Japan Nov 2009 Day 6 (part 1)

Japanese school children taking photos in front of Kaminarimon Gate, at the entrance of Nakamise-dori avenue

Giant paper lantern which hangs below Kaminarimon gate

Dragon drawing at the base of the giant paper lantern which hangs below Kaminarimon gate

Kimura’s staff demonstrating how ningyo-shio is made traditionally. They have a “closed door” shop at the end of the Nakamise dori which has these little pancakes made in mass quantities.

Kimura’s 人形烧 ningyo-shio  in the shape of a lantern with the words “Asakusa” imprinted. Comes in many designs, .g. dove, pagoda etc.

wooden doll keychain souvenirs

Collection of colourful masks of iconic figures from Japanese mythology and legends.

Traditional masks of 2 of the 7 Shinto Fortune Gods

Japanese ladies out in Kimono along the streets of Nakamise Dori

last stretch of Nakamise dori before reaching Hozomon Gate

Shop at the end of Nakamise-dori avenue near Hozomon gate selling food, ice-cream and melonpan.

Huge piping hot melonpan 😀

Melonpan display and a japanese ojisan who makes them.

A crippled pigeon which we shared crumbs of the melon bun with.

Hozomon Gate

Giant red paper lantern hanging below Hozomon gate

Giant black paper lantern hanging below Hozomon gate

Hozomon gate in front of the Senso-ji temple.

Underneath the black Hozomon lantern

Underneath the red Hozomon lantern

Huge straw sandals as offerings hung on the inner side of Hozomon gate.

A more than 300 year-old wooden statue of Zo-cho ten (增长天）, house temporarily outside the adminstrative block. He is one of the four protectorate gods (四大天王）of Buddhism.

A subdued demon under zo-cho ten’s feet

His eyes are encased with crystal and thus called Gyoku-gan (玉眼）.

Statue of Jikoku-ten（持国天）

The famed five-storey pagoda behind the adminstrative block of Asakusa Kannon Temple

Wooden prayer sticks for removing bad luck, prayer for peace, and for longevity.

Candlelight. candles are lighted as offerings.

the famous 竜 “Ryu” (dragon) mural on the ceiling of the Kannon Temple.

The main hall but the famed wooden Kannon statue which the two fishermen brothers were alleged to have picked up along the banks of the Sumida-gawa is no where in sight.

A man showing some girls how a photo of them with the beautifully carved base of one of the lanterns can be taken.

A shop selling samisen. Very expensive!

Rickshaw rides that bring you around the inner streets of Asakusa Kannon Temple, taken while waiting for seats outside 大黑家. Need to specify if you want table seats (taberu) unless you don’t mind sitting at the counter bar.

Menu at 大黑家, a famous ten-don shop in Asakusa.

The food trying to make a quick escape before being eaten!

Not very appetizing isn’t it? Well, it didn’t taste that fantastic anyway. Perhaps its disappointment from having too high expectations that came with all the hype from the travel books we’d read that raved about this “must-try” shop.

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The tempura is a mere mess of soggy batter with non-descript vegetables and some fish and shrimp all clumped together. I found the rice most satisfying. Individually separated grains cooked to perfection! But that doesn’t even come close to help justify for the price we’d paid, and not to mention the wait at the door!!!

Taken after our meal. There’s still a queue outside. This place seems to be a popular hit amongst obasans.

We bumped into a TV crew in the midst of doing a programme feature on shop that sells exclusively brushes and nothing but brushes! This shop started during the 大正era and certainly has some history!

Another rickshaw we saw carrying two Japanese ladies

A lot of shops along the inner lanes around the temple sells traditional stuff, like this one, which sells kimono.

A “sports zyuen” outlet near ROX Square

A one-man band clown promoting a nearby restaurant we bumped into along the small lanes around Asakusa Kannon Temple

A restaurant selling whale cuisine. 😦