On the first day we landed in Japan, we asked one of our hosts Naoya what he would recommend as 'must see' in Tokyo.
Thankfully his English is much much better than our non-existant Japanese, and after some pointing and google searching, there was an eureka moment when finally reached an understanding.
'Oh! Sensō-ji temple!' we exclaimed.
So off we went.
Sensō-ji temple also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple is much much older than me.
According to Google, it was built in 645, and is dedicated to Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy.
From the subway station, we walked about 3 minutes through a tunnel filled with shops, and found ourselves surrounded by even more shops! Everything from souvenirs, to novelties, food and then some more.
Making our way through the crowd is exhausting, but eventually we made it all the way to the entrance where there were even MORE people. Kimono sightings distracted us from the crowds though.
Joining the masses, we toured around the area.
Observing people as they participated in their rituals.
While everyone clamored for a view of the ceremony happening inside.
I even took a picture (although I realized later I may not have been allowed to).
It was a scorching hot day, so some people decided to cool off at the water fountain, with a quick drink and a dip in the cold water.
Sightseeing is hard work! So once we finished our little discovery session, we stopped by the first food store outside the entrance, selling pillows of deep fried egg whites filled with the most decadent of fillings.
Trusting our host was probably one of the best decisions we made. Although a little touristy, Sensō-ji is not only gorgeous but also a very interesting experience, from a historical and cultural point of view. Places like these are always so mind-boggling to me. I can't imagine how buildings are built today - even with all the technology, so building this with no modern gadgets?! Mindblown. It's all so perfectly put together!
Definitely very photo-worthy.
If you decide to stop by, don't forget to pick up a pillow of fluff from this store here!
Definitely very photo-worthy.
If you decide to stop by, don't forget to pick up a pillow of fluff from this store here!
naomi.