Central Japan Day 5 - Tokyo - Sensō-ji, Shinjuku, Harajuku

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04 June 2008

After Odaiba Park, we arrived at another huge shopping centre called Venus Fort. Being rather unenthusiastic about shopping, I wondered about the place and finally settled down on a nice cheese cake shop. The interior of Venus Fort is designed to look like Italian plazas with an artificial sky that transitions from day to night.

This looks like a casino, but they're really playing with tokens since gambling is technically banned. Whether prizes can be exchanged somewhere else for these tokens is something else...


A large fountain


Seems like Mariah Carey performed here yesterday



The best cheesecakes I have ever eaten but the real shocker came next with the cappuccino...


Isn't that a bunny?


There's a male and female bear too. Interestingly, being a couple cafe, 2 drinks and cake costs ¥900 while coming alone will cost you ¥1000 for a cake and a drink.


There was a car showroom as well and they kept their cars on the roof!

Next, we left Venus Fort (thankfully), for Asakusa (浅草), a district in Tokyo that contains the famous Sensō-ji (金龍山浅草寺, Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji) -- the oldest temple in Tokyo founded in 620CE. This temple is dedicated to Kannon, i.e. the Goddess of Mercy. According to our tour guide, the temple became famous after it survived a massive earthquake that rocked Tokyo and was completely unscathed.

The Hōzōmon (宝蔵門, Treasure-House Gate), this is the inner gate of the temple, we reached here first as we entered the temple compound from the side gate


Front view of the Hōzōmon with large chōchin red lantern. Unfortunately some preservation works are going on at the side



A pair of Niō, guardian deities of Buddha flanking the Hōzōmon


Past the Hōzōmon, the main temple building with its huge roof


A large urn for the burning of incense


Inside the main temple building


Back outside, there was a smaller building at the side, here's a little shrine with the same top as the huge pagoda in the background


I wonder if the top is made of gold


These two rows of small stalls lining Nakamise-Dori have been here for more than a hundred years. They lead from the outer gate, Kaminarimon (雷門, "Thunder Gate"), towards the Hōzōmon.


Too much souvenirs to see, too little time, here's a stall that uses automated cup-cake making machines


Panorama of the inner compound, from the Hōzōmon to the main temple building

Sadly, we had too little time here to effectively shop for souvenirs. Rushing back to the tour coach, our next destination is Washington Hotel where we will be staying for the night. From there, our tour guide will lead us on foot to one of the busiest districts in Tokyo, Shinjuku (新宿区).

My first step into Washington Hotel and I was delighted to see something familiar, a German pub.


Shinjuku, it is just off work and really crowded


Electric panels everywhere


Interesting looking building


We went to an shop selling Anime merchandise to get a Gundam figure for a friend. Here's some Macross figures


The cheapest and bestest food in Shinjuku -- ¥500 ramen! Our tour guide brought us here and it tastes fantastic! Just buy a ticket from a machine and seat. Ramen will be served quickly. Thankfully we were spared the hassle since they realised we have no clue how to buy and came to take our orders.


There, the ¥500 ramen shop, Hakata Tenjin. Don't miss it while in Shinjuku! I forgot to take a picture of the main road but it is right opposite the notorious Kabukichō (歌舞伎町) red light district


We decided to be adventurous and take the metro to Harajuku


The people of Tokyo do queue in two orderly straight lines while waiting for the train


Takeshita Street opposite Harajuku station, unfortunately, it was a quarter past eight but most shops were already closed


Funky graffiti


Oooo crepes


It costs ¥400 to ¥500 for one but we just had to try


We decided to turn back and not walk into Harajuku Street since everything is closed


Catching the metro and back in Shinjuku here's an interestingly uncreative cafe name we saw


Feeling bored we walked into the notorious Kabukichō red light district


Hmmmm... being with my friend's mum, I decided not to walk into one of these shops to take a look


While not as bright as Shinjuku, it is still rather crowded with some Africans touting single Japanese men aggressively on the streets and the more passive local touts hanging around waiting for people to approach them


That funny sign with number 18 appears on most signboards


Walking back to our hotel, the noodle hawkers have set up shop on the roadside, unfortunately I was too full to try


Back at our hotel

With our legs tired from all the walking of the day, the reality of the first night in three without a hot spring set in. We can't just soak away those aches. Furthermore, most of the places close rather early, even the German pub closed at 11pm. With nothing to do, we slept. Tomorrow will be a full day at Tokyo Disney Resort that is currently having a year long 25th Anniversary celebration.

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