My trip would be to Sensouji in Asakusa.
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| Look at the torii, so pretty and... red |
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| Oh look, the side is pretty too |
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| This is a very serious situation. At a very serious place. For very serious people. |
The temple itself does not cost anything to enter, but I would still need to bring money since they offer charms and other small omiyage.
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| Oh hey like this one |
There are also a number of market stalls in front of the temple, so it would be prudent to have money for that as well.
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| Come for the Buddhism, stay for the massive quantity of little stalls in front of it? |
In order to get to the temple, I would have to take several buses, so I would need either money or a transportation card. If I'm smart, I'll download an app that tells me how to get places via public transportation.
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| The money-devouring golden ticket to public transportation |
There are many small restaurants near the temple, many of which offer Japanese food, so it would be easy to get something after visiting without having to go too far away. For instance, there is a ramen restaurant roughly 4 minutes walk away from the temple itself.
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| Oh thanks google maps, you're great for stalking restaurants |
After eating we could go to the Sumida Park, especially if it's during the spring, as it is only a few minute's walk away from the temple as well.
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| If we're lucky, it won't be humid enough to make it feel like we're swimming instead of walking |
Failing that, we could go the the Tokyo Sky Tree, which is also very close by.
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| Look at it, towering over the city like it's ゴジラ or something. |
This looks so fun! I've been to Sensouji before, but I'd love to go back again. I wasn't able to eat at any of the restaurants surrounding the temple, so I'm glad to know there are many places close by.
ReplyDeleteBralla-san,
ReplyDeleteFinally, a place I have been numerous times! Sensouji, or Asakusadera, symbolizes Tokyo to me--and more importantly, it symbolizes Edo, or Tokyo before the mid-nineteenth century. I always make a pilgrimage to Asakusa whenever I'm in Tokyo; otherwise, things just don't seem right. I urge the summer program people to consider a visit.
Bralla-san is right about the pathway to the temple (from the Asakusa station on the Ginza subway line). There are all kinds of little souvenirs that are available. Closest to the station is a wonderful shop that sells miniatures of all kinds of traditional scenes. And not far from it is a stall where they make fresh, hot senbei (rice crackers)--something that I've never seen anywhere else. Eating a warm senbei is like eating a hot bagel. There's nothing like it!
The eating places are great. Besides good ramen, there's a place right near the temple that specializes in "tendon," or tempura over white rice (it's called Daikokuya). Also, there is a great restaurant that specializes in dojo, or "mudfish." It's called Komagata Dojo, and the interior is absolutely beautiful with a true "Edo" feel to it. And if Bralla-san and Siehl-san are in Tokyo for New Year's (Oshougatsu), you MUST go to the temple in the early morning (i.e., right after midnight) to witness the amazing site of hundreds of thousands of people visiting the temple to express their wishes for a "happy" new year. For me, Asakusa IS Tokyo, and I can only wish that the summer program had more days in the city.