Summer Days Around Tokyo Tower in Minato, Japan

I spent a few days in Minato Ward in mid-July of 2017. The weather was classic Tokyo summer: hot, with bright, clear blue skies. The first thing I noticed was how the Tokyo Tower seemed to appear everywhere. I first saw it peeking out behind some buildings and summer hydrangeas, a constant landmark for the neighborhood.

I walked through the grounds of Zojoji Temple, which sits right in the shadow of the tower. It was a strange and compelling contrast, seeing the traditional temple rooflines against the backdrop of both the orange lattice of the tower and the sleek glass of modern skyscrapers. From the park, the tower just dominates the view, a massive structure of red and white steel against the sky.

As day turned to night, the city lit up. From a window somewhere high up, I watched the illuminated tower hold its own against the skyline. It felt different seeing it from above, and then again later from street level, passing under the large wooden temple gates that open onto the busy city streets.

It wasn't just about the major landmarks, though. I remember coming across a long row of small stone statues, each with a red knit hat and a colorful pinwheel. It was a quiet, unexpected detail in the middle of such a busy, monumental area.