It Could Be Years Before You Can Visit Japan

Above, the Kachidoki Bridge over the Sumida River in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People around the world, including students, business people and tourists are wondering when Japan will be open to foreigners again.

That is the $10,000 question. Nobody knows, not even the Japanese government, apparently.

The is an article in The Telegraph (U.K.) that says it "could be years before you can visit Japan." That not good.

The article starts with (and some snippets):

Japan, Telegraph Travel readers’ second favourite country, will shortly be pretty in pink – its cities and parks awash with sakura, or cherry blossom. Vanishingly few international visitors, however, will enjoy the spectacle. This will be the third springtime since the country’s stringent Covid-19 travel ban was put in place, and – unlike fellow Australia and New Zealand – a reopening plan has not been revealed.   

Japan’s travel ban stretches back to early April 2020. Only returning Japanese citizens and permanent residents (and, briefly, Olympians) have been permitted to enter, and they are currently subjected to hotel quarantine for six days upon arrival. There was a flicker of optimism that the ban might be eased late last year but omicron’s rise quickly put paid to this. In 2019, a record 31.9 million visitors entered Japan but by 2021 this had collapsed to 245,000, largely those with an exemption to visit. 

No date has been given by the Japanese government for relaxing the ban and some commentators have suggested the continued exclusion of foreigners taps into a siege mentality reminiscent of Sakoku (meaning “locked country”) – the isolationist period that characterised Japan’s Edo period from 1603-1867 under largely xenophobic shogunate rule. Yet the travel ban is looking increasingly futile as omicron cases surge despite the absence of foreign nationals. The 104,000 new daily infections recorded on February 3 was its highest since the pandemic began.  

 

To read more, go here. 

U.S. Government Lowers Japan Travel Warning Level

Above, the Kachidoki Bridge and the Sumida River in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered their Japan travel advisory level a notch. But that doesn't mean people can just hop on a plane and go there.

For citizens who must travel to Japan, they should make sure they are fully vaccinated first.

According to SoraNews24:

Last month, the United States’ CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and Department of State placed Japan on its list of Level-4 travel advisory countries, the highest possible ranking and one which carries a “do not travel” warning, due to the country’s coronavirus conditions. Just over two weeks later, though, Japan has now been removed from Level-4 status.

The change, effective as of June 9 (Japan time), is still only one step down, as the CDC and State Department now have Japan at Level 3. That doesn’t mean the U.S. government is encouraging citizens to hop on a plane for Japan, however, as the country’s Level-3 classification reflects a “high level of COVID-19 in Japan” and still comes with a “reconsider travel” caution meant to dissuade nonessential trips.

To read more, go here. 

Kachidokibashi Bridge: A Bridge To Tokyo's Past

Above, the Kachidokibashi Bridge in 2015 as seen from a tour boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 1954, Godzilla trampled through Tokyo. 

On his way out of the city and into Tokyo Bay, a bridge stood in the way of his path on the Sumida River. So, what else is a giant monster supposed to do? He just toppled it out of his way into the river.

Above, the Kachidokibashi Bridge in Godzilla (1954). Toho Co., Ltd photo.

What bridge was that? It was the Kachidokibashi Bridge.

Today, the bridge still stands over the Sumida River and is now a tourist attraction. I last saw the bridge five years ago as our Sumida Tour boat passed underneath.

The Asahi Shimbun has an article on the Kachidokibashi Bridge.

It begins with:

Kachidokibashi bridge in central Tokyo, a now largely forgotten tribute to Japan's stunning victory in the Russo-Japanese War over a century ago, today stands as a magnet for tourists hoping to snap panoramic views of the Tokyo Bay waterfront. 

Completed 80 years ago, Kachidokibashi in Chuo Ward was once hailed as the greatest drawbridge in Asia. In bygone days, its massive spans were raised five times a day to let large vessels pass. 

Until two years ago when Tsukijiohashi opened, it was the nearest bridge to the vast expanse of Tokyo Bay, where some of the nation's most important ports are located.
The bridge is now the 26th structure from upstream among all 27 bridges available for pedestrians over the Sumidagawa river, which flows in eastern Tokyo. 

Fifty years have passed since Kachidokibashi's spans were raised for the last time. Its history is now celebrated in a museum on the right bank of a stream beside the bridge. The displays recreate what the bascule bridge looked like and how it functioned. 

Kachidokibashi was constructed in 1940, which, according to legend, marked the 2,600th anniversary of the beginning of imperial rule in Japan.

Above, the Kachidokibashi Bridge before passing underneath. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 To read more, go here.

Criterion's Peter Becker Discusses Godzilla Showa-Era Release

Above, Godzilla approaching Tokyo's Kachidoki Bridge in 1954.

Godzilla fans over the years have collected the King of the Monsters's movies ever since VHS tapes were made cheaply available.

Some were official releases and others were bootlegs (at one time, the only way to see the Heisei Series (second series) of Godzilla films was through the bootleg market.

Then came DVD and Blu-ray discs which offered the movies in high resolution. Some releases were better than others (a lot of it depended upon the original source material). Again, fans bought and re-bought the movies.

Now, Criterion Collection is releasing the Showa Series (first series) of Godzilla movies in a new box set. Here we go again!

Criterion Collection's Peter Becker discusses the Godzilla release in a Variety article.

Here's a snippet:

He added: “The idea basically is that it would be wrong to treat Bergman the same way as we treat Godzilla, but it would also in some ways be wrong to treat Godzilla with any less respect than we treat Bergman with.” 

Criterion last year released its “Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema” Blu-ray disc box featuring 39 films and a book featuring critical essays on each of the films. 

Its new “Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975” collection, which comprises 15 digitally restored films and a book featuring newly commissioned illustrations by high-profile artists, is scheduled for release Oct. 29. 

Becker stressed that publishing was not just about bringing products into the world but rather “about how you’re putting it into the world. What it looks like, what it feels like. Even just the finish on “Godzilla” feels a little bit like skin, it’s nice. It’s little details like that that you need to pay attention to – those are all part of publishing.”

The fanbase again will be shelling out hard-earned cash. Since Criterion puts out quality videos, it is likely to be worth it.

To read more, go here.

Japan Needs To Get A Better Grip On Tourism

Above, the Kachidoki Bridge and the Sumida River in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like the tides, there's an ebb and flow to tourism, and that goes especially for Japan.

Along with that, while the Japanese travel industry enjoys the increased revenue, there's another (surprising to the government) side of that coin.

According to Nikkei Asian Review:

Japan's tourist boom is the source of great joy to hoteliers, restaurateurs and the renters of kimonos -- yours for the day for as little as 3,000 yen ($26). 

But the country as a whole is in two minds about the huge surge of visitors, that has taken even government planners by surprise. While the income is welcome, the overcrowding in tourist hot spots, especially in the ancient capital of Kyoto, is not. 

According to Japan Natural Tourism Organization, the total number of inbound tourists more than tripled over 4 years from 8.4 million in 2013 to 28.7 million in 2017. The government has announced a target of 40 million annual inbound tourists by 2020, the equivalent of around 30% of the Japanese population. 

This is still well short of the potential if France, a well-established tourist destination is any guide. It received 82.6 million inbound tourists in 2016, the equivalent of 120% of its inhabitants. Japan clearly has both long-term opportunities and challenges in tourism.

To read more, go here.

Japan Plans "Exit Tax"

Above, the Kachidoki Bridge that was toppled over by Godzilla in 1954. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign visitors to Japan may be subjected to an "exit tax" if the proposed plan is enacted.

According to The Mainichi:

The Japanese government is moving toward preparations to enact an "exit tax" on people leaving Japan starting in fiscal 2019, the first new national tax in 27 years. 

The tax would be 1,000 yen per person and be included in the price of the traveler's plane ticket out of the country. The tax plan will be included in the outline of 2018 fiscal year tax revisions planned to be compiled at the end of 2017 with the aim of enacting the tax the next fiscal year. If introduced, it will be the first new permanent tax since the 1992 land value tax.

To read more, go here. 

Japan, A Budget Traveler's Dream

Above, the Kachidoki Bridge over the Sumida River in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Everyone's heard that Japan is an expensive place to visit. In some cases it can be. In some cases it is actually cheaper than the U.S. Overall, I found it no more expensive than traveling around the United States.

Gaijinpot.com has an article that will put to rest that Japan is too expensive. In fact, they contend that Japan is a "budget traveler's dream."

They begin with:

Gone are the days when travel to Japan was exclusive to hedge fund managers and Nintendo geeks, and with it the assumption that it’s expensive, boring and difficult to travel here. In 2015, the country welcomed a record 19.73 million tourists, and the Abe administration recently doubled its goal to attract 20 million international travelers by 2020 to 40 million. 

As the government carries out measures to make Japan more accessible to international travelers, we’re seeing transport get cheaper, hearing more foreign languages being spoken, watching new facilities being built and cheering as visa restrictions are relaxed. 

What does this mean for thrifty travelers seeking the best in budget adventure? Here’s 5 reasons why you should choose Japan for your next bargain trip.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Info: 10 Fantastic Spots for a Photographer on Tokyo’s Sumida River

Above, the control room of the Kachidoki Bridge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan and photography pretty much are "a match made in heaven". Anywhere in Japan provides plenty of sights to see and photograph.

This is also true of the sights along Tokyo's Sumida River.

Japan Info has an article on ten fantastic spots for a photographer on the Sumida River. Two years ago, I took a Sumida River cruise and photographed many of the things the article described. The article is a walking tour along the river.

Of course, the Sumida River is an important draw for Godzilla fans, even though it isn't listed as one of the 10 "fantastic sights". In 1954, the great monster toppled the Kachidoki Bridge into the river. So, for our purposes here, let's call it fantastic sight number 11.

They begin the article with:

The Sumida River (Sumidagawa 隅田川), one of Tokyo’s classic waterways, is a photographer’s dream. With waterside terraces, appealing atmosphere, and breathtaking views, it’s a definite “must” on any tourist’s list. Yet sadly, many fail to take advantage of this fun, free opportunity. 

Originating in Chichibu (秩父), Saitama (埼玉), the Sumidagawa breaks off from the Arakawa River (荒川) at Akabane-Iwabuchi (赤羽岩淵) in Tokyo’s far north. Passing attractions such as Asakusa (浅草), Tokyo Skytree, and Nihonbashi (日本橋), it neatly divides Tokyo before flowing into Tokyo Bay. During the Meiji (明治) period, the threat of floods forced the government to split the river, sending most of the water into a manmade channel. This new riverway retained the name Arakawa. The water that continued to follow the original Arakawa route was named the Sumidagawa.

Above, an upriver view of the Sumida River from the Tokyo Skytree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Japan May See 24 Million Foreign Visitors This Year

Above, Tokyo's Kachidoki Bridge from a Sumida River tour boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Tourism Agency is thinking that the number of foreign tourists to Japan will reach 24 million by the end of this year.

Kyodo News reported:

The total number of foreign visitors to Japan is expected to reach around 24 million by the end of this year, Japan Tourism Agency head Akihiko Tamura said Wednesday. 

The estimated total number of foreign visitors to Japan reached 20.11 million at the end of October, up 23.3 percent from a year earlier, topping last year's record 19.74 million and surpassing the 20 million line for the first time, the agency said.

With the U.S. dollar performing better than it has in months following the election, it is not too far-fetched to think that a resulting rise in U.S. tourists could help Japan in reaching the 24 million mark.

To read more, go here.

Tourists Flocking To Japan's Dams and Bridges

Above, the Rainbow Bridge of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that tours to bridges, dams and other infrastructures in Japan are gaining in popularity for tourists.

Those of us who are kaiju fans, already have reason to see some. The Saikai Bridge in Kyushu (near Sasebo City) was featured in Rodan (1956), the Kachidoki Bridge in Tokyo was featured in Godzilla (1954) and the Rainbow Bridge that spans across Tokyo Bay was featured in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000), just to name a few. These are spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

According to an article in AsiaOne Travel:

"Infra-tourism," or sightseeing at large-scale infrastructure utilities such as dams, bridges and roads, is gaining popularity. Visitors can enjoy dynamic views such as the thunderous discharge of water at a dam, or a suspension bridge from high above, while also learning about the roles of utilities.

To read more, go here.

Sumida River Cruise 2005 & 2015

Above, the Kachidoki Bridge's control room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2005, I took a cruise down the Sumida River in Tokyo. Yesterday, we took the same cruise and noticed a few changes in the ten years since.

Back in 2005, this was the scene looking up-river at the Kachidoki Bridge (the one Godzilla toppled over in 1954):

Ten years later, here's a similar view:

Here's the Kachidoki Bridge looking down-river towards Tokyo Bay:

Above, this bridge wasn't around in 2005. The Kachidoki Bridge is in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rainbow Bridge & Odaiba: Then and now.

Above, the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba in 2005. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view of Tokyo Tower from the Sumida River in 2005. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the same view of Tokyo Tower yesterday. A wall had been added since 2005. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ten More Days Until "In The Footsteps of Godzilla"

Above, Godzilla approaches the Kachidoki Bridge on the Sumida River in 1954. Photo: Toho Co., Ltd.

Ten more days from today is the Japan Society of Northern California's "In The Footsteps of Godzilla" event in San Francisco.

The April 26 event begins with a screening of the original Godzilla (1954). It is in Japanese with English subtitles. Following the movie screening, I will be talking about Godzilla movies with a focus on the locations and landmarks used. After this, we will be migrating to the Izakaya Roku Japanese restaurant for a V.I.P. dinner.

I will have copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan available for purchase.

Here's the schedule:

This event benefits the Japan Society of Northern California as it will help to fund future programs.

As we are nearing the date of the event, now is the time to purchase your tickets while you still can.

For further information, including tickets, go here.

Japan Quake May Have Altered Tokyo Fault Stress

Above, the Sumida River with the Kachidoki Bridge in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 may have altered the stresses to the fault line near Tokyo.

According to a post at News On Japan:

The recent monster quake that hit northeastern Japan altered the earth's surface, geologists say, loading stress onto a different segment of the fault line much closer to Tokyo. 

Experts are quick to point out that this doesn't mean a powerful earthquake is necessarily about to strike the Japanese capital. Even if it did, the structure of the tectonic plates and fault lines around the city makes it unlikely that Tokyo would be hit by a quake anywhere near the intensity of the 9.0-magnitude one that struck March 11, said Roger Musson of the British Geological Survey. 

But, given the vast population - Tokyo and its surroundings are home to 39 million people - any strong temblor could be devastating.

This story certainly isn't going to help people in Tokyo to sleep more soundly.


- See more at: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/110918.php#sthash.YwsIVeNd.dpuf

L.A. To Tokyo Airfares Unchanged

Above, a view looking toward the Kachidoki Bridge in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Los Angeles to Tokyo airfares are unchanged from last week's report.

The Los Angeles Times Travel section reported yesterday that the low end prices they found was $987 and the high end prices at $1,574. These, of course, are before any taxes or fees are added in.

The summer vacation season will be ending soon as Labor Day weekend is coming up. 

Tokyo Cruise's "Hotaluna" Cruise Boat

Above, the "Hotaluna" moored at the Tokyo Cruise terminal at Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two years ago, I posted a blog article on taking a cruise on the Sumida River in Tokyo. I took a cruise down the Sumida back in 2005, and it was very enjoyable (although the crew tries their best to sell passengers model toys of their cruise boats). It was aboard one of the more conventional boats that Tokyo Cruise Ship Co. has.

Above, the Tokyo Cruise terminal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my recent trip to Japan, I made it a point to photograph the Tokyo Cruise terminal, which is located on the Asakusa side of the Sumida.

As luck would have it, moored at the terminal was a unique tour boat of the "fleet" of Sumida tour boats. Most of the tour boats are conventional, but this one can be described as "futuristic." It is the "Hotaluna." To see the interior of the boat (the text is in Japanese), go here.

Above, the "Hotaluna." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tourists can sail on the "Hotaluna" down the Sumida River to Odaiba and back. Great views along the river include the Skytree, Asahi Beer Hall, the Kachidoki Bridge (featured in Godzilla), Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Fish Market, the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba.

For reservations, go here. (Unfortunately, it is in Japanese.)

Tokyo's Skytree A Boon To The Sumida Water Bus Business

Above, a down-river view of the Sumida River in Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2005, I took a water bus ride down the Sumida River in Tokyo. It took me down to the Hama Rikyu Garden pier from Asakusa's water bus pier and back.  It was a pleasant ride (despite the efforts of the water taxi's staff to sell me models of their boats) and well worth it.

Since the building of the Tokyo Skytree, the water bus business has jumped.

According to The Japan Times:

It’s easy to make your way around Tokyo on the subways, buses and trains that cover the capital like a spider web. 

But not many people know about another way to get around — water buses. Also known as water taxis, their popularity has grown thanks to the opening of Tokyo Skytree along the Sumida River. 

While operators say they saw an increase in passengers last business year when the world’s tallest tower opened, they believe water buses have great potential to attract even more tourists in coming years. 

“The opening of Tokyo Skytree has really helped boost the popularity of water buses,” said Koji Sudo, director of the department overseeing the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association’s water bus business.

Above, a Sumida River view of the Kachidoki Bridge and highrises from the water bus.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Besides the Sky Tree, passengers will get great views of the Asahi Beer Hall with its "Golden Flame" sculpture and the Kachidoki Bridge (just before entering Tokyo Bay) that Godzilla toppled over in 1954. The water bus also passes the famous Tsukiji Fish Market.

Also, Tokyo Tower can be seen in the distance from the water bus.

To read the full article, go here.

15 Sights That Make Tokyo So Fascinating

Above, a view looking up the Sumida River from Tokyo Bay towards the
Kachidoki Bridge and the Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

CNN.com's Travel section posted an article (along with a video) on the "15 Sights That Make Tokyo So Fascinating"  back in July 2011.

Number 8 is one that G-fans should recognize:

8. Godzilla

One ill-fated night, Godzilla, a giant radioactive reptile from the sea, climbs out from Tokyo Bay and attacks the city. After wreaking havoc and causing much death and destruction, he’s gone, but the Japanese army puts up a row of electrical towers along Tokyo’s coast to shoot 50,000 volts of electricity through the monster, should he come back again. 

This is the plot of the original 1954 “Godzilla,” a campy action thriller that has a direct connection to the nuclear attacks on Japan in 1945. 

The film’s director and co-writer, Ishiro Honda, was allegedly so shocked by the devastation from the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima that he created the monster to act as a metaphor for the devastation. 

More than 50 years later, Godzilla (whose name is an amalgam of the Japanese for gorilla and whale) is as instantly recognizable as ever around the globe -- the freak monster inextricably tied to Japanese culture and Tokyo for evermore. 

More on CNNGo: 5 best Godzilla movies

Besides Godzilla, there are other familiar names of places in Tokyo that Godzilla fans would recognize: Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Ginza, etc.

To see the list, go here.

Godzilla Turns 58

Above, the King of the Monsters stands guard at the main gate of Toho Studios.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In movie history...

On November 3, 1954, Godzilla was unleashed in theaters throughout Japan, thus inaugurating a whole new genre of science-fiction movies: daikaiju eiga.

The genre has had its ups and downs over the span of 58 years.  It has seen good movies and bad movies.  But it has managed to weather them all.  Hollywood is currently in the process of producing a new Godzilla movie under the wings of Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers.  Hopefully, it will be true to the spirit of the Japanese version and not the abomination that was released in 1998 by Sony/Tri-Star.

Above, the Godzilla statue in Hibiya, Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Toho Co., Ltd., citing dwindling box-office returns for its third series of Godzilla movies, had decided to stop producing them eight years ago.  There are no plans to resurrect their most famous character.  If the new U.S. version is a hit, they may change their minds...eventually.

Above, Godzilla approaches the Kachidoki Bridge in 1954.  Photo: Toho Co., Ltd.

The original Godzilla suit-actor, Haruo Nakajima, age 83, will be appearing at the Mad Monster Party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina this coming March 22-24.

Herald Sun: "Tokyo's Colorful Frozen Tuna Auctions"

Above, the entry to the Tsukiji Fish Market.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the more interesting things I saw while in Tokyo two years ago was the Tsukiji Fish Market (officially, it is the Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market).

The Herald Sun (Australia) has a good article on the fish market (along with a video).

They begin it with:

Tsukiji is the biggest fish market in the world, and it's colourful frozen tuna auctions are fast becoming a pit stop on the Tokyo tourist trail.

The auctions are run in two shifts and registration starts at 5am at Kashidoki Bridge.

Only 120 people are allowed into the auctions each day, and there were already tourists waiting in line when news.com.au arrived at 4:30am.

Once inside, punters examine the catch, poking and prodding the giant tuna before lining up to make their bids.

The nearby restaurants served the freshest sushi I've ever tasted. It has been reported that people have to wait in line at the restaurants to get a seat. I must've really lucked out as I got seated immediately.

Above, fish packed in ice in styrofoam boxes.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are planning a trip to Tokyo, by all means go to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Make sure you do so before next year as, per the article:

The Japanese Government is planning to move the markets to Koto in 2013 so it won’t be long before Tsukiji is shut down.

Above, the day's catch all set for sale.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full article and see the video, go here.

Sumida River Cruise

Category: Travel

Above, the Asahi Beer Hall and the Tokyo Sky Tree under construction in 2010. The water taxi station is just behind the building with the blue roof.

When visiting Tokyo, Japan, there are always plenty of things to see and do in the city.

One of the most pleasant activities I undertook during a visit to Tokyo was a cruise down the Sumida river to Tokyo Bay.

The cruise boat was comfortable and offered great views on both sides. The water taxi station is located at Asakusa, directly across the river from the Asahi Beer Hall with its gleaming "Golden Flame" sculpture.

Above, the Asahi Beer Hall in 2005.

After leaving the water taxi station, the cruise boat passes docked Yakatabune dinner/party boats (below).



The cruise passes under several bridges as it heads towards Tokyo Bay. Along the way, it passed an encampment of Tokyo's homeless under an overpass (below).



As the cruise boat makes its way to Tokyo bay, it passes both commercial and residential buildings. The photo below is of a large riverside apartment building (some call these "rabbit hutches").



Tokyo Tower can be seen in the distance as the cruise boat gets closer to Tokyo Bay (below). Tokyo Tower was featured in several Japanese monster movies including Mothra (1961), King Kong Escapes (1967), Gamera, Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003). Tokyo Tower is spotlighted on page 30 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.



Along the way, the cruise passes the famed Tsukiji Fish Market. It also passes under the Kachidoki Bridge (the bridge that was toppled over in Godzilla (1954)). The Kachidoki Bridge is spotlighted on page 29 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

When the cruise boat enters Tokyo Bay, passengers are treated to a view of the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba (below). Both the bridge and Odaiba were featured in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000) and are spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 25.



As the cruise boat turns to dock at the Hama Rikyu Gardens, the passengers are able to see an upriver view of the Kachidoki Bridge (below). The bridge is dwarfed by many commerical and apartment buildings.



I highly recommend taking a Sumida River Cruise. It is relaxing and kaiju fans can see several monster movie landmarks during the cruise. There are several Sumida River cruise boat companies to choose from. For more information on Sumida River cruises, go here.