I'm afraid to tell you but yes, this was just before 8am. This is actually considered "not crowded" compared to closer to 9am. The busiest stations at rush hour are Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, Shibuya Station, Shinagawa Station, Ueno Station, and Ikebukuro Station. The subways are worse. After 9am, the loads lighten on weekdays. The Imperial Palace is big! You can try rowing in the moat on the northwestern section at Chidorigafuchi (Tuesdays-Sundays, 10am to 5pm, small cost). You should experience rush hour on the trains in Tokyo. It is, um, unforgettable! Then, get a pin "I survived Tokyo rush hour on the train."