Japan Pilgrimage I Day 2 - Guest Blogged by 浪迹天涯小狗
Somewhere near Lake Ashi.
*WARNING! Picture Intensive Post!*
*YAWN* Woke up early to go Tsukiji Fish Market (筑地魚市場)for some action. Even at 6.15am, the sky is already very bright.
We set off around 7.30am, with hopes of catching some action. But they were already packing up by the time we reach.
The SUPER MESSY Railway Map of Tokyo
後樂園
The streets of Tsukiji.
The fishmongers were driving these kind of noisy motor driven vehicles transporting cartons of fishes around.
Long ques outside these eateries.
We couldnt bother queing to enter those popular shop, so we settled for any other one that wasnt having ques.
A sushi shop which we went to.
The stores here are quite small, typical Japan styled with only a bar counter and probably can accomodate only 10 customers.
Small place.
Miso Soup.. In a BIG BOWL.
Believe its tuna.
Sushi!!
Cant remember what issit.
Uni and dunno what roe.
All these for around SGD 20. They're SUPER FRESH!! Mistress is still drooling over it. Even from a no queue store, its so good. If u have time to spare, go try the que-ing ones and tell me abt it!
We continued our walk of Tsukiji Market, squeezing the crowded parts, as well as checking out the quieter streets.
Fruits are freaking expensive in Japan. So I presume those Fuji apples that we eat comes from.. China. Must be..
Dried fish flakes. Those shavings that u see on ur takoyakis. Mistress bought a pack home, and keep complaining about its bulkiness.
Mushrooms
Dried oranges, etc.
I thought I won't be seeing any freaking long ques in Japan. At least not in a fish market. (Pls discount the eatery ques above)
I was wrong. Damn WRONG.
Check this out. Way from the street entrance, and breaks into a few sections for vehicles to pass.
What are they queing for??
Steamed egg rolls.
Yes. They que for STEAMED EGG ROLLS that costs around SGD 8 each. Must be freaking nice.
Fresh unsweetened soya milk. Blahh.. unsweetened = not nice. Mistress gulped it all up. End the misery faster.. Hehe.
After the crowded Tsukiji Market, we head for Ueno, where we sat down for some drinks and rest our feets. 
Ueno (上野) Station
Outside the station
Vending Machines of Japan
Ueno Park. The leaves are generally still green.
Leaves changing color.
We walked to Hanazonoinari Jinjya (花園稻荷神社) located within the park. At 1st glance, the neatly stacked toriis are fasinating.
Look at this!
Upon surfing around looking for the name of the shrine, I also found that it was used for a scene in Memoirs of a Geisha. Hmm.. Mistress has that DVD, but she hasnt watched it yet.
巫女?
After this short shrine visit where Mistress bought 3 charms and the relaxing walk along the scenic park, we headed to Asakusa (淺草).
The main feature of Asakusa would be the Asakusa Kannon. However, the 1st thing that caught our attention when we came out from the station wasnt any temples or shrines.
Its this.
And this.
As to what they represents.. will tell u later.
Unsure of the location, we asked a local, who directed us using "point-point" language. We walked down the street and saw a little shaped-like-shrine police station, before we found the crowd.
Vending coupons for meals.
Were stopped by a trishaw puller at the intersection of Asakusa Kannon, whom we paid for a ride around the old town. Cant remember the exact cost but shld be in the range of SGD 20 to 30 for abt an hr. We joined the crowd in watching the chiming of the clock, which depicts a festival in progress.
The rather symbolic clock.
Kids mesmerised by the clock.
We set off on our journey after a few obligatory photoshoots.
The back of 洋介
Quite a humorous and cute guy, with some English knowledge. He took 2 of us on his trishaw, introduced the historical town to us and some snacks stores along the way. His english was mastered during his stay in US (i think), where he was doing his degree.
And most of these trishaw pullers are of the younger generation. Seems like its their passion to introduce the beauty of Japan to the world. Their legs betrayed their years of pulling a trishaw under the sun, with different and very contrasting skin shades. We even saw some female pullers. *Admiration*
Very old building
According to 洋介, this building is probably more than 100 years old, having witnessed World War 1. As can be seen from the difference in painting, the dirtier side actually withstood a number of bombings. It is currently housing an English bar now.
For the golden color thingy shown earlier, 洋介 has a story to tell. Locals normally call it the poo building, simply bcos the shape looks like poo. It was meant to commemorate some decades of Asahi's anniversary, and it was meant to be a TORCH! Ok imagine the poo as a vertical flame.. There u have it. However, due to safety concerns (earthquake-wise), the governmental bodies objected to the design by some famous architect and ordered it to be removed. Thus Asahi had no choice but to put it lying flat so as to appease the ruling.
As for the other picture, doesnt it looks like a beer mug with foam frothing on top? That's the Asahi building, located jus next to the Poo Building.
So after the eye-opening 1 hr ride, we crossed the intersection to Kaminarimon, where the crowd gathers.
Kaminarimon (雷門)
Behind Kaminarimon is the Nakamise shopping arcade, which is a long long stretch of "tourist traps" where u can find another store selling the same stuff 5 shops down and where the products are simply able to entice you to loosen your wallet strings.
Asakusa Kannon straight ahead.
A lot a lot of puppies.
Keychains. Ready to be brought to other parts of the world.
Mistress LOVES this photo...
Shogun attire selling dunno-wat. (Din go near to take a look)
Intersection of Nakamise Shopping Arcade leading to Denpoin Temple.
Denpoin Temple (伝法院)
Confectioneries
Loads of them.
Replica Swords. Relatively cheap but not able to pass the customs.
Nearing the end of the shopping arcade.
Japanese Lanterns
A little boy engrossed in catching toys out of the water.
Main gate (I think)
In their customs, if you get a 凶籤 when asking for some diety directions, you're supposed to tie it to these kind of brackets or ropes or trees near the place where you got it. It is meant to neutralise the effects of the bad predictions, leave it at the temple and forget about it. Just don't bring it home.
Mistress got a 小吉. Summary of predictions. "Wait and you'll get what you want."
待花開 la..
Wait.. wait.. wait..
Gojunoto (五重塔)
Kannondo (観音堂)
After having some oden, yakisoba and resting our feet, we pressed on.
We walked to somewhere near the train station for a cruise down Sumidagawa River to Tokyo Bay.
Red Bridge, as introduced by 洋介.
Its a super boring ride as there's not much lights on the sides of the river until you reach near Tokyo Bay. Mistress and gang even fell asleep in the cruise. It is THAT boring..
Rainbow Bridge at night
Night scene from Odaiba.
ShioKaze Park. *hehehe*
Ramen Street in 5th floor, Aquacity.
Salty Ramen. (Salt seems to be free there.)
Somemore night sceneries.
That is really the Statue of Liberty. Japan version. Replica. Haha.
So after all these, we took a super complicated train ride back Ikebukkuro, changing trains a few times along the way. Japan's railway system, although efficient, has too many different companies operating it, thus leading to all the changing of trains at which stations.
Very very tired day. But achieved a lot. Hehe.
Rest for tmr. Cosplay!~
Japan Pilgrimage I Day 3
