Asakusa - Part 1

We woke up bleary eyed but excited after our flight arrive 10pm the night before. Today was going to be a nice easy going day, our hotel is in the same district as we are visiting - Asakusa. Located on the north eastern fringe of central Tokyo Asakusa provides a suprisingly calm (by Tokyo standards) location for those wishing to soak up a bit of the Tokyo culture.

The main attraction is the temple Senso-ji - Tokyo's oldest temple. The temple grounds are best approached from Kaminarimon ('thunder gate'), one of two main gates leading to the temple. Since we decided to take our first day easy, a visit to Senso-ji was the main attraction.

Kaminarimon gate

Originally uploaded by aDrunis_84

And as soon as we got there - PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!!!!

Although quite a quiet district (in terms of Tokyo), the crowds here were bustling!! To reach Senso-ji we walked through the gate and found ourselves on a quaint and somewhat hectic shopping street known as Nakamise-dori. This shopping street is lined with various streets selling all sorts of tourist trinkets, food and wares and is part of an old tradition of selling to pilgrims (mostly tourists these days!).

Nakamise-dori

At the other other end of Nakamise-dori sits the entrance to the main complex. Also known as the 'Treasure gate', Hōzōmon is the second of two gates leading to Senso-ji (the first being Kaminarimon). Housed in the second floor of the temple are many of the treasures of Senso-ji. The crowd was thickest here where pilgrims were able to light incense in a small couldron sitting at the base of the gate. It was here that pilgrims were also able to leave small woodem plaques known as 'Ema'containing wishes or prayers.

As we visited Japan in late spring, rows of lanterns were set up either side of the path leading up to the inner gate. We returned to the temple one night and they were lit up, making the gate look beautiful at night! These lanterns were set up as part of sanja matsuri - a Shinto festival.

More to come soon!!