Tokyo-Asakusa Japan

Asakusa is a massive shopping area full of authentic Japanese souvenirs, local snacks, and beautiful architecture of past decades.  The entry to Asakusa made my mouth drop open.   A huge gate with a giant red lantern hanging in the middle.  Large kanji characters that meant THUNDER GATE. It made me feel like we were there at another time. 

 
 

Nakamise, is the shopping street that connects the main gate of Sensoji Temple, Kaminarimon Gate. 
 Nakamise is filled with small stalls selling a wide range of Japanese products. Mary & I shopped for some reminders of our trip to Tokyo.

It's a little busy here today.

 Not so busy once you step into a shop.

Its time to try some local sweet treats.  We watched as a man-made the sweets we were about to purchase.  I did not care for it, but Malon and Mary liked it.  It was a cake shaped like a pagoda filled with red bean paste (a little sweet, but not much).

 I, on the other hand, enjoyed a pizzamon.  Pizzamon is soft steamed dough, with the aroma of pizza once you bite into it.  I could taste the tomato & basil.  Sort of like a flavor similar to chili with no beans and a meaty aroma,  There was also cheese in it.  I loved it and Mary did not like it.  Marlon wouldn't even try it.  LOL  That's ok, I sat and enjoyed the treat.

Time to wonder on after our snacks and the next stop was a huge temple.  We could see people wafting incense smoke over their bodies.  From what I understand it is said to cure any ailments you may have and improve your health.  So with that being said the 3 of us got in line to do the same.  Can't hurt right?   
 
 

 We walked up a tall set of steps to the temple, the Buddha was covered in lots of GOLD.

Legend states that two fishermen caught a golden statue of Kannon—the merciful nirvana achiever—in what is now the Sumida River. Despite trying to return the figure to the river multiple times it always came back to them. Being recognized as Kannon, it was enshrined. Although Sensoji Temple was founded in 628 the current crimson building is much more modern, as it was rebuilt after being destroyed in WW2.

It is the oldest Buddhist temple in the capital, and the five-story pagoda, trails of incense, and the vast eaves will take you back to a Tokyo of a time gone by.

  Since today is Saturday, many people were dressed in Kimono including the men & children. 
 Marlon, Mary and I went to see what the gods and buddhas predict for our future.  An omikuji will be chosen and our future will be shown on it.  An omikuji is a strip of paper that predicts your fortune when you make a prayer to the gods and Buddhas of a given temple or shrine. The contents written on that small slip of paper shows your future. Did you know that there are 7 types of results for omikuji, ranging from the best daikichi (大吉excellent luck) to the worst daikyou (大凶terrible luck)?

When you’ve inserted the money, shake the omikuji box several times on its side. You will hear a neat shaka shaka sound, and naturally, get excited. An omikuji rod will poke out from a hole in the box. The characters written on it, seen in the red box, mean 88 in Japanese.

Now, your search for the drawer labeled number eighty-eight on the shelves located right next to the box. There was a nice gentleman there to assist in finding our drawer with our fortune since we cannot read Japanese.  At this moment, we were excited.  If you get excited enough to cheer, people around you are sure to feel jealous.  Some people say you are blessed to have gotten good fortune at Senso-Ji of all places. 

So here goes the 3 of us to get our fortune.  Marlons wasn't good, tie it and leave it behind.

 Mary

 Donna

  People were resting on benches under a big vined structure.

No, that's not a swastika.  It's a symbol of a temple.  Swastikas are different.  However, that could be a bunny.  I see the ears.

The bibs represent the guardian of the children, especially in their afterlife if they die before their parents.

The pair of Buddha at the Senso-Ji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, represents two Buddhist gods, Kannon-bosatsu, which is the bodhisattva of compassion (on the right) and Seishi-bosatsu, the bodhisattva of wisdom.

Time for lunch so let's check out some local cuisine.  

  I did purchase a pumpkin filled cake shaped like a fish for later.  I will tell you now it was delicious especially with a cup of hot coffee.  

My choice of lunch :-)

Marlon had shrimp and oysters & Mary's tried the ramen for lunch.

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Walking off our lunch.

 Asakusa is a town of water. It sits on the mighty Sumida River, and many landmark buildings line the banks.   In the background is the Azuma-Bashi Bridge & the very tall TOKYO SKYTREE.  You cannot miss the building shaped like an Asahi Beer.  See the head on the glass of beer.

What's that gold thing on the top of that building?  It's supposed to represent the flame used to brew the beer.  Some of the Japanese call it the golden poop (turd).

 Some fall color is starting to show here in Tokyo but not much yet.

Rikugien Garden in Komagome Japan

 Started our morning off with a breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs with ketchup all over it, texas toast, bacon and a cup of iced coffee.  Time to catch the train from Ikebukuro to catch another train the Yamanote line toward Ueno and then get off at Komagome, Japan.  

Off the trains, whew, our walk to find the gardens were not very long.   Some things we saw during our walk!

 the entrance to the Rikugien Garden. Marlon and Mary got senior rates which were only about $1.50 each and I had to pay double LOL $3.00.

Admired the groundskeeper using a broom to remove the leaves from the gravel walkway.  Such dedicated people, preparing the grounds for the fall leaf viewing.

Rikugien is often considered Tokyo's most beautiful Japanese landscape garden alongside Koishikawa Korakuen. Built around 1700 for the 5th Tokugawa Shogun, Rikugien literally means "six poems garden" and reproduces in miniature 88 scenes from famous poems. The garden is a good example of an Edo Period strolling garden and features a large central pond surrounded by man-made hills and forested areas, all connected by a network of trails. I loved how they prop up the older trees to support them as they get older. They also take care of their elders in the same fashion.

Beautiful view!!

Deshionominato, this is one of the edges of the pond, which has a beautiful view.

Look close and you can see the arch in the rock in the pond. Hora i-Jima This typical stone made arch is based on the main theme of Taoist Immortality.  This is a legendary island where an immortal wizard is said to live.  These islands were made in Japanese gardens to wish eternal youth and immortality.

Takimi-chaya, a mountain stream runs beside the arbor where we sat for a while and listened to the waterfalls and enjoyed the scenery.  I enjoyed watching a guy take pictures of a doll propped up to make it look like she was at the gardens also.

Mary enjoying the view and sounds of the gardens.  Lots of birds chirping, waterfall sounds, rustling water in the stream.

 Our views.

The view of this bridge was breathtaking. Tranquility at its finest.

Captured this pretty butterfly, who loved the gardens also.

Amazing to watch as the gardeners take such excellent care of the trees.  Such dedication.

Special tea making lesson going on today.  How lucky we were since this is only done 1 time a year on this particular weekend.

Tea House

Various teas 

Shelves to place shoes to enter the tea house.

 Green Tea plant of Kagoshima, Green tea is leaves of tea and not to be confused with matcha tea which is a powered tea used for the tea ceremony and special occasions.

 Our tea sensei teaching us how to make green tea the proper way.  There are four important points when making tea, Temperature, amount of tea, amount of water and time.

The water was too hot for the first cup.  It will cool 10 degrees each time it is poured into a vessel.  She poured into a pitcher, then measured into the teacups, then poured into the teapot for the first cups of tea.  It only brewed for 30 seconds.

 The proper way of holding your teacup is to rest it in the palm of one hand and hold it with the other.

  The perfect cup of green tea made by tea sensei.

Mary really enjoyed this experience and loved the green tea.

 Our tea sensei was very knowledgeable.