 | Tokyo Asakusa Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 127 |  |
Ok, a lot of Japanese names are going to be coming out here, please bear with me.
The Asakusa area is probably one of the coolest places that most people never visit. Taking a tour will get you there the easiest. The subway is a bit more of a challenge and its location on the east side of Tokyo is always traffic packed. Still the gate is immediately outside Asakusa station and can't be missed.
Sensoji Temple is 1400 years old and one of the more interesting temples. There is not only a Buddhist temple, but a Shinto shrine there. To get there, you will go through Kaminarimon, the large gate in the picture. It is right near the street and you can't miss it. Once through the gate, you will see what looks like a flea market. This is Nakamise. Here is where you can find really cheap souvineer junk, and food to take with you. They have really good prices on Ginsing, considering the area. Walk through Nakamise until you go out the back, and you are at the temple.
A more off the beaten path kind of place is the Hanayashiki Amusement Park. It is older, kind of like the old Coney Island park in New York. There is a roller coaster that literally goes through someones back yard! We were almost hit by a kite on the ride I took.
Dont Miss: the Asakusa Samba Carnival. It is right outside Kaminarimon. It is almost like being in Rio, except that the people don't look latin.
Avoid at all costs! Yoshiwara (AKA Senzoku). I can't say this enough. Many people know this area because it is the historic red light district. And you can still purchase sex there. But it is a lower blue class area, and the only place in Tokyo I ever felt that I was really not wanted, and where my safety was in jeopardy. Leave a Comment |
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At this lively temple, there are always people thronging around the large urn at the middle of the temple courtyard. Curious to know what was going on, I enquired with the guide and I was told that the people believed that the smoke from the incense burning here would provide blessings and luck. After observing the rituals, I decided to join in and proceeded to wave the smoke towards me, and patted the smoke onto my hands and hair.
After that, I joined tourists to capture the magic moments on film. Leave a Comment Phone: 03-3842 0181Directions: Opens: 6.00 - 17.00 (6.30 in Oct - Mar) 365 days Asakusa Station The free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Map has good directions. Please obtain your free map from the TMG towers (see later tips) at Shinjuku.Website: http://www.asakusashichifukujin.jp/ |
Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a temple located in Asakusa, a central part of the ***amachi. ***amachi ("downtown") is the old town of Tokyo.
The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida river, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built there for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.
When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of the Sensoji and one of the most popular sights of traditional Tokyo.
Can you see a man rising his hand with a white paper?....YES, that's my tour guide,he is shouting at me to move faster else will get lose!...I can't even move faster as you can see the people crowded. Leave a Comment |
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Our visit there coincided with the Asakusa Samba festival which takes place in August each year. The roads were closed for the parade. It was a wonderful sight - men, women and children, in costumes paraded to lively music. Imagine, a SAMBA festival in Japan! Leave a Comment |
Asakusa is one of the 23 districts of Tokyo and has the distinction of being the oldest in modern-day Tokyo that has been preserved well to this day. Asakusa is also known as the Thunder District because the God of Thunder lives here. Look out for this God when you are at the temple grounds.
The Sensoji Temple (700 AD) is well over a thousand years old. The temple and the adjacent Nakamise shopping area have been preserved well. It is lively all year round as it attracts many local tourists and also foreigners keen to have a taste of what ancient Tokyo must have been like.
The Sensoji is also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple (named so for the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) and is a must-see when in Tokyo. Apart from the shrine, it is also home to a five-storied pagoda.
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You'll be blown away as you walk along this shopping street leading to the Asakusa Kannon Temple. With a history centuries old, this walkway is lined with souvenier shops and small, local food markets. Traditional folding fans, kimonos, t-shirts, baseball hats, toys, food, arts & crafts are found in abundance here (and at resonable prices as well!) I'm not a huge fan of shopping, but I enjoyed every moment spent along this street. One can't help but to peer into every tiny shop, each of which is overflowing with unique surprises. Once you've made your way through the shopping street, you'll find the Asakusa Kannon Temple, which resides at the end of this remarkable street. Leave a Comment Directions: Located a few miles northeast of Tokyo in Asakusa, near the Sumida River.Other Contact: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e30 |
Various events are held throughout the year in the Sensoji temple area.
Hozuki-ichi (Hozuki Market)
- Hozuki are ground cherries, a typical summer plant in Japan. They are approachng me to buy 1:)
Celebrating this event once a year on summer.(July) Leave a Comment |
After the 'Thundergate', a shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's main gate, the Hozomon. Besides typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries. Leave a Comment |
One of my favourite places in Japan is Asakusa. It's steeped in tradition, it has a beautiful temple to match, an open-air market to buy your traditional goodies and lots of good food. I would really recommend you to stay in beautiful traditional inn (ryokan) over here and try out the onsen. Can't think of lovelier way to experience local culture and tradition. Leave a Comment |
If you are only able to visit Tokyo during your visit to Japan, you will want to visit Asakusa. Asakusa will give you a taste of the traditional Japan without a long trip to Kyoto or elsewhere. It is the old center of Tokyo and has traditional style Japanese temple, shrine, and pagoda.
Between the 16 and 18 hundreds, the attraction was somewhat different - Asakusa contained the notorious "Yoshiwara", the city's licensed pleasure quarter.
But today,the crowds are drawn by Sensoji Temple, the Five Storied Pagoda and the traditional Nakamise shopping arcade.
You will enter the area through the Kaminarimon gate you'll find it by following the signs from exit 1 of Asakusa Subway Station. On the right, notice the God of the Wind, and on the left, the God of Thunder.
Just opposite the gate is Asakusa Tourist Information Centre. Get your FREE map.. open 10:00am to 5:00pm daily.
Once through the gate you'll be in what they call Nakamise Shopping Arcade. The street is lined with colourful, lively stalls selling traditional knick- knacks, foods and rice crackers....rows and rows....this is the time for those little souveniers....:)
Hanzomon Gate marks the end of the street, the treasures of Sensoji are stored inside.
to be continue Leave a Comment Directions: Asakusa is on the GINZA SUBWAY LINE and the TOEI ASAKUSA LINE |
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