Found this on the web. Not sure the source:

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Thousands throng Tokyo's new skyscraper

by Kimiko de Freytas-TamuraFri Mar 30, 11:01 AM ET

Tokyo opened Friday its tallest skyscraper, welcoming thousands of visitors from businessmen to housewives and young couples eager to explore its upmarket shops and restaurants.

Tokyo Midtown opened its wide glass doors in the morning and within hours thousands were inside, with young women in high heels quickly emerging with shopping bags as the stores did brisk business.

Temporary red-rope fences were installed to manage the flow of people, with a guide stationed every few meters (yards) to assist the overwhelmed newcomer.

Tokyo Midtown, built on the site of the former Defence Agency, is a 69,000 square-metre (741,000 square-foot) expanse that includes 132 shops, restaurants, hospital, museum and a design studio.

Its tower stands at 248 metres (813 feet), making it the tallest structure in the metropolis after the Eiffel Tower-inspired Tokyo Tower.

A Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Midtown's top floors offers the city's most expensive rooms with ones featuring a view of Mount Fuji costing 2.1 million yen (18,000 US dollars) a night.

Tokyo's latest giant urban complex enjoyed sunny spring weather on its opening day, as clusters of people admired the blooming cherry trees in its one-and-a-half hectares (four acres) of green space.

Elderly men took pictures of the scenery with their cameras, while younger couples snapped away with their cell phones and others walked dogs.

"Midtown is great because of the greenery," said Ayako Kimura, 27, an employee at one of the companies in Midtown, on a lunch break.

"It's very calm and the wide open space means that even if there are many people, there's no traffic and it's easy to navigate," she added, biting into a sandwich as she sat on a bench with two colleagues.

In one corner of Midtown is the 21-21 Design Site, an institute conceptualized by renowned architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake.

"I came here today especially because I like Ando's architecture and design," said 18-year-old Tsukuru Goto, off from school on spring vacation.

Tokyo Midtown is the latest upscale development in the central Roppongi district, long a haven for foreigners and sleazy nightlife.

Tokyo Midtown is a short walk from the similarly envisioned Roppongi Hills, which quickly became a playground for well-heeled young entrepreneurs after opening in 2003.

Some visitors credited Tokyo Midtown with mixing traditional Japanese elements and modern design. The project was overseen by US firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, best known for Chicago's Sears Tower, the tallest building in the United States.

"I like that there are Japanese aspects in the design of Midtown. Since there are a lot of foreigners in Ropppongi it's nice to have some Japanese-ness," Goto said.

The main tower features tall bamboo trees stretching towards the ceilings, while a curved wooden Asian-style bridge connects the main gallery with the outside park.

But Tokyo Midtown is also home to high-end foreign shops appearing in Japan for the first time.

Japanese shoppers crowded around Noka Chocolate -- which sells truffles to customers in Hollywood -- with prices starting at 2,100 yen (18 dollars) for one centimetre of chocolate.

But despite the initial rush to see the highly promoted complex, some customers wondered if they would come regularly.

"I'm not sure whether I will shop here. Shops seem too expensive," said Kimura, the employee at a Midtown office.

"It's nice but I think this is more of a place for young couples to go on dates, like my son. Not for housewives like me!" laughed Kiyoko Fumoto, 60.

It's OK, but not particularly Japanese looking like its neighbors at Roppongi. But I guess when you're in Japan things that look Western are exotic to you.

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