It’s almost as if one cannot say one has been to Tokyo without a visit to Asakusa Temple. Practically everyone visiting Tokyo for the first time makes their way there. However, after a gap of three years returning to Tokyo, I discovered the most refreshing way to experience Asakusa—strolling through its streets with a geisha!
This time, our exploration of Asakusa went beyond the traditional rickshaw ride. It involved enlisting the services of a geisha as a local guide. She took us through the Thunder Gate (Kaminarimon) and along Nakamise Street, introducing us to various historic shops that line this quaint street brimming with the distinctive ambiance of Asakusa. Eventually, she led us to the lesser-known Asakusa Shrine, nestled next to Asakusa Temple.
Asakusa Shrine is adorned with numerous mythical creatures. While these creatures are products of imagination, they symbolize peace and are believed to grant people's desires for happiness. In contrast to Asakusa Temple, which tends to attract more tourists, Asakusa Shrine is primarily frequented by locals. If you're visiting Asakusa Temple, I recommend taking a detour to Asakusa Shrine to experience the differences between Japanese temples and shrines.
Even today, the Asakusa district maintains the spirited and unrestrained essence of the Edo period in Japan. Its streets, temples and shrines evoke a profound sense of historical heritage. In particular, Asakusa Temple at its core draws numerous worshippers and curious visitors who flock here to explore and pay their respects. Asakusa isn't just home to Tokyo's oldest temple where prayers for peace are offered, it's also an exceptional place to immerse yourself in the life of a commoner in the Edo period.
Before June 2020, reaching the TOKYO SKYTREE on foot from Asakusa Temple required a lengthy detour. However, during my recent visit to Tokyo, I was delighted to discover the new SUMIDA RIVER WALK, a pedestrian bridge spanning the Sumida River. Finally, this bridge conveniently connects Asakusa directly to the TOKYO SKYTREE.
This waterfront boardwalk boasts fantastic scenery. On a clear day, strolling along it offers not only a view of the Sumida River's banks but also a chance to snap pictures at picture-perfect waterfront photo spots with the TOKYO SKYTREE in the background. Keen-eyed explorers might even uncover some surprises related to TOKYO SKYTREE's mascot, Sorakara-chan here! Haha!
After descending from the boardwalk, you can also explore the TOKYO mizumachi complex located beneath the elevated tracks between Tobu TOKYO SKYTREE Station and Asakusa Station. Embracing the “water street” concept, this area houses renowned traditional Japanese confectioneries, trendy cafes for artsy types and popular restaurants. Adjacent to TOKYO mizumachi is Sumida Park, where you can enjoy a leisurely picnic.
My visit to the TOKYO SKYTREE towards the end of last year coincided with the celebration of its 10th anniversary. Ascending via an elevator adorned with seasonal landscapes, I reached the observation deck. From the 445-meter level to 450 meters, there is a roughly 110-meter sloped corridor called the “Tembo Corridor” offering an experience akin to a stroll amongst the clouds. Nestled within this corridor is the “Sorakara Point,” the highest point of the TOKYO SKYTREE at 451.2 meters.
During the sunset that evening, more than 400 meters above ground, I witnessed the most breathtaking sunset of 2022. Far in the distance, Mount Fuji stood majestically above a sea of clouds, while below me sprawled the mesmerizing cityscape of Tokyo. It felt like the perfect embodiment of the legendary interpretation of Eason Chan's classic song, Sorrow Is Meaningless (富士山下).
At the base of the TOKYO SKYTREE lies the TOKYO Solamachi commercial complex housing over 300 shops and dining establishments. Here, you can indulge in Japanese specialties and delicacies, a culinary adventure where I could even savor the most delicious eel rice that I had ever previously tasted in Nagoya, at the renowned Hitsumabushi Bincho. Additionally, there are traditional crafts like the Asakusa sugar figurine shops and cosmetics brands featuring gold leaf as a signature product.
Another particular delight was an ice cream specialty shop exclusively dedicated to strawberry desserts. The store was filled with cakes, Japanese sweets, beverages, biscuits—all crafted using strawberries! Although there were several more places on my list to explore, TOKYO Solamachi is a place where you could easily spend an entire day!
The night scenery while walking back from the TOKYO SKYTREE to Asakusa was stunning. Especially noteworthy was the enchanting illumination at Ushijima Shrine in Sumida Park. This year, it's never been easier to discover the dreamiest photo spots around the TOKYO SKYTREE. This year the event ended on February 15, but we hope it'll return next year.
The Asakusa Tobu Hotel, which opened in October 2020, is conveniently close to Asakusa Temple—right across from Tobu Asakusa Station. Getting to downtown attractions is a breeze from here. What sets it apart is that it's the only hotel in Tokyo's 23 wards that offers Hello Kitty-themed rooms. They each have three rooms with Wa-modern (modern Japanese) and Sakura Tennyo Hello Kitty themes. These spacious rooms feature four beds in total, making them perfect for families or groups of friends staying together.
The Wa-modern room we stayed in was a tribute to Asakusa's local charm and timeless Japanese aesthetics. The walls were adorned with images of Hello Kitty in kimono and traditional Japanese paper umbrella patterns, exuding an Edo-era ambiance. Moreover, the bedside tablet enabled the room lighting, air conditioning and alarm settings to be adjusted, with a English-language user interface. The bathroom featured a separate shower and toilet area and was adorned with delightful pink elements throughout.
Another thoughtful touch by the hotel was presenting each guest staying at the hotel with a Hello Kitty-themed gift (including a canvas bag, chopsticks and hanging ornaments) in line with the room's theme. This ensured that if there were kids along on the trip they would be able to experience memorable moments with Hello Kitty right from the comfort of their room!
Travelogue courtesy of J调de华丽
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