As part of my visit to see the start of tomorrows three day Tokyo Style Clash photoshoot at the BEAMS store my hosts treated me to the wonderous sights of Tokyo at night. In Roppongi Hills a tall new building offers breathtaking views over the city from the 52nd floor gallery. See picture above, showing the Tokyo Television Tower. Amazing though it was, that increasingly elusive "you won't believe what they have over here" innovation was to be found as we parked a car in the basement. Entering into a singular garage space, doors closed behind us like an air-lock from Star Wars Death Star. We left the car, took a ticket, and as doors closed behind us the car was moved sideways by a metal travelator, into an elevator. Diagrams explained that the car would now be deposited on one of the five underground floors below, entirely automatically and without human supervision. When we returned, payment of the ticket automatically retrieved the car for us. Valet parking without the valet!

Later that night, on the way to an Otaku Anime bar I encountered another form of municipal parking I have never yet seen. I'm afraid I can't tell you, I'm reserving this story for after dinner speeches and chatting up ladies.