Strolling in Asakusa

Taking off from where I stopped in the previous post: Sensoji Temple...

And so, under the scorching sun, I strolled down the streets in Asakusa. And, somehow, I got to this place...

A cinema... which shows films like these... (?)

And another one with films like these... (!)

Whoa! Scorching heat... plus thirst... and you see mirages!

Here in Asakusa, which is situated in the Shitamachi (low city) area, the atmosphere of the old Tokyo (Edo) is preserved. This street was undoubtedly an entertainment spot in the past century.

Here's an old amusement park.

If you can't afford to go to Disneyland in Chiba, you can always go on rides like this! Weeeee!

The scene by Sumidagawa (隅田川) changes, however. Barely even a twig in sight, there were only buildings. This photo is taken by the Azuma Bridge (吾妻橋).

That weird looking black building with a golden God-knows-what on the roof is owned by Asahi beer company. Oh, they call 'that' a 'golden flame'...

Water buses like this takes you all the way to Odaiba, an island far towards the eastern side of Tokyo. The pier is just by the bridge.

- 15 July 2006, Saturday -

Sensoji Temple

For most of the twentieth century, Asakusa was the major entertainment district in Tokyo. The golden years of Asakusa are vividly portrayed in Kawabata's novel "The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa" (1930; English translation, 2005). In its role as a pleasure district, it has now been surpassed by Shinjuku and other colorful areas of the city. ~Wikipedia

Got bored of studies and went to Asakusa (浅草) last Friday. It was scorching hot, 35°C , according to an air-conditioner's giant billboard. It was a miracle that I didn't pass out on the streets. Phew!

Rickshaw (人力車, jinrikisha), anyone?

This is the Kaminarimon (雷門), the gate to Asakusa's famous temple, Sensoji (浅草寺).

The giant lantern is one of Asakusa's landmarks.

The four gods guarding the gate. The first one is the God of Thunder; the second one, the God of Wind.

The Nakamise shopping arcade. Stalls lined up all the way from the gate to the temple.

Sensoji Temple. See the giant lantern again?

There you go!

Giant urn with burning incense for purification.

沙竭羅龍王像 (Bronze statue)

The main shrine (観音堂, kanon dō). Devotees clap their hands twice and make small offerings by tossing coins into the box.

The Five Storied Pagoda was built in 1973 and amongst others, it stands in honour of comedians! It's 53.32 meters high, reinforced with concrete and steel, and like all pagodas, running down the centre is a giant pillar of Japanese Cypress tree wood. Around this, the five stories are loosely packed, resulting in a highly flexible structure able to withstand earth tremours. ~Tokyo Essentials, Tokyo Guide

Shibaraku Statue. The copper statue of Danjure Ichikawa, a famous Kabuki actor. He is shown in the role depicting "Shibaraku" which was his forte.

- 15 July 2006, Saturday -

Photo-stitching

Have been doing some photo-stitching and here's what I've got!

The first photo was taken from the park opposite the campus. The tallest brown building in the middle is the Japanese Language Center; the one to the left is our dorm; the one to the right is the cafeteria.

(Stitched from 7 photos)

This photo was taken in Asakusa. Those boats on the right are waterbuses. It takes you all the way to Odaiba (大台場). I tried another photo-stitch of the opposite side of the river but it didn't turn out well.

(Stitched from 4 photos)

Taken in Musashi Kokubunji Koen (武蔵国分寺公園).

(Stitched from 6 photos)

Well, these may not be the best photos because they have not been edited; just some trimming here and there, that's all. I like them anyway.

Summer Plans

Various countdowns:

1. End-term exam - 14~19 July (5 days to go!)
2. Marine Day - 17 July (3 days to go!)
3. Summer holiday - 22 July ~ 31 August (8 days to go!)
4. Scholarship pay day - 25 July (11 days to go!)
5. Trip to Kamakura etc with host family - 25~26 July (11 days to go!)
6. Nasu (那須) English Summer Camp - 28~31 July (14 days to go!)
7. Rusutsu-mura, Hokkaido (留寿都村、北海道) homestay - 18~28 August (34 days to go!)
8. Malaysian National Day - 31 August (37 days to go!)
9. Autumn term - 1 September (28 days to go!)

For those who are curious about where the heck I'm going during the summer holiday, here you go. Believe it or not, this is edited using the antediluvian MS Paint!

A. Hokkaido (北海道）

Hokkaido (北海道) is known for its cool summer. I'll be going to Rusutsu-mura (留寿都村) from 18 to 28 August for a homestay programme. (Phew, glad to escape from the scorching heat in Tokyo!) The town is a famous spot for skiing during winter.

Will take a plane to Sapporo (札幌), Hokkaido's major city and spend the first night there in a youth hostel before leaving for Rusutsu-mura by bus the next morning.

B. Tokyo (東京) and neighbouring prefectures

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, TUFS (東京外国語大学), that's where I'm currently studying. It's about 30 minutes by densha from central Tokyo; located in the middle of nowhere between Chofu and Fuchu.

Will be going to Kamakura (鎌倉) with my host family, tentatively from 25 to 26 July. Kamakura is famous for being one of the ancient cities in Japan which were influenced by Buddhism from China. Thus, old temples scattered across the city. One famous spot in Kamakura is the Big Buddha in Kotokuin. Originally housed in a temple, the building was destroyed in a tsunami in the 15th century. Ever since then, the statue remained outdoors.

Taking part in an English Summer Camp in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture (那須、栃木県) from 28~31 July. The camp actually starts on 29 July but we have to attend a briefing for foreign staff a day before. Oh yeah, the camp is for Junior High School kids and we're there to help running the activities. And we get 20k yen as the renumeration!

Nasu is a famous with its lush greenery and hills. Besides, Nikko (日光) is also located in the same prefecture. Waterfalls, lakes, temples... I hope I'll have the chance to go around the place!

Besides the plans mentioned above, of course I'm planning to make day trips to several other places. And maybe I should also find time to register to the Malaysian Embassy. (Yes, I haven't.) National Day is coming soon. Who knows we might get invited for the celebration?

Oh man! Come, come, summer holiday!