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NIPPONIA No.19 December 15, 2001
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Japanease Travelogue Asakusa
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(1) |
Osawa Hajime in front of Asakusa Shrine, in full costume for the Sanja festival. "Nothing's more fun than the time I spend throughout the year getting ready for the festival!" |
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(2) |
Kaminari-mon Gate is the first temple building to greet us at Senso-ji. On the other side of the gate is the Nakamise walkway. |
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(3) |
The river cruise from Asakusa to the mouth of the Sumida River and the port of Tokyo takes 40 minutes, and is a good way to enjoy river scenes in the middle of the metropolis. The huge golden artwork in the background rests on the headquarters of Asahi Breweries, Ltd. |
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(4) |
The incense burner in front of Kannon-do Hall gives off incense that is said to cure physical ailments if the affected part of the body is brought in contact with it. Another common scene at Senso-ji Temple is lovers reading their o-mikuji horoscopes. |
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(5) |
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(6) |
More than 80 shops selling souvenirs, confectioneries and all kinds of items line the Nakamise walkway.
Shops have been here since the second half of the 17th century,
when caretakers of the grounds of Senso-ji Temple were given the right to sell goods in front of the temple,
as a way of recompense. (6) This baker at Kimura-ya concentrates all of his energy on making ningyo-yaki,
which are small cakes shaped like paper lanterns, pigeons, the Thunder Imp and the five-storied pagoda, all with a sweet bean paste inside.
(7) Deep-fried manju buns made at the shop, Asakusa Mochi Honpo. The fried batter is crisp and the bean paste inside is sweet.
The buns taste best just out of the fryer. (8) The figurine shop, Musashi-ya, stocks plenty of maneki-neko
(good-luck cats said to attract customers). (9) The Nakamise walkway. |
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(7) |
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(8) |
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(9) |
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