Sumida river cruise ( Tokyo III )

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There is this newly renovated and build up area in Tokyo Bay with offices, convention centres, hotels and residential areas. Like the Docklands in London but then an ugly version. A nice way to visit this is to take the Yurikamome monorail for 240 Yen (cheapest one way to the next station) and then just go all the way to the end and come back on the same train. It's quite interesting to see how the Japanese can construct the most beautiful buildings among otherwise lots of really ugly ones. They just love concrete; the more the better.
The Fuiji-television building is really something though, very 21st century.

Got off at Hinode station to take a 40 minutes cruise up the Sumida river all the way up to Asakusa passing underneath 13 bridges. Water in general and harbours in particular have something quite fascinating and despite the hustle and bustle are also quite peaceful for me.
The house on the river side on the right is very un-japanese as it has big windows and an airy feel to it. It must be great to live there.
Passing through Asakusa after having been there many times I suddenly realize that all the stuff that I thought so wonderfull there you can basically also buy in the 100 yen shop around the corner.

Rushed to meet Bram for lunch in Takadanobaba, the area close to Waseda University. Had great Thai food in a basement restaurant for 900 Yen all you can eat buffet. It was nice to catch up and hearing about his plan to spend a couple of weeks in a Zen Buddhist temple near lake Biwa to find some tranquility.
Hope to see him and his girlfriend in august in Amsterdam.