Explore Asakusa and feel the glorious past! Asakusa, one of Tokyo's most traditional and lively neighborhoods, is waiting for you to visit.
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February 25, 2007
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Check it out! I have found the wadaiko when I walking around Asakusa town. For the people who do not know what the wadaiko is...
wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadaiko) says...
Wadaiko is the Japanese word for Japanese-style drums. It is formed from wa- (和) meaning "Japanese" and "taiko" (太鼓) meaning "drum". While in Japanese "taiko" means "drum", in English speaking countries the word is used to refer to Japanese drums, which are technically wadaiko.
You can use this wadaiko in the festival or some party. The price is 498,000 yen!! (around 5,000 USD). But this wadaiko is complied to the specifications on the wadaiko, so this can be used in the official traditional celemony.
This kind of traditional items can be your precious memories, so please find them and let me know by posting your comment! Thank you.
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February 23, 2007
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Actually, I forgot to let you know this picture. I have seen these the march of Santa Clauses in Asakusa last December. After taking the picture, I figured out these people are motor cycle (bike) rider and the costume for their team, because I saw the lots of Harley Davidson whose rider is wearing this costume. I love these kind of jokes, but I don't think Asakusa People could not understand and had a good feeling with this costume, because they are people living in old town tokyo.
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February 3, 2007
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In previous issue, I have write about the rental bicycle just for 200 yen a day. In my personal opinion it's better to use this cheap transportation. Today I would like to introduce the bridge over the Sumida Rivers. You can go through with your rental bicycle.
You can rent a bicycle at the office besides Sumida river. Getting out the office, you may first go to Sumida River. At the riverside, there's a deck. This deck is so near the river, at high astronomical tide the surface of the river is upper than the deck. I mean the flood! Please be careful after the poring rains.
Go north! You can find the Kototoi Bridge. This bridge is established in 1928 with the length of 238.7 meters and width of 22 meters. In edo era, there was a river ferry named "Takeya no watashi". This bridge is for the national road so that traffic is heavy.
You can go to more north, you can find the Sakura Bridge. Sakura means a cherry brossams. Around Sakura Bridge, after its name, there's lots of cherry brossams, so that in Spring lots of people come here to see the flower and drink it (called the Ohanami Party). The term the cherry brossams is very short. If you're in Asakusa in the best season around March to April, you should go here. Ohanami party is a kind of festival belong the friends, so you can experience the Japanese native cultures.
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January 23, 2007
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I have introduced the Khaosan Tokyo, which is one of the best hostel is Asakusa. ReallyI recommend this accommodation because I have heard lots of voices that "Khaosan is good!" from the backpackers. This is the Khaosan bar #23 owned and operated by the Khaosan Tokyo. This bar offers you an cheap drink every night. They say "You get ONE DRINK FREE per night during your staying at Khaosan Tokyo!
Moreover, KARAOKE Party for Every Monday!" All Foods and Drinks are 333yen. I visit some times to get cheap drunk.
Inside the bar, this has very moody atmosphere. Light is down and people is little bit drunk and gather stream and excited. This bar provides the original cocktail named "Samurai Rock". Last time I go there, I order this cocktail. This cocktail is based on the Japanese "Sake" with Lemon and lime juice. Sake is made from a rice, so some foreign people doesn't like this kind of flavor. Me, neither. I don't prefer Sake, because when I drink it, quickly drunk and easy to lost my memories. But this Samurai Rock is dry-taste because of Lemon juice. Try it, 333 yen!!! Please comment your report on this Samurai Rock. Thank you in advance.
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January 22, 2007
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In Asakusa, it is very useful to rend a bicycle. In my personal opinion, it is the first task to rend it when you get to Asakusa. 200 yen a day to rend a bicycle. I think this is economic when I think the one-way bus fare is 200 yen. There is the rental-bicycle station near Azumabashi bridge. When you get to Asakusa Station, get out no.4 exit so you are at the foot of Azumabashi bridge. You can see the station of sea-bus, which I describe in the previous issue, and go there. Beside the station, you can find the rental bicycle station.
How about go to Ryogoku, where there's Ryogoku Kokugikan for Sumo wrestrings. Or how about go to Akihabara, a electronic town to buy some Japanese products. This rental cycle is expanding your activities in Asakusa Tokyo.
Please comment your experiences with bicycle in Asakusa. Anything is fine, what you see, what you eat, what you bought, whatever. Thank you in advance.
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January 21, 2007
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In Japan, we have various brand of beer, Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin, Orion... The most popular and #1 sales is "Asahi Super Dry". See the picture of Asahi Super Dry. You may see this design of cans.
Here is the headquarter of Asahi Beer. This building is located besides Azumabashi bridge and Sumida river. You can find at Asakusa Station. How do you think about this design of building? Asahi Beer PR devision says that this was designed like "yeast of the beer" and black building is the glass. Yes, we can understand what they say, but we imagine the image of ... I mean, the thing you will create in washroom! In Asakusa area, this building is called "Unko Biru (building)", which means crap building. If you lost the way in Asakusa and need to get to Asakusa Station, ask people "Unko Biru ha Doko Desuka? (where is Unko Building)" Everybody understand the meaning and take you to station. Do not say "Unko" in big voice! Sometimes you're considered as indelicacy person.
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January 16, 2007
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Recently I have lots of oppportunity to drink beer in Asakusa. Everytime I drunk I asked by foreign people regarding the cuisines. After this topics, we have some short conversation. Major topics is where to stay.
Today I want to describe about Toukaisou (ryokan), a Japanese style accommodation in Asakusa. Detailed information on this accommodation is here...
This Toukaisou is located in west part of Asakusa, between Kaminarimon and Kappabashi Kitchenware Town. This Nishi-Asakusa (means west part of Asakusa) is old residential town. Lots of shrines and temples were established in Nishi-Asakusa. In Edo era, Japanes people has more religious activities, so shrines and temples are the place that people meet and get together to perform the festival, which is the essential place to communicate neighbors the heart. You may find this Toukaisou is located around this traditional-atmosphere town if you get there first. It's quiet and relaxed residential town.
This is the entrance of Toukaisou. You can find the wooden shop board at the left of the door. This means "Asakusa Toukaisou." This Japanese font is traditional, and used in Kabuki or Sumo. If you like thie font at your first sight, please hang around the Asakusa town and find the sign-board shop. This Toukaisou is very accessible to Asakusa.
This ryokan has the private room!! You know what? Sometime you feel too much stress at crowded Tokyo and love-make-a-line Asakusa. This accommodation makes you relieved by providing the private room. Stay at Toukaisou for urban escape.
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January 14, 2007
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Do you know what the "Aka-chouchin" is? Aka-chouchin means "red chinese lantern" directly in English, but in Japanese this means "Japanese style pub". Aka-chouchin is kind of "Izakaya" pub. The image of Aka-chouchin is totally different from keywords "high society" or "luxury" or "rich". Just for popular, or nostalgic pub.
Today I want to introduce you an aka-chochin, named "SUZUYOSHI". In Asakusa, lots of Aka-chochin is open, but I love this pub. Before my marriage, I used to come to Asakusa to drink this pub. And this pub is determining factor for married us to move to Asakusa. This pub located at so-called "HOPPI STREET", delivative from the alcohol drink "hoppi", which taste like beer but this is based on Shochu alcohol. This Aka-chochin is managed by 3 people; 2 women and 1 man. Okamisan, meaning hostess, is over 70 years old but fine and lively, owned this pub more than 20 years, oldest pub in HOPPI STREET.
This Aka-chochin serves good foods. My recommendation is "TSUBU", which is boiled shell and seasoned by soybean sauce. You must try this before you die. I wanted to show you a picture of TSUBU, but I could not bear for eating... Next time, I hope to take a picture. There's a counter in the pub and you can find the dishes with cuisine at the counter. It's like Spanish tapas. You can choose the cuisine with pointing by your hand, and easy to enjoy the Japanese Aka-Chochin.
Anyway this pub is renewed on October 2006, so I guess the most beautiful and clean pub in HOPPI Street. For the pub's history, this pub is loved by lots of people and me. This information is to be continued...
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January 11, 2007
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It is totally sunny and clear day today in Asakusa. It is 11 degrees celsius, but sunny shines very strongly, I feel warm day and the Spring has come.
I have another recommendation on the accommodation in Asakusa. This is Tokyo Ryokan.
Do you know what the Ryokan is? Ryokan is the Japanese Style accommodation, which offeres you an experience almost the same living style of general Japanese family. You realize when you see this picture, I am in the picture, though. A wooden sliding door and the signboard "Tokyo Ryokan" made of wood and scalptured. Detailed Information and Data on this Tokyo Ryokan is here.
This Ryokan located in central Asakusa. It takes you 3 minutes to get there from Kaminarimon or Tokyo Metro Tawaramachi Station. This Ryokan is cheap and cheap, but very stylish (I mean it has very good atmosphere). Click here to see the photos inside the Ryokan, you must be got interested!! Also in front of this Ryokan, there is a temple named Higashi-Honganji. That's why this area is very calm and has a sophisticated "dignity" of old temple town.
You may travel around Japan to fell Japan, huh? Tokyo Ryokan is the answer for you.
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January 9, 2007
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3 months has passed since i moved to asakusa. Everytime I drink at Akachochin Bar, I met lots of foreign travelers. We made a some conversation when they stay beside us in the bar, some question is regarding the accommodations.
Here I want to introduce Khaosan Tokyo, which is economy, cheap and clean accommodation in Asakusa. Detailed Information on Khaosan Tokyo is here
It takes you 1 minutes to walk from the Asakusa Station, and located beside Sumida River. So you will have an advantage to feel atmosphere of Asakusa. And in summer, Sumida Fire Works takes place in Sumida River, so you can see its spectacles at the first-class place, a roof top of Khaosan Tokyo.
In front of Khaosan Tokyo, the "TANUKI" (it is nearly fox, in English) welcomes you. Have enjoy with this confortable accommodations, Khaosan Tokyo.
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December 18, 2006
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When I was hanging around Asakusa, it's not single time to see the situation of this picture. This is Jinrikisha. Jinrikisha means the vehicle like taxy in Edo era, and Jinrikisha attendant tows the car. Not fast as Plane, not fast as train, not fast as bus or car. You can feel a grate atmosphere of old town and some photo remains you of travel memories of Tokyo.
It is easy to take Jinrikisha. In front of Kaminari-Mon, you'll find the Jinrikisha attendant. So you can say them "Take Jinrikisha". Fare should be paid in advance: 7,875yen (around $70) for 30 minutes drive, 14,700yen (around $140) for 60 minutes drive. You can choose to rend a traditional fashions and get made up: 6,300yen (around $60) for the costume and get help for dressed.
Before the departure, Jinrikisha attendant strike a pose to departure, and this is the good chance to take some pictures. They can take your picture for you. Then, have a fun for the Jinrikisha driving and detailed explanation by the local neighborhoods, feel the Asakusa, old Tokyo atmosphere.
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December 14, 2006
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When I walked around Asakusa, I have found the person who is standing at the corner and praying for the budda. He is Buddhism monk, and this is religious act. The monk should stand at the street with religious fashion and read and tell Buddhist scriptures. People passing by him respect him, thank him and pray with him. Then they make offering into the bowl he has with his hand. Monk pray directly for him.
Arount 20 years ago, this situation can be seen all around Japan. Now modernized society make it too rare to be seen. This makes Japanese people no religious affiliation. But as you can see in this picture, a kid made a offering and was prayed by the monk. This is going to warm the cockles of our heart.
