By: Atty. Marlo T. Cristobal
(This is a reproduction of what l have written sometime ago that l wish to share in the website of Banateros to give its viewers some information for their guidance in their trip in the future, or simply for their reading treat).
Of the three spectacular viewing Towers (Tsutenkako Tower, Abeno Harukas, and The Roof Shibuya Sky) of Japan that we have visited so far, The Roof Shibuya Sky is the par excellence tower. The first two towers were the subject of my earlier messages to you. And here comes my brief write up on The Roof Shibuya Sky.
The Shibuya Sky Tower is perched above the 14th floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square, whose flooring is totally exposed, naked of any covering against the sky, although the tower’s flooring is well secured by a fence of about four-foot tall of cast-iron transparent glass surrounding it to keep visitors from falling off and likewise to keep an unobstructed view of the surroundings open air that exudes irresistible enjoyment. Hence, as you enter the tower open premises, you are met with a surging feelings of excitement given that you are forced to imagine you are suspended in open air. To borrow an equally descriptive phrase of a song in a musical top grosser movie in the 60s, ” … and ooh that towering feeling ….” Indeed, what a towering feeling to have an overwhelming, commanding aerial view of the entire Tokyo City that displays in living color the patented discipline of the Japanese people and their government. Though Tokyo is obviously a concrete jungle, this jungle, as viewed from the tower, is interspersed with forests and foliage that guarantee a balanced ecology essential to the populace lives and health.
The eve of the new year is normally a time for food trip binge for vacationers. We took our late lunch in the Shinjuko restaurant, Dancing Crab, an almost copy cat of the Boiling Crab of San Francisco, USA, with both almost having the same sea food menu and exhibiting the same style and color of restaurant name. It is interesting to find out who copied whom. They have marked difference though. The San Francisco Boiling Crab really boils its crabs, but Shinjuko, Japan Dancing Crab does not have any crabs that dance. Its charming and sexy waitresses are the ones that all go into a hysteria of sexy dance number to the tune of disco music, in full view of its eating customers. Depending on your proclivities, you have the options to eat your crabs or to just gorge on the sexy scenario around, or both. In my case, l totally focused on eating my sea food, totally never minding the sexy dancing and dancers, ehem.
After lunch, we went to the Kirin Beer Restaurant, noted for its variety of draft beers, for coffee and dessert to while away more time, anticipating the new year.
For dinner, we went to the famous Hokkaido Sky Restaurant, Ginza, on the 46th floor, where you get a lovely and romantic view of Tokyo at night in legion lights while dining. To settle down our full stomach, we proceeded thereafter to Roppongi Illumination Light for a walk.
For the finale of our waiting, we went to Yokohama for the countdown and fireworks.
To friends who are planning to visit Japan and have not seen the places afore described, try to see them, they are definitely worth your and family’s time. For lack of time and space, l am unable to give you the full graphic picture of the sheer excitement, the simple pleasure and the dolce far niente of the places mentioned here and those of my previous travel accounts l sent you.
(Note: Above was sent only to a circle of friends on January 1, 2024.)
