota Racing Cars.

In the circular open space between Mega Web and Venus Fort .

Waiting for every one to finish and depart for lunch.
With Dilip , Madhuri and Hemant , Vandana.

Khazana Indian restaurant , Our lunch place , Official address being : 1−6−1 Decks Odaiba .

Khazana Indian restaurant , Our lunch place .

View of Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay from balcony of Khazana Indian restaurant , Our lunch place ,

Daikanranshai Ferris wheel as seen from the coach on way from Khana Khazana to Sanso Ji
Temple.

Tokyo Sky Tree as seen from the coach on way from Khana Khazana to Sanso Ji
Temple.
TV and other communication aerials could not be accommodated on Tokyo Tower . A new tower was constructed and named " Tokyo Skytree " Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010 and reached its full height of 634.0 metres in March 2011,

The Asahi Beer Tower and Asahi Super Dry Hall with its characteristic Flamme d'Or(Japanese call it "Sacred Fire" were, completed in 1989 . As seen from the coach on way from Khana Khazana to Sanso Ji
Temple.

( Never understood how the " sacred-fire. " is horizontal.)

Niten Mon Gate . Sanso - Ji Temple as seen from the main road .

Niten Mon Gate . Sanso - Ji Temple , We had from entered from here.

Sanso Ji Temlple is the oldest and one of the most famous temple in Tokyo . It is located in Asakua , Tokyo.
Legend has it that , while fishing in Sumida River , a statue of the Kannon was found by two fishermen brothers . The chief of the village recognsed the sacredness of the statue and established it in his own re-modeled house as temple for the Deity in the year 628 CE. Proper temple was built in 1727CE by contributions from public.It was destroyed during WWII bombings but rebuilt and became a symbol of re-birth and peace for Japanese people.
Main and important landmarks of Sansoji Temple are :-
1. Askakusa Shrine .
This is the focus of the most famous ,wildest,largest and popular festival of Sansiji "Sanja Matsuri" ( literally "Three Shrine Festival") .This takes place over 3–4 days in late spring.The festival is held in honor of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who established and founded Sensō-ji. Sanja Matsuri is held on the third weekend of every May at Asakusa Shrine.See photos below.

Asakusa Shrine.

Asakusa Shrine also known as Sanja-sama ("Shrine of the Three gods"), is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Tokyo, Japan. The shrine honors the three men who founded the Sensō-ji. Asakusa Shrine is part of a larger grouping of sacred buildings in the area. It can be found on the east side of the Sensō-ji.

2. Gojunoto - Five Story Pagoda.

Five storied Pagoda was built along with main structures in 950 CE. It was rebuilt along with main Hall and other buildings about 1648 and declared a National Treasure in 1911.The temple and all buildings in the temple pricent were destroyed in WWII bombings . All the buildings , including the Pagoda were rebuilt with public donations 1973.

3. Hozomon Gate.

Hozomon Gate also known as - Niomon Gate , Hōzōmon or "Treasure House Gate" which provides the entrance to the inner complex. Within the precincts stand a stately five-story pagoda and the main hall, devoted to Kannon.

It was also built around the same time as other buildings . Like all other Heritage sites in Japan , eg Nara and Kyoto , It was destroyed many times by fire and WWII bombings . It was re-built every time .

Present Gate was built by owner of chain of New Otani Hotels.{ Remember we stayed in one in Osaka during our stay on day one & Two :-) }.It is a three storied Gate where Buddisth relics are preserved & Stored.

4. Kaminarimon Gate

Kaminarimon Gate or "Thunder Gate" is the main entry Gate for Sansoji . As we had entered from, Niten Mon Gate a smaller side gate , we missed out seeing Thunder Gate as well as Nakasime Dori , a shopping street between Kaminarimon Gate & Main Hall . :-(

5. Main Hall , Hondo of Sansoji Temple .

As for the complete Temple complex the main Hall was aslo destroyed many times including in WWII. And like the other buildings this was also rebuilt by public donations in 1958.Due to major lesson learnt from all the previous destrictions, this time it was rebuilt with concrete strusture and the roofing tiles were of Titanium . While rebuilding , care was taken to be faithful to the old Architecture and to the original drawings and plans and original looks .

Outstanding feature is steeply sloping roof as compared to the other Temples of similar vintage.

The big hall consistes of Inner Sentum and outer sanctumrooms . Original Kannon statue and other priceless Buddisth relics are stored in these rooms.

6. Main Alter Sansoji Temple .

Main Altar Sensoji Temple . Two statues on both sides of smaller Kannon idol are God Indra on the left and God Brshma on the right . Incidently the Kannon statue on display is ont the original statue found in 628 CE but made by high ranking priest who felt that original statue was too sacred and hid the original statue . The original statue is brought out for public display & Worship .once a year.

7. The Garden and statues therein.

Beautifully maintained Japanese Garden has very serene atmosphere . One literally feels the inner peace there . Various statues and stone lamp coloums are spread through the garden adding to its beauty.

It was then time to leave the Sansoji Temple and proceed to Ginza Area .

Priti at Chuo-dori .
Chuo-dori is the main shopping street in the Ginza area. The street is home to many department stores, flagship brand shops, restaurants and cafes. It's a sea of lights and eye-catching architecture that's certainly amongst the world's most impressive streets.
Ginza is a central neighborhood that's best known for posh shopping and entertainment. We had no shopping to do so we only did window shopping . Ocassanoly entering one odd shop .
Here we had walked into an Adult Store and reslised it only after looking at some of the goods on sale :-).

From Chou-Dori it was to dinner . Going to Restaurant for dinner .The route followed was quite complicated .Entered through the basement of Shinjuku Park Tower. From where accesss was also available for Park Tower Hotel .

See Photo above Left.

Going to Restaurant for dinner .The route followed was quite complicated .

Entered through the basement of Shinjuku Park Tower. From where accesss was also available for Park Tower Hotel .

Also photo to the Right.

Two photos above .

Spice Heaven Indian Restaurant . On the web site this is how they describe the Restaurant " A place to enjoy mouth-watering & tongue twisting specialities from North India. A perfect blend of freshly grinded spices, herbs & raw material to bring you the most authentic taste at affordable prices to go along with friendly services and a rich ambiance guaranteed to make every visit of yours - a memorable one. " It is located in Shinjuku Park .We had dinner here .

After dinner we proceeded to Government Metropolitan Tower for night view of Tokyo City.

In the Lobby of Metropolitan Building.

Observation Decks . 45 th Floor Government Metropolitan Tower .
This is a photograph showing Tokyo Landmarks as seen from the location of the observation Deck .