A day in Asakusa

Our apartment is not grand but it has all we need and the washing machine has already had two loads put through it.

It is 9 deg C this morning.

We set off (very) early to walk the tourist trail here in Asakusa. 

We weren’t the only early tourists - but no doubt it’ll be mad later. It was somewhat peaceful and nice in the early morning light.

First up: the incredible bhuddist Senso-ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo and the surrounding complex of gardens and shrines is very attractive. We ate our breakfast of yoghurt and fruit (purchased at 7-Eleven enroute) on one of the park benches. 

We ticked off Kaminari-mon gate, Hōzōmon gate & the 5-tiered pagoda, and walked along Nakamise & Shin-Nakamise dōri (streets) - although we were too early for the stalls,

4.5 kms: We walked on to the well-known Kappabashi street but realised we were likely too early for there also so we backtracked for coffee - and a break.

Coffee was at an amazing out-of-the-way place hidden away above street level(!). 

Everything in Tokyo is so compact: we passed a 24-hr gym, an elementary school, a hospital, a police station, a British pub (!), shrines (of course), even a cemetery. So many surprises as you walk along and such small footprints in terms of real estate.

Great little toilet here at the coffee place (sorry!): lid opens automatically but I had to make a guess at which of the myriad of buttons to press to flush it as I’d left my phone at the table with MF-san so I couldn’t use Google Translate!

Now 14 deg C. We walked along Kappabashi street, well-known for shops selling kitchenware and knives.

12 kms: Tobu - Asakusa Stn:  we needed to locate this station in readiness for our early train tomorrow to Nikkō. It is about a 5-10 minute walk from the Asakusa Stn. we have been frequenting so far (and which is a TERRIBLE station: no lifts or escalators).

We took a metro to Ueno (where we had arrived yesterday after our week of walking) and used the machine (successfully!) to get our shinkansen tickets that we’ll need next Monday after we leave Nikkō.

With this task completed, we tackled the challenge of buying lunch at a noodle place at the station where you order your meal at the machine outside, pay for it there and take the ticket inside to the staff and eat your meal at a counter with a bunch of happy slurpers.

We even managed this feat successfully - and my noodle dish with a piece of tempura on top was delicious!

And as we were at Ueno, we value-added with a visit to Ueno Park including a diversion through a dahlia exhibition - and a toilet museum (I know!).

Short walk then from here to the Sumida River. We took in the views and sat on a riverside park bench - tired legs and feet! 

The building on the right is the headquarters of the Asahi brewery  and the gold thing is a sculpture of a flame supposedly but has been nicknamed the ‘golden turd’ (!).

Walked between two entry/exit points along the river walkway and returned to Tobu-Asakusa Stn. to take a short trip across the river to the Tokyo Skytree 

We sought out the cake shop Grand Castella (before we went up the Skytree) and the cake was indeed amazingly fluffy.

The Skytree is a 634 m broadcasting tower with two observation decks at 350 and 450 m offering panoramic views. I had our tickets pre-ordered online for the sunset. In fact, it was a bit hazy but still picturesque. Mt Fuji could even be seen in the orange glow in the moments after the sun had set. We stayed for a drink and watched the city lights come on.

Pooped. And it took ages to exit. The orderliness for which Japan is noted was not in much evidence as hundreds (it seemed) people queued and jostled for the elevators.

We walked home over one of the bridges that cross the Sumida River. We were too tired to go out for dinner and just had a leftover banana and the sweets we had bought first day of walking from Ena on the Nakasendo Way plus a cup of tea.

Did another load of washing.

Walked 17 kms.