Monday 12 August - Shibuya, Meiji Shrine & Inner Garden and Shinjuku

I have given up on including photos because of the "location" issues. Another day of high 30C temperatures. This heat is beyond the typical Tokyo summer - and, so far, it has not experienced its usual summer rains. Concern is being expressed about the 2020 Olympics from the perspective of heat risks, with planning proceeding that may see some extreme events being scheduled for a 5.30am start.
Interestingly, Japan does not have daylight saving, but sun is up before 5.30am.
Our regular coffee in the guest lounge after breakfast and before setting off again on the train system. Despite our apartment being just metres  from Tokyo Station, it can be up to almost 1km to get to some platforms.
First off to Shibuya (remarkably, on two trains that were almost empty and the easiest transfer so far - just cross the platform). It is a holiday period in Tokyo (yesterday was Mountain Day public holiday, today a "day in lieu" for that day), and the next few days are the Obon festival period (Festival of the Souls) - a period when residents go back to their roots (but I am sure just as many must have their roots in Tokyo - so come back here!!!).
Observed from above and experienced the famed Shibuya Crossing (where about seven roads intersect, and the home of the loyal Hachiko, the dog who continued to come back for nine years after his master passed away), by crossing it twice (supposedly the biggest and busiest pedestrian crossing in the world). Shopping centres of all sorts - but high end and low end only. Once again massive food halls in basements. The whole area is undergoing major infrastructure redevelopment - just like so much of Tokyo. Daniel Andrews would do well to bring in some experts as all seems to be happening without even the oversight of Stop/Go sign holders!!
On then to Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park, a very large forested area - quite peaceful in the scheme of things. The Shrine was dedicated to Emperor Meiji in 1920 (he who westernised and modernised Japan when its feudal era came to an end), but was destroyed during WW11 before being rebuilt.
In the first days of the new year, the shrine welcomes more than 3 million for the year's first prayers.
The walk down and back will be shorter when redevelopment of the Harajaku Station is completed!!
Top up for our Suica Cards (they are one of my top three tips for Tokyo - reinforced every time I look at the queues to buy tickets at train stations).
Off then to Shinjuku and the Tokyo Metropolitan Building (actually twins, but one closed to the public at present -  resulting in a longer queue, but well worth it). 45 levels up to the viewing level, with spectacular panoramic views, including to Mt Fuji (barely visible in the summer "cloud"). The walk to the towers is about 800M, most of it along a moving walkway - sadly, it's just a one way trip. Should mention the efforts of a local lady who steered us in the right direction, and then followed us for 200M to ensure we had followed her instructions! Note also, that under two of the overhead railway lines we saw our first evidence of street sleepers - but the trains are devoid of any ill at ease.
Back then to our home at Oakwood Premier (of course via the Daimaru food hall for another fully prepared japanese dinner).
A most remarkable aspect of Tokyo is its cleanliness and its lack of graffiti - have not seen one scrap. One of our guides from yesterday attributes such things, including respect, to the Shinto religion.