Hokusai's 36 Views of Mount Fuji was a series of ukiyo-e which celebrated Mount Fuji from 36 places and distances where the mountain was a feature though not necessarily a focus. Obviously, Mount Fuji has cultural and religious significance – and was visible from many areas, including, at that time, Tokyo.You can still see Fuji from some places in Tokyo – assuming, that is, you are well above ground level and your view is uninterrupted by other buildings the same height as yours. In other words, rarely. (You can just see it on the horizon from the second floor balcony of my house in Chofu to the west of Tokyo's central 23 ku.)



But from various places around Tokyo today you can see the NTT Docomo Building. (Including from the top floor of Chofu's town hall, 15 kilometres from Shinjuku where the NTT Docomo Building is located.) You could also see Tokyo Tower, but (despite it being featured in romantic, nostalgic films etc) to me that erection is just a blot on the landscape whereas the NTT Docomo Building has a certain presence – isolated despite being near Shinjuku's skyscraper district. Since it has little cultural significance (apart from its connection to ubiquitous mobile communication, which is what NTT Docomo's business is, of course) and no spiritual significance at all, don't take my choice of it as a symbol too seriously.



Enjoy modern Tokyo's 36 views.

(With apologies to Hokusai.) I think there were 53 images in Hokusai's series in the end, though he selected 36 – so I might change this selection as I notice the building from other areas…