Asakusa @ Tokyo

The Kaminari-mon (gate)

My one and only visit to Asakusa was on my first trip to Japan in 1984. I never had a chance to re-visit during the subsequent trips. We decided to go again as Pit Fung had never been there before.

I remembered an old temple with a huge container burning incense giving out lots of smoke up front and a few small stores selling souvenirs along the pathway leading to the front door of the temple.

What greeted me was totally different from what I remembered. There were endless stores selling everything imaginable stretching from the Kaminari-mon gate right up to the Senso-ji (the temple).

With many side alleys too.

A stall selling nothing but umbrellas.

I remembered buying these on my first trip here. Don't think I have ever made good use of them though.

Maybe I should get this lovely casual kimono this time. Only about 3,000 yen (i remember my first trip here when the exchange rate was Rm1 to 100 yen - this outfit would have cost only about Rm30!).

Hand-made traditional azuki bean paste buns.

Pretty ladies selling green tea.

Needless to say, all these distractions took us hours to walk the short stretch of Nakamise-dori to reach the Senso-jo.

Finally saw the sign of the Senso-jo ...

The temple looked totally brand new to me even after 25 or more years. There must be an on-going refurbishing program.

The five-story pagoda next to the temple.

Anyway, we took one short tour round the temple, headed back to the enticing stalls and continued with the 'worshipping'.