Keiko, OTT
Japan
47 years in Japan
Visit also: www.facebook.com/oldtown.tokyo (OLD TOWN TOKYO)
I was born and brought up in Asakusa. Please visit my hometown and ask me anything about Shitamachi.
Keiko, OTT's Advice List
Keiko, OTT
Japan
47 years in Japan
Must Have Japanese Souvenirs: BUNBOGU
Let me introduce Japanese Stationary as the 2nd must have Japanese souvenirs*. In Japan, girls are energetic to have cute stationary and businessmen are interested in using cool gadgets and writing materials. One of the most popular shops is LOFT. The one in Shibuya is the main store, but there a…(159 words)
Keiko, OTT
Stationery Japanese Visit Japan Shopping Shibuya Ginza Department store Cafe
September Events around Asakusa
Donburi Grand Prix will be held during this event. Eat and vote your favorite Donburi. In Japan, we have various Donburi, such as Gyudon (Beef rice bowl), Kaisendon (Seafood rice bowl) or Tendon (Tempura rice bowl). This year, 78 restaurants joined this event and compete to win the prize for best D…(131 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Ueno Japan Food Event Eat festival Autumn
July Events in Asakusa and Ueno
Asagao means Morning Glory. Iriya Asagao Ichi is held at and around Iriya Kishimojin Temple. This event is held on 6, 7 and 8 July every year. This year, the street (Kototoi Dori) will be closed from 17:00 to 21:30 on these days. Time and Place:6, 7 and 8 July at Iriya Kishimojinone minut…(222 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Event Tera (Temple) Music Flower Ueno Traditional Market Summer
How to enjoy Matsuri in Shitamachi
May is the most comfortable month in Japan. Sun shines, flowers bloom and wind blows softly. However, in Shitamachi, May is the season of Matsuri, the summer festivals of Shrines.Usually, the main events including Miya-Mikoshi is on Sunday. In the early morning Mikoshi is started from a shrine …(241 words)
Keiko, OTT
Japanese festivals Tokyo Summer Food Asakusa Jinjya (Shrine) Ueno Yakitori yatai kanda
Ume (plum) blossoms in Sumida-ku
Can not wait Sakura? February is the time for Ume (plum) blossoms. In Sumida-ku, there are some places famous for Ume blossoms. Though Kameido Tenjin is also famous for wisteria, there are over 300 Ume trees. 15 minutes walk from JR Kameido Station.Omurai-Katori Shrine is a small shrine, which …(118 words)
Keiko, OTT
Japanese plum Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Visit Jinjya (Shrine) Garden Kameido flowers
Sakura in Asakusa
Denbouin Garden will be opened to public from mid-March through early May. This Japanese garden is usually closed. The best time will be late March or early April when Sakura blooms. (The photos in this page are taken in late March or early April last year).entrance fee: 300 yentime: 10:00 - …(123 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Cherry blossom Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Garden Japanese garden Mochi (Rice cake) Park River Shop Walk
5 recommendations to take your pictures wearing KIMONO in Asakusa
There are many good places to take pictures when you wear Kimono in Asakusa. Three gates to Sensoji, Kaminarimon, Hozomon and Nitenmon, are the best of course as well as Gojunotou (five-storied pagoda). However, I would like to recommend the places where is not in your guidebook.Izumiya is a sh…(236 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Kimono Restaurant Building Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Shop Tempura Business Photography
Ukiyo-e (woodblock print) in Asakusa
Sakai Kokodo is one of the oldest stores specialized in UKIYOE established in 1870. You can buy a replica of Katushika Hokusai or Utagawa Hiroshige. Located on the Nakamise Street.Mokuhankan is a newly opened shop, where you can buy beautiful woodblock prints and can experience how to make these.…(147 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Ukiyoe Museum Shop workshop Art Art museum
Places to visit in Shitamachi to pass an exam
"Yushima Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine commonly called Yushima Tenjin. This shrine was originally established in 458 A.D. in order to worship Ameno-tajikaraono-mikoto, one of deities appears in the Japanese myths. Later, in February 1355, the spirit of Sugawara Michizane, a historical figure, was als…(177 words)
Keiko, OTT
Jinjya (Shrine) Lucky Visit Tokyo Ueno Earthquake Kanto Kameido yushima
Torinoichi (or Otorisama)
Torinoichi is held at Ohtori Shrine and Chokokuji Temple, next to each other. This year (2014), the event is on November 10 and 22. As people buy a little bigger Kumade, called Kakkome, every year, the Kumade is going to be huge. It is interesting that this festival starts at midnight (0:00) and en…(98 words)
Keiko, OTT
year-end Tokyo Event Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) festival Horse Decorated Asakusa
Enjoy Autumn in Asakusa
Asakusa Touroue is held from September 13 through 27. Many Tourou (lanterns) light up the alleys in Sensoji. Visit at night. You can see a dance by Geisha at Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center on Saturdays (see below). The tickets will be available at the Center from 10:00 each day on a fir…(161 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Restaurant Event Visit Food Tempura Ueno Eat dance Lantern
Jukai trekking at Mt. FUJI
There is a deep forest around Mt. Fuji, called Jukai. You will feel the power of nature walking through many trekking courses. The ground is a lava bed and the topsoil is only 10 centimeters, so roots of trees go horizontally. Therefore there are many fallen trees. Direction: The nearest sta…(185 words)
Keiko, OTT
Mount Fuji Lake Kawaguchi cave
The 33rd Asakusa Samba Carnival
Asakusa Samba Carnival was started in 1981 to remind that Asakusa is an entertainment district. Today was the 33rd event. Usually the last Saturday of August is the day. The parade starts from Umamichi Street near Nitenmon Gate and ends at the intersection of Kaminarimon Street and Kokusai Street. …(202 words)
Keiko, OTT
dance Asakusa festival Summer
Kimono Experience in Asakusa
Kimono is usually made of silk or hemp, beautifully dyed or embroidered. Yukata is made of cotton, the Kimono for summer. Most of Ryokan (Japanese hotels) prepare Yukata in each room as a sleepwear, but you can got out with Yukata in Summer.There are many shops you can rent Kimono for few hours. T…(162 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Kimono Yukata (Light kimono) Kimono experience Summer Walk Shop rental Cherry blossom
Enjoy to watch making something on the streets in Asakusa
In Asakusa, there are many shops where you can see the procedure to making something. Iriyama Senbei is located at Sushiya Street, while Ichiban Hanaya is located at Shin-Nakamise Street.There are many Ningyoyaki shops along Nakamise Street. Japanese tend to prefer the hand-made Ningyoyaki and of c…(95 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Rice cracker Shop Cake Fish Taiyaki (Fish-shaped cake) Ningyo-yaki
What makes you feel cooler in Asakusa.
The price of mini Ukiyoe Uchiwa is 350 yen at Yatsume. Ohgi is made by paper, while Sensu is usually made by fabrics. These Ohgi are at Bunsendo. You will find lots of Sensu at Takahisa.LocationYatsume: NakamiseBunsendo: NakamiseTakahisa: Shin-NakamiseFurin (a wind bell) also make you fee…(111 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Green tea Tofu (Soy bean curd) Ukiyoe Hand fan
Places to feel like locals in Asakusa
Do you know the third oldest underground passage in Japan is at Asakusa Station? The street is connected to a ticket gate of Ginza Line and the entrance of Shin-Nakamise Street. Most of the tenants are restaurants such as Sushi, Soba, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai foods. You also find a fortune-tell…(157 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Hoppy Underground shopping arcade Restaurant Sushi Building Visit Soba noodles Bar
Kappabashi Tool Street, best place to find kitchen tools
Kappabashi Tool Street is about 800m long located in 10 minutes walking distance from Asakusa and has more than 150 stores relating to kitchen or restaurant. These are sample foods made of wax, which you can find in a show-window at the restaurants in Asakusa.There are many specialty stores for kit…(79 words)
Keiko, OTT
Restaurant Asakusa Specialty store Kappabashi Sushi
Nakamise, the main street of Asakusa between Kaminarimon and Hozomon
There are about 90 shops here in Nakamise. You can find Japanese traditional crafts, Kimonos, Japanese dolls, Ukiyoe, tenugui (Japanese towels) and chopsticks as well as Ningyoyaki (sponge cake), Osenbei (rice crackers), Japanese sweets and shaved ice. At Funawa, cold Matcha drink and sweet potato …(144 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa Drink Shopping Sweets Rice cracker Shop good luck Ukiyoe chopsticks Souvenir