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Published: March 26th 2008
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Sensoji Temple
The famous Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Asakusa is yet another area in Tokyo with lots of things to see! Tokyo almost seems to be its own little country because it's so big and there are so many different areas to cover. Asakusa is located in the far northeast of Tokyo and the main attraction there is the Sensoji Temple.
We ended up in Asakusa on our 3rd day (Monday) because we had booked a hostel there. We were sick of all the rules at the other hostel, so we decided to change. We stayed at the Sakura Hostel in Asakusa, and it was by far one of the best hostels I've stayed at. The staff there was so friendly and helpful. We called to ask for directions once we came out of Asakusa Station and when we got halfway there, a lady from the hostel was waiting to point us in the right direction. She had walked all the way down there just to make sure we go there ok, then after she told us which direction to go she took off and ran back towards the hostel...and in heels I might add! We stayed in a mixed 6-person hostel, so it was nice to be
Asakusa
Just outside the Asakusa Station, on the way to find our hostel able to be in the same room with Ryan and Michael. But it was a bit strange because I was the only girl in that room. The best thing about the hostel was that it really had no rules! There was no curfew and the atmosphere was a lot more laid-back and fun.
On our first night in Asakusa we took advantage of having no curfew and decided to go out and explore the area. We walked around the streets around the hostel and found a place to eat. Then we wandered toward the Sensoji Temple, which just happened to be right beside our hostel. The temple was really beautiful at night all lit up. Me and Michael sat outside the temple and had a nice talk while Ryan went in to look around the temple. After that we were planning to go out to a bar we had seen, but after we had gotten comfortable back in the room we decided to stay in. We just got some drinks and hung out in the room and it was fun!
The next day we went to really visit the Sensoji Temple. Sensoji was a really huge temple and
Searching
Still searching for the hostel... it was very pretty. However, there were so many people there that it kind of ruined the whole experience for me. I guess it's because the Sensoji is such a famous temple, but I personally like to visit temples that aren't packed with people. I think having too many people definite detracts from fully appreciating the temple as a cultural site because it seems more like any other tourist attraction. But I don't know, that's just me...
Anyway, the Sensoji Temple was very neat. There was some kind of procession going on when we visited, so that was interesting to watch. There were also a bunch of candles lit on each side of the altar, and anyone could light one. Then there was a thing where you could get your fortune. You have to get a straw from the container, and each straw has a certain kanji written on it. You match the kanji on your straw to the kanji on the drawer, and that's which fortune you get. Mine fortune was pretty good, although it was only called a "regular" fortune. And Ryan was lucky enough to the the "best" fortune. There was also a sort of clothesline
Sakura Hostel
Finally we made it to the Sakura Hostel. thing where if you got a bad fortune you could hang the paper there so that it could be turned into a good fortune. Another interesting thing about the temple was that outside there was a huge incense burner. There was a huge cloud of smoke and people were all gathered around it trying to get incense on them because it's supposed to protect you or something like that.
We also walked around the temple area. There were a lot of beautiful statues and some other little altars, as well as a pond with carp in it and some garden areas. I guess all the usual stuff you would see at a temple...I've seen so many temples by now that they all just seem to be the same! The Sensoji was a really beautiful temple though, especially at night.
There's also a huge shopping area right outside the temple entrance. There were a ton of little open shops selling souvenirs, just about anything you could think of. There were also vendors selling food, like the bananas covered in frosting and sprinkles with a koala cookie on top. That was so good! But the street was super packed with
To the Temple...
Walking up towards the temple entrance people and it was difficult to get around...I think me and Ryan lost Michael a few times there.
Other than the Sensoji Temple, we didn't too much else in Asakusa. It didn't seem like there was much to do in the area, and we only stayed there for one night. But the Sakura Hostel was very nice, I would definitely recommend it, and the Sensoji is a beautiful temple to see. When we left Asakusa we then headed towards Nikko, a small town to the northeast of Tokyo. It took about 3 hours to get there by train, which we hadn't really been expecting. So the rest of our day was mostly spent on a train. Oh and Nikko was absolutely amazing! I have a ton of pictures from there, some of the most beautiful temples I've seen in my life. But I will have that post soon...so many things to talk about from Tokyo, this could take awhile!
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imcrazy8
Geoff D
awesome pics
xamena... you take some awesome pics!!