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January 18, 2007
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At the foot of Azuma-bashi bridge, there's a station of Suijo-Bus (water-bus). I guess this is quite old station, but the ship is well maintenanced. With this bus, you can go from Asakusa to Hamarikyu, Hinode Pier, Odaiba and Toyosu. The boat tours of Sumida River appears attractive. There are lots of bridges over Sumida River, and each bridge has its history. In the bus, you can know its history.
There are more than 10 kinds of ship. Sometimes I see them, but I can not categorize them. You can go to TOKYO WATER CRUISE website and check the machine. The ship "HIMIKO", very impressive. This HIMIKO is prodiced by Mr. Leiji Matsumoto, one of the best renowned Japanese cartoonists. He designed this ship's concepts, "the image of teardrop" and "the ship appealing to children". This ship is a completely unique water bus with its streamline shaped body with 3D windows. "Himiko" is named after Queen Himiko who was the first recognized an alpha female in old Japanese history. This ship is from Asakusa to Odaiba. You know Odaiba is brand-new and modern attractive area. It has a big shopping center with wooden deck
TOKYO WATER CRUISE
http://www.suijobus.co.jp/english/index.html
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December 24, 2006
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This is big wall-clock, located in front of Asakusa Travel Information Center (info). This Info is located in front of Kaminari-mon, so that you can visit at the same time. This wall-clock concept is Asakusa's "Festival and Market". From 10am to 7pm, every 00 minutes hourly, figures appear in the wall-clock with the "Wasshoi-Wasshoi", tipical call-out for festival. These figures wears the Japanese traditional costume for Festival and carry a mikoshi portable shrine.
Figures are like state-of-the-art. They are wearing; Happi for their tops, Momohiki for their pants, Obi for the belt, Waraji for their shoes, and Hachimaki for their head. There's a gossip that there's a figure motived the foreign people carrying a mikoshi. Check these out carefully, you can find the figure with blue eyes.
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December 13, 2006
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Kappabashi Dougugai-dori, a unique one-kilometer stretch of wholesaler street, is best known as "Kitchenware Town." All sorts of equipment and utensils, both modern and traditional, for restaurant and home kitchens can be found here. Life-like plastic food hispalys are a tourist attraction and buy these for your souvenirs.
This is the "food chopper knives" shop. You can choose your only one from thousands of knives. How about buy the knives for Sushi? Because Sushi contains the rice so that specific knives is useful to cut.
This is the "Rice Bowl" shop. You know that we eat the rice with this kind of bowl and chopsticks in Japan. These bowl is made of ceramic, so that BE CAREFUL to handle it!
This is the "Pan" shop. Pans, Pans... Pans... I guess you traveller doesn't need this size of pans. The freight to your country is seemed to be so expensive. You should buy it in your own country.
This is the "Shop Advertizing Board" shop. You can find some shop board like "open" or "close" that you see in Sushi Bar. The shop board made of wood and scalputured "OPEN" is good for your souvenirs.
This is "Kappa". Kappa is an visionary creature. Actually it is not the same as "Kappa-bashi" but have same pronounciation. Let get find this figure in Asakusa town!
Access: 5 min walk from Tokyo-Metro Tawaramachi Station, or 15 min walk from Tokyo-Metro Asakusa Station
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December 13, 2006
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Traditional handicrafts attract people with their warmth and charm which do not come out of mass-produced articles. Exhibition and demonstration will make you interested in Japanese authentic handicrafts and awakened to their splendor.
Address: 2-22-13 Asakusa, Taito-ku
Telephone: 03-3842-1990
Access: 8 min walk from Tukuba Epress Asakusa Station, or , 12 min walk from Tokyo-Metro Asakusa Station.
Business Hours: 10am - 8pm, Open every day
Admission Fee: Free
URL: Edo Shitamachi Traditional Crafts Museum
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December 13, 2006
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Asakusa Shrine dedicated to Hajino Nakamoto and Hinokuma brothers, Hamanari and Takenari who found and came to understand the miracle-working of the principal icon of Sensoji temple. In 1649, the shrine pavilion of the classic architectural style, or Gonden-zukuri, was dedicated by Tokugawa Iemitsu, third tycoon of the Tokugawa shogunate, and has been designated as a nationally important cultural property. The annual shrine festival "Sanja Matsuri", one of the three biggest festival in Edo era, is still held in every May.
In front of the shrine. Do you know how to pray for? Traditionally we have strict manners to pray for, but recent Japan it's getting loose. First you pay money for charity, second ring the bells, third 2 hand claps, then you pray for your dreams come true. Do it as people you see there!!
The pair of stone-carved guardian dogs "Komainu" secure the shrine from the evils. This is made of bronze and so old, so that it is very beautiful as art.
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku
Phone: 03-3844-1575
Access: 6 min walk from Tokyo-Metro Asakusa station
URL: http://www.asakusajinja.jp/
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December 13, 2006
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One of the major sightseeing spot is “Kaminarimon (Gate).” You may find picture book in the guide book of Tokyo or some website regarding Asakusa. This gate has huge Chinese lantern, so that the most impressive and popular landmark in Asakusa. Lots of tourists take some pictures in front of this gate, and sometimes you cannot stay in front of this because of too-much-crowded. Please take careful attention on your baggage. This landmark dedicated the god of wind and the god of thunder, which is originally established in 942. In Chinese lantern, there’s logo of “Panasonic”, a well-known electronics company in Japan, because they donated this in 1995. The specification is height 4 meters, diameter 3.4 meters, and weight 670kg. You can image how big it is.
This "Kaminarimon" means "the gate of thunder", which is drawn on the Chinese lantern. You'd find how big this lantern is. In Edo era, lots of Japanese people pass through this gate to come to Senso-ji Shrine to pray for their health, happiness or something else.
In the bottom of Chinese lantern, you can find a dragon scalpture. This scalpture has much dignity so that it bless me for praying.
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December 13, 2006
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Sensoji Temple is Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple for ordinary people. Sensoji Temple has attracted widespread popularity with its affectionate appellation for a merciful goddess of Kannon, or “Asakusa no Kannon-sama”. Inside the precincts, fairs and markets open to sell various goods such as ground cherries and battledores to many visitors. The gate “Kaminarimon”, symbol of Asakusa, is a main gate to the Sensoji Temple.
In front of Sensoji, you can find "Senso-ji Five-Story Pagoda (Tower)". This picture was taken at afternoon so it have beautiful and sharp silhouette. In night this tower will be lighted up, so that you can feel more Japanese traditions.
Kaminarimon is very famous as the gate for Senso-ji. But this Sensoji have another gate. That gate is "Nitenmon", East side of the gate. It looks like "Kaminarimon" but the size is small.
"Nitenmon" is very old. You can find how old it is with this picture. This Nitenmon established in 1618!! This survives The Great Kanto Earthquake struck in 1923 and Great Tokyo Air Raids (10 Mar 1945) of World War 2. That would be miracle!!
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3842-0181
Access: 6 min walk from Tokyo-Metro Asakusa Station
