Tokyo is the largest city in the world and has many sights to see.
I have the pleasure of seeing quite a few of them every day on my way to work, so I decided to take one trip to work and photograph all of the main sights I see. All of these things can be seen from the train but I got off at the station for the photographs. All shots taken in order of appearance in one trip to the office except the first, because I already took the same shot long ago.
The thumbs are posted here. Most images have high-resolution links so you can see the details.
Click the spoilers in order and go on a journey!
[spoiler]I awaken early every day because the sooner I get to work the sooner I can go home. I tend to work from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Going home in full daylight is quite mentally healthy, but it’s also the only way I can sleep, because I can only sleep naturally during the day, especially at sunset (if I miss sunset I need pills to sleep).
The first thing I see every day is the Tokyo Skytree, the second-tallest man-made structure in the entire universe.
[attachment=17724:Sights1Thumb.png] Full View[/spoiler]
[spoiler]Next stop, the famous train system of Tokyo. Not much to see here so there won’t be a link to a full-sized version. I ride underground until Akihabara, by which time the sun will be up.
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[spoiler]As I wait on the platform for my next train I get a grand view of the world’s largest electronics store: Yodobashi-Akiba.
[attachment=17725:Sights2Thumb.png] Full View[/spoiler]
[spoiler]As my train goes by Shimbashi I get a good view of the 1945 steam locomotive used to commemorate the first train made in Japan in 1872. This station was chosen because it was the name of the now-destroyed station from which the first train ran from Tokyo to Yokohama.
[attachment=17726:Sights3Thumb.png] Full View
Also visible are the Kyodo News building, Nihon TV building, Panasonic Electric Works building (behind the tree), the Dentsu building, and the Shiodome City Center building.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]As my train passes Hamamatsuchou I get a fairly close-up view of the Eiffel Tokyo Tower.
[attachment=17727:Sights4Thumb.png] Full View
The building in the lower-left is the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 3rd tallest building in Tokyo.
On the other side of the tracks you can see one of Canon’s buildings. I used a Canon to take these pictures!
[attachment=17728:Sights5Thumb.png] Full View[/spoiler]
[spoiler]Finally we arrive at Shinagawa station, my final destination. It was a Saturday and early in the morning (around 5:59 AM if my memory serves) so there were not so many people.
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Shinagawa is near Tokyo Bay and is Tokyo’s main industrial zone.
As soon as I walk out of the station and into sunlight, I step onto…
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…Rainbow Road!
This iconic road has made its way into numerous Mario Kart games. Now you’ve seen the real-life version that exists outside the east exit of Shinagawa station.
While I was taking this shot, a random woman saw my camera facing the elevator and asked what I was shooting. I told her this was Rainbow Road from Mario Kart and she gave me a strange look and moved on.
From there I see Sony Computer Entertainment’s development office. This is the actual building where SCE software developers work, and several of my coworkers used to work there.
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Just around the corner I see this:
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It’s a red light!
Oh, and Tokyo Tower in the distance.
And the headquarters of NTT COMWARE.
And the headquarters of Kokuyo, makers of the Campus notebooks.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]My trip leads me straight to Sony headquarters.
[attachment=17733:Sights9Thumb.png] Full View
I walk alongside and around the back of it (or sometimes straight through it if I need to go to the bathroom) and when I emerge alongside the next road, behind me I see the NTT DoCoMo Shinagawa Building.
[attachment=17734:Sights10Thumb.png] Full View
Just down the road I cross a river, and as I look across it I see the Panasonic AVC building (see full view).
[attachment=17735:Sights11Thumb.png] Full View
This direction is south and this river flows directly into Tokyo Bay and then the Pacific Ocean.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]Even after arriving at my office there are sights to behold. From a window of our office I can see the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay.
[attachment=17736:Sights12Thumb.png] Full View
The structures covering the bottom area of the photo are the tracks for the Shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train.
But perhaps the most glorious and wonderful of all of Tokyo is the collection of LEGO® Technic™ I keep at my work desk.
[attachment=17737:Sights13Thumb.png][/spoiler]
Tokyo is my favorite city for a reason. So much to see and do, even if you live here you can never do it all.
As a tourist destination, let’s just say that I see all of these things and more in the 35 minutes it takes to get to the office. Just imagine spending a whole week here.
I hope you enjoyed my trip to the office!
L. Spiro