Hi everybody. On this episode I visit Asakusa District which is one of the must visit historical and cultural location in Tokyo, Japan.
00:32 What is Asakusa?
Asakusa is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan.
It is known as the location of the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon.
Asakusa retains the vibe of an older Tokyo, with traditional craft shops and street-food stalls along Nakamise Street near the ancient Sensō-ji temple.
Mid-19th-century Hanayashiki amusement park has rides and cafes, while riverside Kuritsu Sumida Park hosts regular festivals and firework displays.
01:26 Where is Asakusa?
Asakusa is on the north-east fringe of central Tokyo, at the eastern end of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line subway, approximately one mile east of the major Ueno railway/subway interchange.
02:10 How to reach Asakusa?
Asakusa Station is on Tokyo Metro’s Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line and Tobu Skytree Line.
The boarding pier for the waterbus is just a three-minute walk from Asakusa Station.
From Haneda Airport it is 50 minutes by train.
From Narita Airport it is one hour 25 minutes by train.
From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station and transfer to the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line for Asakusa Station.
Travel time is around 35 minutes.
03:11 History of Asakusa?
The development of Asakusa as an entertainment district during the Edo period came about in part because of the neighboring district, Kuramae.
Kuramae was a district of storehouses for rice, which was then used as payment for servants of the feudal government.
04:05 What is there in Asakusa?
Kaminarimon is the first of two large entrance gates leading to Sensoji Temple.
First built more than 1000 years ago, it is the symbol of Asakusa.
The Nakamise shopping street leads from Kaminarimon to the temple grounds.
Sensoji (“Senso” is an alternative reading for Asakusa and “ji” means temple) is Tokyo’s most famous and popular temple.
Built in the 7th century, it is also one of its oldest, although the current buildings are postwar reconstructions.
Asakusa Shrine, also known as Sanja-sama, was built during the Edo Period and survived the air raids of 1945.
05:40 What to do there in Asakusa?
Sensoji Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo and the most popular landmark of the city to visit in Asakusa.
Around the historical site, there are many picturesque building to visit and take photos.
Nakamise Shopping Street is a small street connecting the front gate and the main hall of Sensoji temple.
This small street is full of local shops and food stalls and it’s a great place to taste local flavour.
Kappabashi street is located between Asakusa and Ueno.
07:14 Opening Hours & Entrance Fees of the temples in Asakusa?
Asakusa Shrine and Kaminarimon are always open to visit and there not any entrance fee.
Sensoji Temple is usually open 6AM to 5PM, but from october to march opening time is 6:30AM.
There is not any entrance fee to visit.
07:40 What else to do around Asakusa?
Tokyo Skytree is a new must-visit place in Tokyo today.
It is the new symbol of Tokyo and just 10 minutes driving distance away from Asakusa.
And the tallest building of the country and the second in the world has been fascinating millions of tourists.
As well as being Japan’s oldest zoo, the Ueno Zoological Gardens (or simply Ueno Zoo) has achieved legendary status in Japan for its giant pandas and success at breeding them.
09:16 What to buy in Asakusa?
The Nakamise shopping street stretches over approximately 250 meters from Kaminarimon to the main grounds of Sensoji Temple.
It is lined by more than 50 shops, which offer local specialties and the usual array of tourist souvenirs.
09:54 What to eat in Asakusa?
There are many restaurants in Asakusa where you can experience a variety of Japanese food.
Apart from the most widely known sushi and sashimi dishes in the global world, we recommend you to try dishes such as yakitori, sukiyaki soup, ramen, Japanese barbecue, katsu, tonkatsu and curry rice, which are popular throughout the country.
10:36 Best Time to Visit Asakusa?
As you can imagine, Sensoji Temple is so popular that it gets super crowded quite easily, especially on weekends.
But also on weekdays the place can be full of people.
In order to avoid the crowds, we recommend that you go there early in the morning, preferably around 9am.
11:17 Worth Visiting Asakusa?
If you’re planning on coming to Tokyo, it is most likely that one of the places on your “must go” list, is Asakusa.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time or your 5th time to Tokyo.
There’s no other place where you will feel the whole “Edo” culture experience as much as Asakusa.
You can be sure that it is one of the most worth visiting location in Tokyo.
Alp Galip
http://www.youtube.com/alpgalipcy
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