A room with a view

For me a decent view is one of the joys of no longer being a city-dweller. It’s one of the reasons (along with fear of crowds, dislike of crowded public transport, and loathing of most Japanese urban architecture) that, despite living in Japan a few years, I’d never been to the capital or anywhere near it, until last month. And being a bit short of ready cash prior to Christmas, I regarded a recent overnight stay in Tokyo as something to be endured, rather than as any sort of opportunity.

But following a friend’s advice, Mrs C and I found ourselves in a lift, heading for the top of Tokyo Tochou (the Metropolitan Government Building) in Shinjuku. Being a bumpkin with vertigo, I don’t often venture into buildings much higher than 10 floors, but here I was in a viewing gallery on the dizzying 45th floor. And that affords quite a view.

In every direction.