Japan Diaries Part 4: The Glass Building

Back by popular demand - this is a re-post of the travel diary of our recent trip to Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Nagano.

After a little rest, we got up early.  It's hard to sleep in when you are surrounded by such fascinating places and people.

The coffee places in Ikekubekuro don't open until seven.  Strange.  We eventually got our Starbuck's fix and got on the subway to Tokyo Central station.   We already knew our way around the ginormous Ikekubekuro station and had become pros at navigating the Japanese-language ticket machines.

(However, during our time in Tokyo, we never did figure out how to get around in the JR - Japan Rail - system.  It's not color-coded and the ticketing process is a mystery.)

We intended to transfer to the Shinkansen bullet train, but while walking to that part of the station we stumbled on a huge conference center called simply "The Glass Building."  It has a 20+ story atrium completely enclosed with windows.  There are suspended walkways that zigzag across, hanging precariously in space.  It is simply dizzying.  We spent an hour just appreciating the structure and amazing architecture.

On the highest level of the Glass Building

Looking across the atrium of the Glass Building

On the ground level

The rather orderly entry into an exhibit