Japan part 2

 On the way to Tokyo Skytree, we paused to drink in the delicious smell of this bakery. 

Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya (food sample shop) on the 4th floor of the Tokyo Skytree shopping complex. They have a HUGE selection of fake foods available in magnets, tissue holders, plates, keychains, clocks, decorations, pen holders, etc. Such a creative, cute idea. 

This was another shop, glass items.

The map we tried to follow to get to the observation floor.

JUMP shop

Stained glass bookmarks

More food sample items

Stopped to peruse other shops.

Water area outside

Japan's vending machines are awesome.

WOW. Look at the sky.

Rode to the 30th and 31st floor to view the sky tree. At 634 meters tall, it's the largest broadcasting tower in the world. Here's something interesting. The original plan was for Skytree to be 610 meters. But the developers explicitly wanted it to be the world's tallest freestanding tower. As construction plans around the world changed, they adjusted the design and settled on 634 meters specifically to secure the record. 

While we were watching the sun set and waiting for the tower to light up, a storm came and went, and we captured it in fast motion which was really amazing.

Tokyo

We savored this "World's No. 1 Apple Pie" from Mille Mele, a famous shop. It definitely deserves that rating. 

Afterward we ate fried octopus (which I greatly miss) from a mall shop. And how convenient - the banana juice shop was right nearby. 😄😋

The malls and many other places close around 9 or 10 here. 

And that ends the day of July 30th.