JAPAN TRAVEL : EXPLORING ASAKUSA

Today 12th October 2015 is my 41th years survival on earth! Happy Birthday to me and Thank you Mum and Dad for bringing me to this world.

Purposely wait for 12th Oct 2015 to post my Japan travel diary. I suppose to fly to Japan on 10th Oct 2015 but things need to push forward due to unforeseen circumstances.

I arrived at Narita around 3:00pm the took Keisei Line direct from Narita to Asakusa. I took Keisei Main Line cost me 1100 yen for one way journey. I just need to transfer at Aoto Station and the journey took me about 80 minutes. Many stops along the way. 

 I only find my way to my hotel after almost an hour wondering around to find way. WTH! isk isk isk ..It was drizzling, dark , tired and hungry. huhuhuhuhu...Omma!!!! I was lost at foreign country. Lucky found the tourist information counter. If not....huhuhuhuh don't know how to imagine. 

I say beautiful 'sky tree' tower but too tired to snap photo. It was so beautiful sight at that moment! In my mind, I just want to get a warm shower and sleep. WTH!

Thank God! the hotel I stayed is somewhere around Sensoji Temple the main attraction at Asakusa. Super convenient! 10 minutes walk! Everything is within walking distance and if I get lost...as usual eheh! I can just asked people around. They are more than willing to help. Yes! they converse in Japanese and I speak English to them. Of course sign language play bigger role to understand each other. Oh! don't forget to smile. Who can resist my 'sweet smile'? hahahaha...*face palm*

I thought, just wanna go to bed straight because I am awful tired. I was so hungry since my last meal was early lunch on the plane. I still need to eat. I found this 24 hours seafood restaurant not far from hotel.

* Seafood Buchimgae Pancake with White bait cost 699 yen the miso sauce goes with the pancake well. Really remind me of samjang sauce in South Korea. Oh! I miss Korean food!

* Crab fried rice cost 599 yen

All excluding 8% consumption tax. Remember in Japan you need to add 8% to most of display price.

Too bad! It was a wet day when I was in Tokyo and of course my plan to wondering around Asakusa area was limited due to rain.But hey! this does not mean you can't explore further.  

I end up having this must try bread while waiting for the rain to stop. This is my breakfast! 

While eating and waiting , one Japanese old woman came to me with friendly tone she was trying to tell me to visit this Senso ji temple and also one oldest amusement park nearby. hehehehe...sounds like I understood her , huh? I just guess! she was smiling and pointed to direction. Cannot be she cursed at me right? If she was cursing also...she must be not in her right mind. I forgive her!

She was talking to me very long time while me was praying hard for rain to stop so I can get away. She was smiling and have that happy excited tone too. I just 'hait! hait! hait!' all the way. 'Wakarimasen!' WTH!

Finally the heavy rain became drizzling one. For the sake of getting away from that friendly and happy old woman, I made my way out to Senso ji Temple which is about less than 5 minutes walking from where I stand. 

The Sensoji Temple was superb. Packed with people , local and also tourist.

According to the original handed down at Senso-ji Temple , in 628, Empress Suiko's 36th year, two brothers fishing on the Sumida River , Hinokuma Hamanari, recovered a statue of Kannon in their net. By the way, Kannon is 'Guanyin' in our term. They along with the village chief Hajino Nakamoto, enshrined the statue. The statue of Kannon was housed near what is now Komagatabashi bridge in Komagatado. The brothers and Chief then established the shrine to the east of the main Senso ji Temple  building. 

More travelers began to visit Senso ji Temple during Edo era, tents began to line the grounds a playhouse was build behind the temple and Asakusa became known as an amusement quarter and it become prosperous area until now.

Spring water anyone!

Many people drink from this well.

Best of all.....line of shops outside this temple sells many sorts of goodies. I love it! Eat walk eat walk...Gosh!!! Too many pretty kawaii things!

Yummy goodies to eat here. You won't go hunger walking around here.

I told you, I walk eat walk eat ..here. Dango, rice crackers, bread and many more gobble into my stomach.

Then decide to visit Culture Information Centre nearby to view the city from 8th floor since it rain heavily.

Settle down with 480 yen latte. WTH! bloody expensive!!! The view compensate all.

I then continue my walking tour toward Sumida River. Yeah! still wet day and raining. Luckily, I prepared umbrella and serious not so cool to walk around umbrella but when to think of I have many more days to go...emmmmm...I forgo the coolness. Its better to stay healthy rather than fall sick at foreign country.

I don't know what creatures is that I found on the tree while walking around the Sumida park. WTH! it look so gross!

Time for late lunch and I settle down for Sushi and famous Sushi Go Round Restaurant. One Japanese old man sat next to me near the Sushi belt area. I copy his order. WTH! The crab miso soup...I just signal the waiter  by pointing at that old man order. kekekeke...smart woman do that! not bad! so refreshing miso soup taste. Love it!

Then time for snack! Rice crackers was my choice. Still raining outside. huhuhuh..lucky this area is indoor walkway. That cinnamon rolls delicious too!

Then visit Donki store and bought all sorts of snack food since I am heading out of Askusa to Matsumoto. Train ride took more than 3 hours. ngehehehehe...so far!

My last night at Asakusa full with abundance of delicious ramen dineer and 'pokok pisang' Yup! they have this halal ramen restaurant so I ate without any hesitation and the portion was super big. How much? Cost me more that 400 yen. 

There are many other interesting attractions at Asakusa. Time constraint for me since I only spent 2 nights here and the next day move to other city.

Saving my energy for long journey the next day!


To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article click here.