Living in Kinshicho gives me greater insights into an area that very few people will ever visit. For people who love seeing the local people, Kinshicho is not the best choice. It is neither a local area nor is it a major urban centre in Tokyo. It is a mix between the two and it has been growing yearly. This year saw another growth around the station. When I moved to Kinshicho, the first Christmas was pretty boring. There were a few lights here and there but nothing spectacular. Over the last few years they continued to add to the display. The south side is more subdued with just a few lights strung up on the trees in front of the station. The north side, the family oriented side, has seen a huge growth. The entire area around the station and all the way to Oyokogawa Park is lined with Christmas Lights. There is even a display replicating Tokyo Sky Tree on the eastern side of the plaza. On the west, in front of Arcakit, they have a lot of interesting lights. They set up lights that act more dynamically than any other lights in Tokyo. I find them to be the best lights I have seen as it makes the two main trees dance. You can see a bit from the video below. Kinshicho is not a place for most people to visit, but its close proximity to Tokyo Sky Tree makes it a great place to start or end a trip to Tokyo Sky Tree. If you start your day in Asakusa, head to Tokyo Sky Tree, you can end it with a walk to Kinshicho Station where you can enjoy the lights before heading home.
Update: I have recently made an effort to visit the south side of Kinshicho and they have done a little more than last year to add a Christmas feel. There are several trees with nice lights on them. I will try to add photos as soon as I can.
2012 Christmas in Kinshicho
Note: There are more photos on my Facebook Page. Please check back again around Christmas as I will add more photos of Sky Tree at night. You can directly view the photos here: HinoMaple @ Facebook: Kinshicho Christmas
This is the area we used to stay before we got to be acquainted with Toyoko Inn. Used to to stay at Marriott (now Tobu Levant if memory serves me right) there on our vacation, redeeming Marriott rewards points. xD
Guess the Tobu company is operating, or co-operating with Marriott. I never knew that they were a Marriott in the past. Perhaps it is too old now. They have just 1 Marriott in Ginza now.
I doubt I’d ever stay in the Tobu Levant. Why would I? 😉
I also remember you took a photo of dogs on a building near the hotel. Was a nice picture.
Kinshicho has one of my favourite shrines: Kameido Tenjin. That’s reason enough to go for regular visits.
The walk from the station via … I can never remember that name … it’s too long … chotto … Ooyokogawa-shinsui-koen! The walk from the station to Tokyo Sky Tree via the river ramble park thingie is a Very Nice Walk, especially now that they’re renovating (or have they already finished?) the river ramble park thingie so nicely.
Why you post all your stuff on Facebook? Hmph. I’m considering Google+, provided I can get away with my fake Sumida surname, but I’m fairly sure I’ll be the last non-Facebooker in the universe.
I’ve joined Twitter, as you know, but I remain a sceptic. It’s a very one-sided thing, isn’t it?, and I can’t see how you can keep up if you’re following thousands of Twitterers. It’s also too intrusive for me.
PPS: Heh. Ignore me. I’m a Luddite! 😀
I put it on Facebook because it is easier for me. That’s all. I don’t use Google+ enough to make it worthwhile. Plus not enough people use it for what I am doing. Besides, I said you don’t need a Facebook account to see the photos. 😛 Click the link and you’ll see them. I should be done with the photos by Christmas. Now that you are on Twitter, you can see when I add photos too! 😉
You are a Luddite? I’m surprised. I thought you shunned all things political? 😉 It was originally just a political movement to keep jobs, specifically in the textile industry when automated looms were starting to enter that industry. While the word has evolved into the modern use of hating technology, it is somewhat misused, I feel.
The park is finished. No more constructions. It is a very nice walk indeed. I go there almost every day with Sox. 😀