AzumaBashi Bridge

This is  part view of the AzumaBashi Bridge as we left our river cruise and began the next section of our tour. The bridge was originally constructed in 1774, but was destroyed in an earthquake. The current bridge was built in 1931, and is currently under debate as to the colour. The colour was changed from blue to red in 1993 as part of a government project to give the bridge a "regional flavour".

Sumida River Cruise Pt 12 - Tokyo Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree is the tallest building in Japan. Here we can just see the tower behind another building. It is a broadcasting tower, complete with restaurants and observation decks the same as most city towers these days. We were still gliding past on our cruise up the Sumida River, so there was no opportunity for a stop over.

The weather was still clear and sunny but the cloud strip forming might be a promise of something to come.

Sumida River Cruise Pt 11 - Hotaluna

A "Hotaluna" is a very modern space ship like water vessel that runs cruises up and down the Sumida River and out into Tokyo Bay. They are apparently the latest in technology, and the latest vessels to be added to the fleet of boats to cruise these waterways, No, we were not on one of these, we were just lucky enough to pass one on our cruise up the Sumida River.

Sumida River Cruise Pt 10 - A Second Waterway

This was a second feeder waterway that we passed. It looked like another walkway bridge, and there looked like there were still more walkway bridges  further up the waterway. The high rise is minimum ten stories high. Row after row of it.

There was a meeting of some kind happening on the bridge. a group of men were milling around talking. It may have been a formal meeting about something, but more than likely just an afternoon tea/smoking break.

There were  also more boats moored up this waterway. they we different to those in the last waterway. These were flat bottomed and quite wide ( Sanpans?). I can only dream as to their purpose.

Sumida River Cruise Pt 9 - A Walkway Bridge

Along part of the Sumida River there were other little waterways leading and draining down into the river. As we look along these feeding waterways, we still get to see the high rise. We also see other bridges and boats.

The bridge in the foreground looks like a pedestrian bridge, carrying walkers from one side to the other. The walkers are dressed in business suits, so they may be on there way home, to a business meeting, out for afternoon tea, or who knows? All I do know is that the opening at the end of the bridge is not large enough for cars.

If we look below the main bridge we can just see an archway to a second bridge crossing of this waterway, and looking through the bridge we can see a raised bridge further in the background. I am tipping the raised bridge goes over a busy road. We had already experienced these raised wide walking platforms above roads. Rather than queuing at lights waiting to cross the road, walkways were elevated and accessed by escalators. This kept both the traffic moving and the pedestrians moving.

We can also see boats at the edge of this waterway. I won't even guess as the their purpose, but i doubt they are pleasure craft

Sumida River Cruise Pt 8 - Bridges

Along our cruise we passed under a total of thirteen bridges. As we were sitting towards the back of our transport, and not next to a window, I found it hard to get pics if the bridges as they spanned the river.

Instead I got pics as we passed under the bridges.

We use bridges to cross something. It could be water, or it could be another road. As we cross a bridge we are usually viewing what we can see from the bridge. Some people like to step away from a bridge to take pics of the whole bridge. But how many of you have taken pics from under a bridge? This was not something I had thought of, but as we passed under so many bridges along our cruise, I actually found the underneath side of the bridges interesting. It is amazing how different they all are, different lines, directions, shapes, and colours. 

Maybe some of these lines might appear in my textile work one day.

Sumida River Cruise Pt 7 - Flood Gates

More flood gates, or whatever they are. I am fairly certain they are flood gates. This time there are two side by side, and if we look closely they are raised to the same level as the brick levee at the side.

The section at the top could serve a few functions. I would imagine it would house electronics or hydraulics to lower and raise the gates, access for maintenance, an observation/ viewing  point, and maybe even a walkway over the water from one side to the other for local residences.

I am surmising of course, but I don't think I am too far from the truth.

Sumida River Cruise Pt 6 - Residential block

Further along the Sumida River now and we pass by a residential block. Some have air conditioners, some do not, most have washing out on very small balconies. This is what I would call a "dog box", very small living quarters. On the up side they would have great views of the river. We can also still see that levee wall running beside the river, this time constructed in brick.

Sumida River Cruise Pt 5 - Kachidokibashi Bridge

A close shot now of the Kachidokibashi Bridge. This is the other end of the bridge, the end  I didn't get in my first post about this cruise. I still didn't get a full pic of the bridge as we were sitting at the side of our river cat and not even next to a window, so please excuse the head of my travel companion.
The bridge was completed in 1940, is made of steel, 246 meters long and 22 meters wide.

Sumida River Cruise Pt 4 - A Levee

As we continue our cruise along the Sumida River, I noticed a wall along the river bank. Once again I think this is some flood of flood mitigation, better known as a levee. Perhaps sections of concrete joined together to form the levee. I can just see the seams joining the pieces together. It is actually quite high, if you compare the height of the wall to that of the trees behind it. That is obviously some kind of parkland or green space, but the wall would block the cooling breeze from the river. It would be nice for the occupants of those building to look down upon though.