We met up with our friend Chig, Chig's sister Sanae, and her friend in Asakusa. I love going to Asakusa and feel the air of SHITAMACHI which is Tokyo's traditional downtown. This town is kept pretty much retro and traditional unlike modern Tokyo in other areas.
Since we didn't have much time this time, we just walked to Kaminarimon (雷門) "Thunder Gate" which features a giant lantern. The statues of guardian gods at the gate entrance are Raijin (god of thunder) and Fujin (god of wind). It is first built in 942, the gate has been destroyed numerous times and the current incarnation dates to only 1950.
At one of the small outdoor shops, Chig got us a lantern shape Ice Cream Monaka with Matcha. Yummy! Thanks Chig!
From Asakusa, you can take a leisurely ride to get to different parts of Tokyo by water buses which we decided to save for our next trip.
There are several different kinds of water buses, but I'm mostly excited about getting on the "Himiko" (pic left) produced by famous Japanese cartoonists Leiji Matsumoto (who worked on Yamato & Ginga Tetsudo 999).
COMMENTS (6)
Sally, we want to ride on the water bus with you next time! And eat cute Matcha ice cream! Almost too cute to eat... but it's ice cream... and it's matcha... Mmmmm...
Posted by kodapup | November 14, 2007 11:19 PM
Up/down Sumida River the water buses connect Tsukiji with Asakusa. Along the way you can see Odaiba and FujiTV building and a bunch of "yakata-bune" those restaurants on the river. Those boats can take you up/down the river dining on fresh tempura and beer. Asakusa is known for tempura. Just behind the Sensoji, there is a ryotei called Nakasei that has been in business since the Meiji era (1868). A bit procey but they are known for their kobashira kaki-age don. Kobashira is the scallops from Bakagai (aka aoyagi). Nakasei si on my list of "must-have" restaurants when visiting Japan. Just a few blocks from Sensoji is Kappa Bashi and there is a building designed by Philip Stark - the same guy who did Katsuya, Brentwood. He has a big sculpture that is shaped like a golden cloud on the roof. He meant it as a beer foam because of the restaurant it houses. But the locals refer to it as "unchi biru" because the cloud looks like feces.
Posted by glenn | November 15, 2007 2:47 PM
Karen - Yes, let's ride the water bus together:D Isn't it cool?! You will like the Matcha Ice Cream too ;)
Glenn - I want to try "Yakata-Bune" too! I've never done it before. There are so much to do. And the Ryotei sounds very nice... Yummmy... You're already making me hungry! We need to come visit you soon to try your special food! If the timing works out in December, we can bring Karen to Ichiriki!!
You're right. The Asahi Beer unchi building is a great landmark in Asakusa :D I didn't know that it was designed by Phillip Stark. My uncle was telling me that it was meant to display vertically... but it didn't pass the city limitation... so, they ended up attaching the interesting object (beer foam) horizontally. It definitely catches everyone's attention.
Posted by fpr302
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November 15, 2007 11:15 PM
Cool, I finally get to meet Kodapup in person. Also, real close to Asakusa, in Oshiage there is place called Longboard Cafe. This place not only serves hamburgers, hot dogs and shakes but also Hawaiian stuff like spam musubi, Locomoco and Huli huli chicken. Every time I go to Japan, I make it a point to have a burger. I personally like Mos Burgers. Burgers in Japan tastes so much better than the ones here. I wonder that's because they use "aibiki" meat. Also on the outside of Tsukiji there is a donburi place that serves great tekkadon. You can't miss it. The store front is a counter that faces the street and only has like 5 chairs. Tokyo is also known for asari. That is why most miso soups served in Tokyo shita-machi is asari-jiru. Now if I can only find a place that serves great "fukagawa-don"....
Posted by glenn | November 16, 2007 2:11 PM
Okay, that's it! You two are making me SO HUNGRY and CRAVING tempura and yummy Japanese food! Cut it out! NOW! Sally, yes, lets go to Ichiriki and meet your peeps (Glenn!)and then lets start planning my trip to Japan!!!!!
Posted by kodapup | November 16, 2007 9:58 PM
...sorry for my slow response.
Let's plan to go to Ichiriki on the Friday while you're in town around Christmas! (Glenn only works there on Friday night)
BTW, I like Mos Burgers too :D Yakiniku Rice Burger is my favorite!
Posted by fpr302
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November 26, 2007 8:41 AM