Tokyo Walks 2011 - Monzennaka-cho, Nihonbashi

On a very hot day on Aug. 17, 2011, I did some "urban walking" from the "shitamachi" (下町) (old traditional) areas of Tokyo to the business centre of Tokyo in Nihonbashi.

I started from the Monzennaka-cho (門前仲町) area.

The entrance to the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine.











The Fukagawa Fudoson Temple that was under renovation.











A view of Tokyo Sky Tree.



Another viewpoint of Tokyo that you rarely see. The Manhattan-like skyline of residential high rise buildings of Tsukishima.





Seems you can see Tokyo Sky Tree from any viewpoint here.



Looking towards the financial and commercial district of Nihonbashi.



The bridge that connects Monzennaka-cho to Nihonbashi.





Canal in Nihonbashi.



Giant flood gates for the canal on the opposite side of the bridge.



The actual Nihonbashi bridge "Japan bridge". This is the starting point for many of the national highway routes. I think it used to be much nicer before the ugly expressway was built over the canal which it crosses.



No matter how many nice decorations there are, you cannot hide the fact that an ugly expressway covers the bridge.








Really skinny building in Nihonbashi.



The ultra elaborate entrance of department store Mitsukoshi's main store in Nihonbashi.



I thought this office building's built quality was quite high (compared to others).



Bank of Japan building.



From the Nihonbashi area, I walked to the Imperial Palace area adjacent to Tokyo station next.

One of the giant moats of the Imperial Palace.





You can really feel the spaciousness of the Imperial Palace from this viewpoint.







Tokyo Station renovation.