Asakusa, Tokyo Japan

Activity > Tokyo > Sightseeing > Asakusa

I hadn't been to Asakusa in a LONG time.... strange, its so close yet just never seem to get there.  Jumped on the Ginza Line from Ueno and arrived in about ten minutes.  Immediately the first thing that hit me was just how many tourist there are in Tokyo these days!  Japan has become a super hot destination for people from all over the world. Although airline tickets aren't really that cheap anymore, costs in Japan have dropped significantley making it affordable for those who couldn't afford the trip druing the "expensive times" (80's, 90's).  Also, the word has spread... Japanese culture has reached far places around the world and is extremely popular with many people.  So, when tourists come to Tokyo one of the key destinations to visit is Asakusa.

I got off the subway with hundreds more tourists... Chinese, Korean, Europeans (strangely enough, few Americans) and headed up the stairs. Immediately the street is packed with people and Riksha drivers trying to generate business.  A very short walk from the exit and "Bam" your quickly hit with an ausome structure, the Kaminari Gate. Hundreds of people will be swarming about trying to get pictures, its best to actually cross the street and snap a pictures from across the street zoomed in a bit. Don't forget to actually take a moment to "View" the structure itself and not just "snap" and move on.

After Kaminari Gate you can stroll down the shopping street that leads to the main Temple.  This street is always super packed so just take your time and meander about checking out the little shops that line the street.  You can buy all kinds of cool little trinkets in the shops.  I actually didn't have too much time so after strolling half way down the main shopping street I broke off to the right and take a side street with less people that let to the main temple.

Once you reach the main temple many Buddhist folk will be "doing their thing" (like "washing themselves" in the smoke and or praying) and the atmosphere is very interesting. Take some time to stroll around the side buildings and getting off the main tourist spots as there is lots to see and some great photography angles.  I spent only a couple hours in Asakusa and hit only the main temple but there is tons more to do and maybe in further adventures I'll write about some of those.