June 1

Travel Day to Tokyo


I'm writing this two days later, and already it's hard to remember what we did.  We woke up to this; hard to forget it!  So many pictures to choose from.








A last minute talk about things to see and do in Tokyo.


And then onto the bus at 11 for a 2.5 hour drive into our Tokyo hotel.  Everyone scattered once we got there.  About five of us headed to the Senso-ji Temple.  Along the way we strolled through the Nakamise Dori (a historic, 250m shopping street leading from the Thunder Gate to the temple's inner gate.  It is packed with over 80 stalls selling traditional Japanese souvenirs and local street food).  We popped down a little side street and found a tiny restaurant that served delicious fresh-made sushi.  Then to the temple, said to be the most widely visited religious site in the world with over 30 million visitors annually.  While it was busy, I suppose it could have been worse.  Senso-ji is Tokyo's oldest and most popular Buddhist temple.  Established in 645 AD, it is dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy.  The temple was destroyed during a March 1945 firebombing air raid.  The main hall was rebuilt in the 1950s.  



The outer gate - Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) features a giant red paper lantern and statues of the wind and thunder gods.




Nakamise Dori


Hozomon Gate (or Treasure House Gate).  




The main hall.



The five storied pagoda.






There's a traditional at Senso-ji to have your fortune told.  For an offering of 100 yen, you shake a metal container to receive a numbered stick.  You then match the number to a corresponding wooden drawer containing your personalized fortune paper.  If you draw a good fortune, it is customary to keep it with you or take it home as a blessing.  If you pull a bad fortune, tradition dictates that you fold the slip tightly and tie it to the designated metal wires on the temple grounds.  Doing so leaves the misfortune behind, allowing you to ward off the bad luck.  I think I'm the only one in our group who took it with me.



A few other pics from our visit to the temple grounds.











And a building closeby, before heading out to walk to the Tokyo Skytree.






Sumida River


I was hoping to stay up in the tower until nightfall, but people seemed to be done by about 6.  Wonderful views from the two decks that we visited.  Even a bit of a view to Mount Fuji, over 100 km away.













And that was our introduction to Tokyo..........


Tokyo

Population:  14.25 million

Area:  2,194 square km

AI Summary:  Tokyo, the capital of Japan and the world's most populous metropolis (41M+ residents in the greater area) is a vibrant mix of ultramodern neon, skyscrapers, and deeply rooted traditions.  Located on Honshu Island, this top tourist destination offers iconic sights like Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya Crossing, and the Tokyo Disney Resort.  


We have two "rest days" coming up in Tokyo.  I'm pretty sure we'll be able to see absolutely everything in that time; not!.  Wish us luck

Comments

  1. Lynn CJune 10, 2026 at 7:59 AM

    I remember loving Tokyo! We went to the Senso-ji Temple, too!! And I remember walking and walking through all kinds of narrow streets with hidden temples, shrines and lots of little kiosks... We were there in 2000...

    ReplyDelete

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