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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (都庁) - Part 1

Photos of my favorite Japanese skyscraper

Photo captions are below.
<<01>> Tochō’s intricately-designed façade, seen from the west. <<02>> The front of Tochō, seen from its plaza. <<03>> Tochō’s plaza. <<04>> The rear of Tochō again. <<05>> A view from the north observation deck. Check out that population density. <<06>> Tochō’s neighbours to the north east. <<07>>
Gijido Street with its tiny cars. <<08>> A close-up of Tochō’s microchip-inspired exterior with the urban sprawl of west Tokyo to the right. <<09>> Only in Japan – listed on the observation deck information placard as a point of interest alongside Mt Fuji is an incineration plant! <<10>> The greenery seen in this shot is Yoyogi Park, home to the Olympic Athletes Village during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Faintly visible on the far side is one of architect Kenzo Tange’s most famous projects (along with Tochō, the Fuji TV Building and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park), the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, which was one of the main Olympic venues. <<11>> The Park Hyatt, location of much of the film Lost In Translation. The New York Bar on the top floor of the hotel is one of the film’s most memorable settings and offers great views of Tokyo – at a price. <<12>> Look closely at this bird’s eye view of Shinjuku Central Park and you’ll see the blue tarpaulin of numerous shelters belonging to the park’s homeless residents.<<13>> One of the blue tarp shanty towns in Shinjuku Central Park that have been set up within the shadow of Tochō’s monument to Bubble Era capitalism. <<14>> This man kept shouting “white cat, white cat – this area’s trademark,” his mental health clearly the reason why he’s currently homeless. <<15>> Through all that smog, in the distance of this shot (taken from Tokyo Tower) you can see the Shinjuku skyscraper district with Tochō visible just to the left of Tokyo’s second tallest skyscraper, the spire-like NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building. <<16>> Tochō at sunset.