Tokyo Sky Tree

A few weekends ago we went with our friend Ringo and her friend Juri to visit Sky Tree. Sky Tree is a tower that is currently under construction but is on track to become the tallest tower in the world when it's finished later this year. And already it is a popular site to visit around Tokyo. I asked some of my 13 and 14 year old students where Brad and I should take his family when they come to visit (specifically mentioning Brad's 15 year old step-sister Lauren) and of all the places in Tokyo, Sky Tree was at the top. And I have to say that I do not understand why. It was definitely a cool site to see, and already it's amazing to see how tall it is, but if I had one day to see Tokyo I would definitely recommend something else. But regardless, we had a lot of fun talking with Ringo and her friend, taking pictures and walking around Asakusa.

Juri, Ringo, and me outside of Sky Tree

Brad and Sky Tree

Sky Tree--you really did have to look straight up to see the top. To get the whole tower in the picture we had to take the picture as low to the ground as possible. (I had to write that last sentence a couple of times so no one could leave a "that's what she said" comment--but who am I kidding, no one comments anyway! lol Thanks Mom!) 

That's a random building, the Sky Tree Tower, and the Asahi Beer buildings. The gold building is supposed to look like a foamy glass of beer and who knows what the other building is supposed to look like. I can tell you what me and lots of other people think the gold thing looks like though... :)

Ringo, Brad, and Juri on the train. By the way, that is Ringo's first Starbuck's drink ever! I didn't think that was possible over the age of 2!

Then we went to take Purikura pictures. They're basically like high tech photo booths and are extremely popular here. Before you take the pictures you pick the backgrounds that you want, then you take the pictures and afterwards you have about 3 minutes to add writing and other photo shop-esque things to it. (Girls get all decked out specifically to take these pictures here.) Only girls or guys accompanied by a girl are allowed to use the purikura booths but it was fun. I have to say that I'm not the best at posing for pictures but they turned our pretty well, and is definitely a fun keepsake!