00:03 John Daub: Welcome to Kyoto Station. This is JR Kyoto Station where the Shinkansen comes in. This is where many visitors arrive into the city. Hey everybody! When you arrive, you might see that structure behind me—Kyoto Tower. I got a lot to say about this. The burning question people ask when they get off the train and exit the station: is it worth going up? What's the deal with Kyoto Tower? It doesn't look like anything I'd be interested in. It looks like a structure from the 1960s—which is exactly what it is. So we're going up there to find out if it's worth visiting.

00:58 John Daub: It does look like the Space Needle. Kyoto Tower is one of the more bizarre structures in the city because foreign tourists come here looking for old Japan, to go back in time and feel the culture. You don't do that at Kyoto Tower. The building looks nothing like what you'd want to visit in Kyoto—that's part of its problem. It had 1 million visitors when it opened in 1964, but now it's way down, less than half, and decreasing. It's hard to stay relevant with all the other sites, despite its great location right by Kyoto Station. Everybody coming off the Shinkansen asks this, and I've been asking for 20 years—I've never been up. Today it opens at 9am, I'm staying near the station—what the heck, let's check it out. Anil Rivera, thanks! What's up, John? Watching from my job by Union Square. Hey, I'll be in New York in a few months, neat to catch up across the Pacific.

02:45 John Daub: Kyoto Tower was built in 1964. It's 100 meters up—the tallest structure in Kyoto, barring the mountains. It was to show modern Kyoto for the 1964 Olympics—a key date with lots of construction, and Kyoto didn't want to miss out. It's undergone renovations. The hotel it's built on is eight or nine stories; the first floor looks more modern now. This is Kyoto Tower Sando—Kyoto Station and subway there. Let's go to the entrance.

03:57 John Daub: Kyoto Tower Hotel, Kyoto Terrace? I don't know how to get up. This is for the restaurant? Hotel reception—how do you go up? I have no idea. Let's go inside. There's a Kyoto Tower public bath house—price down to 750 yen, had no idea. Elevator only to nine? Kyoto Tower Terrace. Maybe part of the problem is not knowing where the observation deck ticket counter is. I'm on the first floor—let's find out.

05:33 John Daub: There we go—right there. Vending machine. Observation tower? This could be the way to the observation deck—11th floor. These signs look like they're from the 1960s. Very retro. Here's the ticket. Elevator to the observation deck.

07:29 John Daub: Welcome to the 11th floor, first stage to the observation deck, with two lovely porcelain ladies greeting you. Very nice. We are now 100 meters in the sky. Is it worth it? I always think so. Basically a 360-degree view—gonna take you around for the next 5-10 minutes. Little shrine here, pretty cool. Interactive screens help—you touch for more info.

09:15 John Daub: English panel—they finished construction on the right. That building down there—one of the more interesting. First time in Kyoto, I tried walking to Gion straight down this street. Here comes the Shinkansen into Kyoto Station—pretty cool. I'm at the highest point, yet signal was better in Ogasawara. Curious. Is it worth it? Undecided—kind of cool. Coolest thing: watch Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto slink into the station. Local trains underneath, cargo train to Kobe Port—neat.

11:10 John Daub: Trying to see Kiyomizudera and temples on the east side. Shinkansen stops here about a minute and a half—should depart any second. Really cool. Nice for time lapse, especially at night or sunset—gives an overview of Kyoto. Not sure if worth seven dollars—not a lot, but not "wow." Nice to be up here. On the mountain side: Kiyomizudera up on the hill—highest structure in the middle. One of the oldest temples, around 700 AD. Neat to see it from here—usually see Kyoto Tower from Kiyomizudera, now reversed.

13:03 John Daub: These international orange grates obstruct a bit—should put wood to fit better. Shinkansen taking long—there it goes! Really cool to see at distance—16 cars, very long. Music could be better, lots could. This is Higashiyama; walked that route with Kevin—Kiyomizudera hard to see other temples. Gonna find a couple more things then out. Sorry for bad signal—weird at elevation.

15:05 John Daub: To get down, take steps to elevator. Gion follows the river—hard to tell from here. Should be free but then too many visitors. Not big, some deterioration, rust—historic building. Gion over here, another temple there. Map in description to see where I am—hope images help decide if worth it. No one's shown this side, I'm sure. Free binoculars—check it out yourself. What do you think?

17:24 John Daub: Last angle—pretty cool. Kyoto Station from Kyoto Tower, best view. Great for B-roll of the station—that's where we started. Neat to see ants down there—100 meters up. Tower overall 131 meters with spire and antenna, observation deck at 100. Another Shinkansen—the White Eel. Neat to see small people and station structure. Redone before 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics as centerpiece of Japan's progress. Japan constructs big for Olympics—good excuse to fund infrastructure, hard otherwise.

19:06 John Daub: Kyoto's subway awful—not much system, rely on buses. See how many buses—same as Tokyo despite third the population—can't dig underground with history below. Two subway lines, private rails, then buses everywhere—one of Kyoto's tragedies as another Shinkansen leaves. To ride around: bus or taxi. Bob's Tank: Riga Royal Hotel visible? No, on other side of hills. Can't see Osaka skyline. Shinkansen tracks to Osaka. Click like if you like observation decks. Weird signal not better up high—thought closer to towers.

20:53 John Daub: Kevin's favorite temple—Toji! Right there. That's it from Shinkansen too. So, is it worth it? Don't know. But they have crane games—and that's worth it. Tawawa-chan, the yuru-chara (mascot) for Kyoto Tower. Vending machine, all Kyoto mascots, the family.

22:18 John Daub: That's all—gonna take B-roll for Only in Japan channel. Not saying anything bad. Got iPhone XS yesterday—video looks really good. Next live stream on this. See you next time—good day, good night wherever. Sorry for bad signal. Kyoto Tower is one heck of a tower. See you from another Kyoto area later. Thanks C. Irving—coming out soon.