00:04 John Daub: Greetings everybody! Welcome to Central Tokyo. This is Chuo Ward, right in the center of the city, not far from Ginza. In front of you is a new park that opened in April. I've been riding past it for a long time. This is Mizutani-bashi Park (Mizutani Bridge Park). It's one of those weird things you'll find in the center of cities. You won't find this in the countryside because they have lots of space. But in Tokyo, you don't have a lot of space. So what do you do? You put the park on three stories of a building.

00:46 John Daub: Today in this live stream, I'm going to take you up to the top of this urban rooftop park and check out what I guess is the aim or future of Tokyo. You don't think of it as a city. You think of it as a green city. The more you look around, the more you see it turning green. Buildings have more rooftop gardens. What makes this unique compared to department stores is that this is a public park. This isn't by some private corporation. This is from the city of Tokyo and taxpayer money. I believe the second and third floors have a daycare center for kids. They really use this building to enrich the lives of local citizens—which is me, because I live in this ward. My tax money pays for this. So thank you.

01:46 John Daub: Alright, let's go inside. By the way, I stopped at a convenience store and got a bento. We'll see what I ordered in a couple minutes. How you doing everybody? It's a warm, beautiful, sunny summer afternoon in Tokyo. Seems like the rainy season might be over. I love the little details like the sign that says Ginza right there. You don't have to go far. That traffic light starts Ginza—one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city. That's my backyard. Mizutani-bashi Park is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you get a hotel here, stop for a bento or lunch.

02:38 John Daub: A few rules: no bicycles, no fireworks, no smoking, dogs on a leash, don't leave trash, don't feed the birds. And the final rule: don't commit an act that causes trouble for others. If the other rules don't apply, this covers everything—pretty smart. Alright, let's get upstairs. They have an elevator for those who need it—very accessible. Why don't we go up the stairs and come down by elevator? They also have a public restroom here with extra space.

03:47 John Daub: I love the public restrooms in Tokyo. They're so clean and usable. Look how clean the floor is. This is the kind of thing you only see in Tokyo. They even have a map for the toilet layout. Leave the extra space for those who need it. Even Shinkansen have multipurpose toilets. I like Tokyo becoming more accessible. They made the steps out of wood with tactile pavement for visual impairments. Second floor is the daycare, I think.

05:22 John Daub: Around the third floor, you get nice long views down the roads. Let's get to the roof. I've never been here, so I'm not sure what to expect. Whoa. I love how the glass goes all the way up from ground to ceiling—about two meters high so kids can't climb over. Impressive view of this corner of Chuo Ward next to Ginza. You can see street level. If someone tries to steal my bike, I'll see them but can't stop them.

06:24 John Daub: Hey, look at this! This is so cool. I can eat my lunch right here. Awesome. I'm going to put my bag here—nobody around. There's a couple who just showed up. Shout out to the eight people who signed up for the postcard club yesterday. I'll send these from Tokyo Station after a bicycle ride. What makes them cool is the image of the castle up here, plus everybody's getting a Pikachu stamp released two days ago by Japan Post. Natasha in Austria, Dawn in Columbus—go Buckeyes—Kathy in Wisconsin, Dennis in Cologne, Germany, Evan in St. Louis, Darius in Dortmund, Germany, Tomi in Finland, and Tanjin Yan in Singapore. These are going out with a Tokyo postmark. Thanks for the support.

08:02 John Daub: Okay, let's look at this park. It's small but nice. There's a website for tree info. This is ichou (ginkgo). A 60-year memorial tree. This area, Mizutani-bashi—maybe not an actual bridge back in Edo period. There were canals important for transport—like people in thongs with crates on sticks. Main way was waterways. Tokyo was like Amsterdam, a canal city. Kanda River like the Yamanote Line. In Meiji period, they built Mizutani-bashi. After World War II, debris and stagnant water caused disease, so they filled canals. Before 1964 Olympics, highways along old rivers. No river here now, shame—but we have this park.

10:16 John Daub: Beautiful green area where kids can play. Neighborhood kids might come, but no unleashed dogs. Cool playground with a swing and mountain thing—no ladder needed. Soft stadium foam gives spring—kids will love it. Clock so you don't get home late. Measure your height—I'm 180 cm, 5 foot 11. Japanese water spigot to wash hands. Great thing about Japan: safe drinking water anywhere—not common in Asia. Maybe only Japan, South Korea, Singapore.

12:10 John Daub: I like this seat. Let's eat this bento for a rooftop Tokyo experience in a public park. Mind-blowing. Shout out to Natasha Lake, Indie Traveler—thanks for coming. I'm starting to bake, which bodes well for the bento. Public unboxing: this is oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl)—one of my favorites. Michael Susano wins super chat for loving the thumbnail. I got something cool in my pocket to stay cool. Asked Family Mart to heat it—a beautiful raw egg got smashed, now a river of orange yolk runs through.

14:06 John Daub: Love oyakodon. Looks like a hot mess, but glorious sunshine yolk inside. Half-cooked egg with chicken—oyakodon means mother and child, awful name. Wait, where's the rice? Smart—they separated egg and rice so you make your own. Egg soaks into rice for richness. Enjoying this. We'll look around the neighborhood and Ginza to show the location. As I eat, this is the direction Tokyo's future is taking.

15:58 John Daub: Olympics upgraded infrastructure—excuse for public works despite inconvenience like Shibuya Station disaster. Now for 20-30 years, one of the most modern cities. Tokyo/Edo ancient but renewed: faster internet, rooftop parks, efficient new buildings with bigger windows. Showa-era stuff gone. Shibuya Station expanded into new Reiwa-era place—post-emperor abdication. Showa encompassed WWII, 1964 Olympics, economic boom. Heisei when I came; now Reiwa modernization.

18:18 John Daub: I'm waiting for the Only in Japan era. Egg soaked into rice—real good. Boss Coffee with Tommy Lee Jones as spokesman for 30 years—badass. Now fruit tea: mango, pineapple, orange—not too sweet. Oyakodon complaint: too salty, maybe Ajinomoto MSG. Not fishy—Shane would love it, slight dashi maybe.

20:23 John Daub: Shane and Irvin, eat that peach confection—USPS slow thanks to Postmaster DeJoy. Postcards received in Chicago, Minnesota, Wisconsin. These going out quicker. If you miss one, I'll resend—no gaps. This is Mizutani-bashi Koen—link in description. Rooftop park, helicopters overhead. Short live stream, 30 minutes. Hey Pesas—if Olympics mean better English signage, I'm for it. Attractions upgraded for foreigners, but we're the only ones here.

22:38 John Daub: Finish yakult pretty quickly, then explore Ginza area. Lots to do—central, taxi to Tokyo Station in five minutes, walk to hotel. I live in Chuo Ward—not super central but perfect, affordable if you search. Egg soaks into rice—guessing rainy season ends today, started early so finishes early. Blue skies, relaxing. Can get beer at Lawson's downstairs, but mind neighbors—don't be loud.

25:31 John Daub: Hold bento like this, chopsticks like shovel—boom, done. Good tea. Explore streets. Mask smells like oyakodon. Take postcards to Tokyo Station for better postmark. One more roof view: Mizutani-bashi Koen, public park in heart of Chuo Ward. Be back, maybe with Leo—he can't walk or crawl yet, but green grass nice. Little bar to eat bento and relax. Tony P, how you doing?

26:55 John Daub: As promised, elevator down. Big buttons, smells new. Leo's neck strong enough to sit up—good sign, needs support harness. Bike now trash receptacle—recycle later. New phone booth next to park—crazy in 2021, green with big buttons for seniors. Someone used phone card—haven't seen in ages. Taibashi nearby, favorite bridge. Bird fight over quick. Families out—visit Mizutani-bashi Park. Brand new, opened April 1st. Been riding past months—had to live stream.

29:19 John Daub: Like what city's doing. John from Singapore—buy you Boss Coffee. Phone card like postcard. Orange for Tokyo Giants baseball. Streaming from Ginza start—Ginza Ichome. Secret park if you're there. Purple car! Track it down. Chuo Avenue—awesome vehicles. Recycled cans on truck smart. Small pucci car like Mr. Bean. Park steps from Ginza—Nichome, Sanchome to Apple Store 150 meters.

32:11 John Daub: No petrol stations in center—real estate too high. Eneos chain, nozzles from top. Winter camouflage light pole maybe 5G. Yellow car—Lambo! Take questions waiting for kick-ass car. Andy, yes. WRX Turbo—Otani MVP, home run derby. Hit number 33—Japanese can hit homers now.

34:04 John Daub: Thinking of Iwate Prefecture, Otani's town—hometown on ESPN. Going Tohoku soon, stop for Otani fever, high school stalker-style. Associate Panda, subscribe. No road closure due to emergency—usually pedestrian weekend, but discouraging outings. Social distance, mask, vaccinate. Little traffic. Hope informative—subscribe if enjoyed.

36:30 John Daub: Ferrari? I got bicycle. Chinese battery scooter—cool, seen in China. Cops might stop—not sure legal. Beijing outskirts: no bicycles now, all scooters/motorbikes/cars—traffic jams vs. 20 years ago none. Backpacking China 23 years ago, one-month visa. Now 10-year visa from seminar job—NDA soon up.

38:28 John Daub: Peter had secret but couldn't tell—why bring up? Reporters dig. Won't live stream it. Thanks for watching—hot day, sweating. Apologize for main channel delay—hard to edit, but queued up. Live streaming my break. Postcard club: taking to Tokyo Station for stamp, all Pikachu—new 48 hours ago. Tsuruga Castle in Aizu-Wakamatsu. Join Patreon for one.

40:57 John Daub: Have a good day/night, stay safe. See you tomorrow—maybe Leo on YouTube, 100 days old, potential YouTuber. Bye.