Asakusa, Akihabara and Tokyo Tower
After a 5 hour zoo visit, we were bound for Asakusa. It was a bit drizzling as we walk towards the Asakusa Street and the Sensoji Temple, but nothing can stop us from going on.
Asakusa Street is a famous street for anything Japanese souvenirs - from Katakana (swords), plastic umbrellas (that I am very fond of), Japanese parasols and masks to various house items such as ceramic statues, plates and chopsticks. Though it was already raining, visitors are still all over and since we haven't had a "true" lunch - rice and viand (just like many of the Pinoys), we stopped to grab food before going in the temple. Rice is available, but we decided to take okonomiyaki - Japanese style pancakes or pizza.
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| Nakamise Street finds |
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| Chocolate covered bananas |
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| The thunder gate - with huge woven slippers |
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| With the giant lantern (and a photobomber). |
GETTING OUR LUCK
Slightly similar to what first time visitors do in churches in the Philippines which is wishing, visitors in Asakusa temple determine their fortune. In determining one's Omikuji or your written luck, one must pray as they shake the metal box few times and draw the stick that comes out. Remember your number and bring the stick back to the metal box. From the wooden drawers in front of you, look for the drawer with your corresponding number on it. Take out a sheet and read what's your fortune.
Sadly, not all fortune are good. Those who had bad fortune can counter this by tying your fortune sheet to one of the wooden sampayans or clothesline and pray to your heart's content.
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| I got a Best fortune, Louie got the not so good one, so he tied it up. |
ASAKUSA GROUNDS
The temple is huge and many of the Buddhists are praying and since we want to respect them, Louie and I just roam around the area looking for interesting subjects. It was quite raining hard that time so we decided to stay inside the temple waiting for the rain to stop.
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| Yukata and Plastic umbrellas, and Geishas. |
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| Ang sarap may photographer! :) |
AKIHABARA
Being a techie myself, I really wanted to see Akihabara - the famous techie street in Tokyo. Though I do not plan to buy something there, I just wanted to roam around and look what Aki has to offer. It didn't disappoint.
As we exited the Akihabara station, the first building that I saw is the Sega building. We didn't enter and just decided to walk around. Streets are even more interesting.
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| Welcome to Aki! |
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| Sega building and lights along Akihabara. |
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| Not to miss the maids. :) I asked Louie if he wanted to have one, but he declined. Sayang! :( |
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| Gundam cafe in Akihabara. This is one of the two I have seen in Tokyo. Didn't get any chance to eat here though. Line's too long. |
TOKYO TOWER
It was a little late in the evening when we walked towards Tokyo Tower. It was raining the whole afternoon so we decided not to go up but just take pictures below the tower. It was the closest thing to the Eiffel tower (since as of the moment, we do not have budget to do a Europe trip), the long walk from the station was all worth it.
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| Looks like Eiffel tower. Feels like one too! |
Asakusa: Free entrance. Area is open 24/7.
Akihabara: No fees unless you want to try the maids cafe.
Tokyo Tower: Main Observatory - 820 yen; Special Observatory - 600 yen,
Main +Special Observatory - 1,420yen
Tokyo Tower: http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/eng/secret/index.html
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