Sumida River Cruise

Category: Travel

Above, the Asahi Beer Hall and the Tokyo Sky Tree under construction in 2010. The water taxi station is just behind the building with the blue roof.

When visiting Tokyo, Japan, there are always plenty of things to see and do in the city.

One of the most pleasant activities I undertook during a visit to Tokyo was a cruise down the Sumida river to Tokyo Bay.

The cruise boat was comfortable and offered great views on both sides. The water taxi station is located at Asakusa, directly across the river from the Asahi Beer Hall with its gleaming "Golden Flame" sculpture.

Above, the Asahi Beer Hall in 2005.

After leaving the water taxi station, the cruise boat passes docked Yakatabune dinner/party boats (below).



The cruise passes under several bridges as it heads towards Tokyo Bay. Along the way, it passed an encampment of Tokyo's homeless under an overpass (below).



As the cruise boat makes its way to Tokyo bay, it passes both commercial and residential buildings. The photo below is of a large riverside apartment building (some call these "rabbit hutches").



Tokyo Tower can be seen in the distance as the cruise boat gets closer to Tokyo Bay (below). Tokyo Tower was featured in several Japanese monster movies including Mothra (1961), King Kong Escapes (1967), Gamera, Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003). Tokyo Tower is spotlighted on page 30 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.



Along the way, the cruise passes the famed Tsukiji Fish Market. It also passes under the Kachidoki Bridge (the bridge that was toppled over in Godzilla (1954)). The Kachidoki Bridge is spotlighted on page 29 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

When the cruise boat enters Tokyo Bay, passengers are treated to a view of the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba (below). Both the bridge and Odaiba were featured in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000) and are spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 25.



As the cruise boat turns to dock at the Hama Rikyu Gardens, the passengers are able to see an upriver view of the Kachidoki Bridge (below). The bridge is dwarfed by many commerical and apartment buildings.



I highly recommend taking a Sumida River Cruise. It is relaxing and kaiju fans can see several monster movie landmarks during the cruise. There are several Sumida River cruise boat companies to choose from. For more information on Sumida River cruises, go here.

Japan Back On Its Feet

Above, springtime on Nakamise Street in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The United Kingdom's Daily Mail's travel section has posted an article on a visit to Tokyo, "Japan, a fascinating country undimmed by disaster and very much back on its feet." It is well worth reading for those contemplating a trip to Japan.

Here's an excerpt:

The numbers do the talking. The economy is showing signs of recovery, and there is a widespread building boom across Japan, largely sparked by reconstruction efforts after the tsunami.

In the Tohoku region, much of the rubble has been cleared; new buildings are shooting up. In Tokyo, they’re finishing off the Sky Tree, Japan’s tallest building.

It's been earthquake-proofed with techniques borrowed from medieval temples. I travelled for hours through Japan and didn’t see a single physical sign of last year’s tragedy.

I never felt at risk, either of another earthquake, or of being contaminated by anything I ate or drank. I had one of the best meals of my life in Sushi Zanmai, a restaurant by the Tsukiji fish market.

Above, Fujiya is prominently displayed near Ginza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article also highlights several other attractions in Tokyo including the Senso-ji temple and Shinjuku. It includes some beautiful photographs.

Above, one of the Imperial Palace moats. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2109380/Japan-fascinating-country-undimmed-disaster-feet.html#ixzz1o4aVeK78

Tsukiji Fish Market: Better Get There Soon!

Above, yours truly behind a clapboard in front of a Tsukiji sushi restaurant.

One of the highlights of my December 2010 Japan trip to promote The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan was a visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.

The Japan Times Online has an article on the fish market with plenty of tidbits on its history.

According to the article:

Edo's [Edo was Tokyo's former name] main fish markets were located in Nihonbashi, but they were moved to Tsukiji after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Prior to that move, Tsukiji, still set off from the city by a canal, served as a designated Restricted Foreign Settlement, a concession in the wake of U.S. Cmdr. Matthew Perry's forceful opening of Japan that led to 1854's Convention of Kanagawa. The American School in Japan, Rikkyo (St. Paul's) University and Seiroka (St. Luke's) Hospital all spent their early years in Tsukiji, though only St. Luke's remains there now.

Along with the famous fish market, Tsukiji also boasts shops and restaurants that serve the freshest sushi dishes that can be found.

If you plan a future trip to Japan, a visit to Tsukiji Fish Market should be included on your itinerary. You'd better do it soon as the fish market is set to relocate in 2015.

Above, a Tsukiji fish vendor.

The writer inquired about this:

Will the market relocate to Toyosu in Koto Ward, the allegedly polluted former site of Tokyo Gas? Management head of the new market development Yuki Ono, 49, says it will. "Land decontamination has begun, and the move will commence in 2014," she says. "Tsukiji will close by March of 2015."

So, if you want to see the famous Tsukiji Fish Market, you'd better get there by 2015!

To read the full article, go here.

Japan Christmas

Above, the Shibuya 109 building all decked out. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For a country with under 2% calling themselves Christian, I found it interesting to see so much of Japan with Christmas decorations.

Last December, I visited Japan with most of my activities confined to Tokyo for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan-related business and Niigata for rest and relaxation. I stayed at two hotels and both had a Christmas tree in the lobby.

Here's some photos of Christmas decorations I saw:

Above, the Mitsukoshi Department store at Ginza Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Christmas trees adorn Ginza sidewalks along Chuo Dori. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly in front of a sushi restaurant near the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Note the Christmas decorations on the restaurant's window.

Above, the Wako Department store in Ginza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.