Next day we got up bright and early. Our first destination was Asakusa area, 40 minutes by metro. A famous Sensoji Kannon temple (Buddhist) is located there. What makes this temple so special is that it was finished in year 645, making it the oldest temple in Tokyo.
I got to wash my hands in this special blessed water for health and fortune.
To get to the temple itself, we had to walk through the Kaminarimon gate which leads to a long street with vendors of various souvenirs.
This beautiful five-story pagoda is right next to the temple. As you can see, the rain continued on and off throughout the morning.
From there we headed to the water bus station. If you are ever in Tokyo, go on this Sumida River cruise. It’s about 40 minutes or as long as you want it to be if you keep going further to different places along the bay. We passed twelve bridges, each one interesting in its own way.
We got off at the first stop by the Hamarikyu Garden. Now, THAT was beautiful. Truly an oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city. We walked along the paths through the old Shogun’s garden.
Stopping by the tea house was the highlight of this place for my mom. She got to drink green tea in a real Japanese teahouse. Barefeet. Sitting on the floor.
The funny and embarrassing thing is that I forgot how women are supposed to sit on the floor. When we came in, there were two Japanese men and a European lady sitting drinking tea in a “criss-cross apple sauce” position. Well, I got confused and decided that we were supposed to sit the same way as well. Those two men laughed and talked between each other, then laughed more, pointing at their camera and at us. I asked them to take our picture with MY camera but not with theirs. Still couldn’t figure out why they were laughing. Only after my mom finished tea and we went outside, we saw how other Japanese women were sitting. The were kneeling down and then sitting down. Duh! Now I will forever remember how women are supposed to sit.
I am reading instructions on how to properly drink green tea and eat a small confection:)
We also saw this very old tree that survived three hundred years
From the garden we took a metro to the Tokyo Metropolitan Building.
It is one of the skyscrapers in a busy area of Shinjuku. We got to go up to the 45th store and enjoy the view of Tokyo from up there. What a huge busy city it is!
Finally we were hungry—3 pm. We got so stuffed from our breakfast buffet at the New Sanno that we didn’t want anything before then. I took mama to a fun little noodle shop in the basement of the Government Building. It was mama’s first time to try gyoza and ramen noodles. I love gyoza—a Japanese version of Chinese potstickers.
Well, our day was not over. We headed to the Tokyo Tower area. Walked around the tower and the Zojoji temple nearby. It is a Shinto shrine, very different from a Buddhist one. It is also open 24 hours a day.
We saw these interesting sculptures with red hats. They look like children. From what I understand,rows of little statues with bonnets and windmills are statues of jizobosatusu, the protector of the souls of stillborn children and the Buddhist equivalent of an angel. Mothers who have lost an unborn child may dedicate an image of the deity and decorate it with baby clothes and toys.
Since we are both from Europe (hehehehe), we walked a lot. We walked from Tokyo Tower all the way to Roppongi. In Roppongi, you can find dozens of international restaurants. I really like that are. It is the are where many embassies are situated, therefore, you can find a lot of people from different countries. We decided to eat at Outback Steakhouse, and, as in every American restaurant, we had lots of leftovers. Big portions!
If you are ever shopping in one of the underground malls in Tokyo, don't forget to visit this friendly store:)
Did your mama like her trip? What did she say? did she like Japan?
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