ASAKUSA SAMURAI

ASAKUSA SAMURAI http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/ ASAKUSA SAMURAI - A Backpacker's Guide and Neighborhoods Daily Updates of Asakusa, old-town and Traditional Atmosphere Tokyo. en Copyright 2008 Sun, 25 Feb 2007 23:48:48 +0900 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss WA-DAIKO (Japanese Drum, Taiko) wadaiko

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. ]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/wadaiko-japanese-drum-taiko.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/wadaiko-japanese-drum-taiko.html Asakusa Explorer Sun, 25 Feb 2007 23:48:48 +0900 Santa Claus in Asakusa

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. ]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/santa-claus-in-asakusa.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/santa-claus-in-asakusa.html Asakusa Explorer Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:18:40 +0900 Sumida River Sumida River Deck

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.]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/sumida-river.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/sumida-river.html Asakusa Explorer Sat, 03 Feb 2007 01:18:29 +0900 Khaosan Bar #23 KHAOSAN BAR 1

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.]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/khaosan-bar-23.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/khaosan-bar-23.html Asakusa Explorer Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:41:59 +0900 Rental Bicycle Rental Cycle 1

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.]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/rental-bicycle.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/rental-bicycle.html Asakusa Explorer Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:34:37 +0900 Asahi Beer Headquarter 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.]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/asahi-beer-headquarter.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/asahi-beer-headquarter.html Asakusa Explorer Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:10:30 +0900 Tokyo Water Cruise (Suijo-Bus) SHIP BUS 1

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

]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-mustsee/tokyo-water-cruise-suijobus.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-mustsee/tokyo-water-cruise-suijobus.html MUST-SEE Thu, 18 Jan 2007 07:31:53 +0900 Toukaisou (ryokan) tokaiso ryokan

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. ]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/toukaisou-ryokan.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/toukaisou-ryokan.html Asakusa Explorer Tue, 16 Jan 2007 01:10:47 +0900 Suzuyoshi SUZUYOSHI 1

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...]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/suzuyoshi.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/suzuyoshi.html Asakusa Explorer Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:06:18 +0900 Tokyo Ryokan

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.]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/tokyo-ryokan.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/tokyo-ryokan.html Asakusa Explorer Thu, 11 Jan 2007 12:35:45 +0900 Khaosan Tokyo

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. ]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/khaosan-tokyo.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-explorer/khaosan-tokyo.html Asakusa Explorer Tue, 09 Jan 2007 23:39:56 +0900 Hatsumoude

Lots of people came to Asakusa, Senso-ji. To pray for the shrine, we made a lines. This picture was taken at 200m behind the Kaminarimon. From Kaminarimon to shrine would be 400m so... 600 meters to bear in the crowded!

20 Minutes passed after making a line, we reached at Kaminarimon. it was 0:30am so that, Kaminarimon is not lighted up. This picture creates an aura of the different atmosphere from one at noon.

10 Minutes passed after reaching Kaminarimon, we came into Nakamise avenue, a old-town atmosphere shopping street. Some shop were open, but you know, too much crowded to buy anything! The sight was people-people-people... We're tired...

But in Nakamise avenue, we can find lots of monument displayed at the street. This monument stands for the Hagoita, a Japanese traditional badminton that I told in previous article. A monument lighted up in the dark sky, so beautiful!

Our line came to Hozomon (gate). We have 200 meters last to reach the shrine! Hozomon is now under repair, it's pity for us not to see the great gate.

Finally, around 1 hour passed from making a line, we reached to Senso-ji shrine. I put 100yen coin into the box for charity, and pray for shrine if my wishes can be true. My wishes; it's a secret.

After praying, you can find lots of food truck. Beer, Yakitori, Motsu-nikomi, Tako-taki, Amazake, Anzu-ame, Hakka-pipe, Tougarashi (chili peppers), Yaki-Toumorokoshi (baked corn), Okonomi-yaki... Everything is 500yen. In their shop behind, there are some tables so that you can eat shop behind.

Say, behind the shop, five-story pagoda lighted up. Beautiful. Sigh of moved, satisfaction. I hope if you became to want to come to Asakusa by reading this topics. Thank you.]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-event-updates/hatsumoude.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-event-updates/hatsumoude.html Event Report Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:44:38 +0900 Asakusa Christmas Light

Say farewell to 2006, and hello to this year's final issue of the asakusa-samurai blogs! Today we report the Christmas Light along with the street in front of Kaminarimon. Every winter, Kaminarimon's walk is illuminated and decorated with some motives. This year 6 motives comes up. I'd like to let you know...

This is the five-story pagoda established in Senso-ji. You should go to see it at Senso-ji through Kaminarimon. The real pagoda is more beautiful than one on the picture.

This is the Chinese dragon, which is carried over the people's shoulder in the festival. I remember that in Chinese Newyear Holidays, we have a festival in Asakusa.

This is, you know, Hanabi (Fire works) and Omishiko (portable shrine carried over the people's shoulder). To see real these, you should come to Asakusa in Summer. Sumida River Fire Works take place on the final Saturday in July and Sanja-Matsuri (festival) takes place in usually May.

This is ... What's that?? I don't know that. In my just opinion, it seems to be a Leaning Tower of Pisa...

This is ... also I don't know, but I think this is the people wearing old-fashioned Japanese festival costume. This costume is coming from crane-waltz.

This is the Hagoita! You know this is kind of badminton. This racket is made of woods and the shuttle is made of steel ball and bird's wing. Usually young girl play with this game in Winter holidays. ]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-event-updates/asakusa-christmas-light.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-event-updates/asakusa-christmas-light.html Event Report Sun, 31 Dec 2006 02:20:49 +0900 Karakuri Tokei

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.]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-mustsee/karakuri-tokei.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-mustsee/karakuri-tokei.html MUST-SEE Sun, 24 Dec 2006 09:41:40 +0900 Namiki-Yabu (Japanese Noodle)

Namiki-Yabu, the most delicious soba (Japanese noodle) soup in Tokyo, this means the most delicious in Japan. This Namiki-Yabu was introduced in the Manga "Oishinbo" so that every Japanese people knows this soba restaurant. The soup is quite concentrated so that you should souse the soba into the soup a little bit. In author's point of view, delicious soba (Japanese noodle) is not required to be souse into the soup, though.

The problem is that this restaurant is quite popular and famous so that you're supposed to make a line everytime to enter the restaurant. But you should experience this Japanese traditional noodle, Soba, in the famous place. The food is very healthy, low calory and delicious. Price would be around 1,000yen (around $10), and you can choose the toppings like "Kamo (canard)" or "Dango (dumplings)".

Address: 2-11-9 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku
Phone: 03-3841-1340
Access: 2 min walk from Asakusa-Station.
Opens: 11:30 - 19:30
Closed: Thursday

]]> http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-musteat/namikiyabu-japanese-noodle.html http://www.asakusa-samurai.com/asakusa-musteat/namikiyabu-japanese-noodle.html MUST-EAT Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:54:04 +0900