Tokyo - Settling In

Apartment Swap
One of Jean's girlfriends lives in Tokyo and was planning a trip to Paris the same time we were to arrive in Tokyo.  So, we swapped apartments.  At the last minute, the girlfriend couldn't go to Paris but decided to go to Hong Kong, so we were still able to use her apartment.  It's in Roppongi, the "midtown" of Tokyo.  We're in the left tower, which is just above the Suntory concert hall.

The view from the bedroom is a nice one, onto the wooded plaza below.  We're on the 4th floor, just above the tree line, close to the deafening locust buzz.  The buzz is constant, all day and all night.  So many locusts - a really beautiful late summer sound.

It's hot, hot, hot and nastily humid.  The city feels like a steaming cement stew.  I bought a dark black UV-proof umbrella and use it everywhere I go.

The view from the livingroom offers the top of the Tokyo Tower.

The tower is hollow in the middle, all the windows are on the outer skeleton, luckily.

This is a pretty rich area I surmise.  Lots of expats around, plenty of nice cars and beautiful tree-lined streets.

We are within walking distance of Roppongi Hills, a large corporate/shopping center.  There are lots of sculptures throughout......

......including the famous Roppongi spider.  He's larger than expected.  Quite an interesting piece, there are even white eggs in the belly.

We've been taking a lot of buses and trains, eating and shopping.  This week Jean has to work.  She will go into the office on Tuesday.