Asakusa Diary - The Staff Blog

Tsuyoshi's recommended lunch restraint is....

Hakonesoba!!


This is a chain soba (buckwheat noodle) restaurant. It is just right across to Kaminarimon Gate.
You can eat soba (or udon) noodle standing up cheaply.
Put the money into the ticket machine, and pick out what you want.
Japanese people love to eat a cold soba noodle for summer time.
Don't forget! Soba should be slurped up with gusto, noisily in Japan.

土古里 浅草店-recommend by Jack
Korean restaurant for spicy-food lovers

Togori
I recommend lunch menu for budget traveller.
Around 1000yen for lunch.

Korean food is normally spicy because koreans love to feel hot teast with a lot of sweat in summer.
You can try some real korean food if you ask them.
Usually, they serve mild korean food because it is too hot for Japanese.

大黒屋(Daikokuya)

They have the best Tendon (Tempura with rice bowl)

This Tendon looks darker than a normal one, but the taste is actually not salty at all.
The price for one Tendon is 1500 yen, but it is worth to pay!
You should try Tokyo's Best Tendon!!!

Time for experience Tokyo's hot festival again!
鳥越まつり Torigoe Matsuri

Torigoe shrine is an old shrine with a 1350 year history, and the night festival,
called Torigoe Matsuri is famous for its large portable shrine,

The main portable shrine (Mikoshi) decorated with paper lanterns for this matsuri is
the biggest Mikoshi in Tokyo.
The weight is over 4 tons! Can you believe that?
Let's get together to experience the wonderful Japanese Matsuri atmosphere.

Torigoe Matsuri
Date: June 5-June 6
Time: 7pm-9pm
Place: Torigoe Shrine, Kuramae (Just 1 station from our hostel)

Why don't you try betting on a horse race?

Today, the biggest horse racing, Tokyo Derby was held in Tokyo.
The Tokyo Derby is the biggest Japanese thoroughbred horse race.
There is a big building, called WINS where you can buy a trifecta.

It's just one minute walk from our hostel.

Weekends are usually crawded like this

Tsuyoshi and Jumbo Shrimp got a trifecta.

There were 12 races, and each race took just 3 mins.
Intense moment...

Oh nooooooo

When you lost the game, just rip off the trifecta. That makes you feel little bit better. lol

Once you start watching a horse race, you will be hooked on.
Tsuyoshi and Shrimp def will try another round to revenge!

Hello.
Today is the final day of "Sanja Matsuri"
So many people in Happi in Asakusa.

Too much !!

And I tried to take a picture of Mikoshi(portable shrines) for this blog.
But I could not find it.
Where is it ?
Are Men taking a rest now?

But, no problem.
I'm very happy because there are a lot of food stalls.

Taste is terrific !

When I came back to hostel, Tomoe was angry.
"Why didn't you take any pictures of Mikoshi ?"

I'm sorry.
Please forgive me, this is a present, Takoyaki(octopus dumpling) for you.

Asakusa is ready for Sanja Matsuri!
Everywhere in Asakusa has decorated a special lantern (called Chochin in Japanese) of Sanja Matsuri,
like the arcade near from our hostel.

Both side of the arcade has so many lanterns.

Let's put the ちょうちん(Chouchin) in front of our hostel, too!
Nice pose, Tsuyoshi lol

Ta-da???

Popular Japanese Udon company ''はなまるうどん'' （English signs read MANMARU)
opened a new store for Expo 2010 Shanghai in China!
Hanamaru is a popular fast food Udon chain restaurant in Japan.
The cheapest Udon bowl is just 105 yen.
Their udon noodle is firm and tasty.
Besides Udon, they offer a self service Tempura bar, curry & rice, and beef bowl.

So many varieties of Tempura!

What is good about Udon is that Udon noodles have almost no fat.
Compared to Ramen noodle soup, Udon noodle soup is based on fish soup.　
Which means, no cholesterol! Good for your beer belly.

Their popular menu is Udon bowl with half boiled egg.
Japanese people love to eat raw eggs, but for Chinese, they don't get used to eat raw eggs.
Let me make sure. Half boiled egg in Udon is awesome!
Try once. You have to trust me.

Here is their menu,
http://www.hanamaruudon.com/company_outline/company3.html
You can find their branch store near from our hostel.
Access map: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13041635/dtlmap/

Yabusame, or the horseback archery that takes place in Asakusa,
has a very long history, and it is held annually in April.

During the Edo era, it was held every year on January 5
as one of the New Year's special events at Asakusa Shrine.

This event has been described in detail in such historic documents
as Sensoji-shi (A History of Sensoji Temple) and
Toto-saijiki (The Chronicle of the East Capital).

Today, Asakusa Yabusame follows the traditional style recreated with
the cooperation of the head of the Ogasawara School of Archery and Horsemanship,
and it’s held at Sumida Park at 10 am.
Don't miss it!!

Last Tuesday was a cultural day(national holiday) and we had an event around us.
As it was a beautiful day, I took a walk to take some photos♪

On the way to the festival, I found Ninjya!

Actually, they often appear around our hostel.
If you see them, just say hi or ask for a photo;)

Jidai Matsuri (Tokyo Historical Parade) is a costume procession which recalls
Tokyo's history and culture from the Heian era to the Meiji era.

They are from Army Procurement Agency of Japan↓↓

He is Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun of the Edo government.

On my way back, I found "Mito-Komon" and his delegation.

They are very very famous characters among Japanese irrespective of age and sex.

(Kaminarimon Gate which you usually see)

(Kaminarimon Gate that I saw today)

Choose a WRONG example from below as a rare occasion on which the lantern of Kaminarimon Gate gets folded.

A. When a big typhoon is coming to hit the city
B. When a mikoshi (portable shrine) is coming to go through the gate
C. When Tsuyoshi is coming to go through the gate

Wow, where did you guys get it??

You can hide yourselves behind it.

They bought it on Nakamise street in Asakusa (5 min. from the hostel).
I'm wondering how they took it home.

This is Asakusa at 1:00PM in the middle of Silver Week (the 5-day national holiday week in this September).

Asakusa is one of the most popular tourists' destinations in Japan.
A bunch of people come from all over the nation and world to Asakusa for sightseeing.
They look happy walking slowly and enjoying our neighborhood.

It would be great if we could have a narrow passage for me and Yuri to walk quickly to the hostel when in hurry...

Should we build our private tunnel, Yuri?

Did you know that you can ride on this cute Panda bus?↑↑
I was just wondering where it goes around but Tsuyoshi told me that
anyone can take this for free♪
He should have told me earlier:(

Anyway, this bus is available in fromt of Hanayashiki amusement park (1min from our hostel!)
and it goes to Asakusa station and the ferry landing as well.

Inside is like this...normal:)

The driver was funny guy and he gave us some questions.
If you have the correct answer, you'll get the free bus coupon for a year! :P
He speaks only Japanese, though.

Now, I got a free ride to the station★
Timetable is available at our hostel, so please feel free to ask us;)

Now, we have one of the biggest Festivals in Tokyo starting from 15th
and it's the last day today!
When I walked through the Sensoji temple at 6:30 in the morning,
so many people were already there and waiting for Mikoshi's set out.

Eiro, who loves this festival dropped by with his friends.
This is a kind of uniform for Japanese traditional festival.
Aren't they cool?

Fortunately, rain had stopped and people would have parties
here and there until midnight:)

This coming Saturday, we have Tori no Ichi Fair and it is the final one for this year.
What's Tori no Ichi Fair?
Click here→http://www.torinoichi.jp/english/index.htm

This morning, I learned about it from the TV and it said like this.
The first time you buy Kumade(below↓), you should choose the smalｌest one.

And every year, you should buy a bigger one than the last year.
Then, you can earn much money than the last year★

It was sooo great event and I enjoyed a lot though I didn't have enough knowledge of
this traditional dance.
All geiko-san were dancing very gorgeously with beautuful kimono.
It looked not so difficult but must be so hard!

I went there with Tomo and Yaeko(cleaning staff).
Geiko-san threw tenugui (towel) from the stage and Tomo and Yaeko got it from them!
What about me?

Taking pictures was not allowed during the performance...this is the theater↓↓

Thank you, Eiro!

How do you understand what Geisha girls are?
I don't know much about them.
Eiro's mother is a teacher of Geiko and he sometimes tells us about them.
Geisha is formally called Geiko and
you may be able to see them around Asakusa town.

On the 28&29th of Oct, they have a big event, "Asakusa Odori".
Beautiful geisha ladies show their skills.
You can see their traditional performance with a reasonable ticket:)
Reserved ticket is \6,500 and unreserved one is only \2,000!!

Tomo and I am going there;)
Would you like to go with us?

You might have seen this golden dragon dance on this weblog several times.

I think I can say it is a kind of symbol of Sensouji temple.
It's very heroic and gorgeous dance and worth to see once☆

This coming Saturday, we'll have a big event and golden dragon will be there!
Also, parade of local kids would be cute;)

I'm going to take a good picture of it!

What's more Asakusa than Sensouji temple.
It was erected originally in 1649 but was burned down by air raid on Tokyo.
It took 7years and 5 months to rebuild it.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary, they will make their special items in public
such as Kannon statue and wooden plaques.
Also, Denpo-in garden will be open for the people during this event.
As normally, we can't go inside the garden, it will be a good chance to everyone!

It seems next month will be a special month in Asakusa.
You gotta come to Tokyo!

I found something huge box behind Sensoji temple this morning.
Normally, there is nothing and just an empty space.
The poster says, "Heisei Nakamura-za" and I noticeｄ that we can see Kabuki play right here!!
Heisei Nakamura-za(平成中村座） is very very popular Kabuiki actors group and
they play all over the world such as New York.

It will start from the 2nd of Oct. to the 25th of Nov.
If you are coming to Tokyo, I really recommend you to watch their play!
I was so touched when I viewed it.
Even though you don't unerstand Japanese at all, you can still enjoy its atmosphere;)

It was the 28th Samba Carnival today at Asakusa.
What's more Samba than Brazil?
I thought so but we have a big Samba team from Colombia here!
They looked very excited when they left for that event this morning♪

They are super friendly and have big smiles:)

Have you seen their dancing?

As they were the first team of the carnival, they just came back and started party.

I hope they would come back in the next year again☆

On the 26th of July, we'll have a big big summer event,
Sumida River Fireworks Festival!
As long as you are in Tokyo, you can't miss it!

Fireworks are shooted off from two different places, and one place will have a contest.
You can enjoy about 20,000 fireworks!!

Let's wear Yukata and join to our Hanabi party!
It will start around 5:30 here at the Sakura hostel Asakusa.
Guests of our sister hotels (Jimbo-cho, Ikebukuro, Hatagaya)
and tenants of Sakura House are all welcomed:)

Today and tomorrow, we have Hozuki-ichi (Chinese Lantern Plant Fair)
at Sensoji temple.
There are a numners of stalls around the temple and sell Hozuki
as if they were competing against each others.

It has a cute wind bell↑↑

Also, we can find many stalls for foods there such as
cotton candy, yakitori, takoyaki and so on.

I heard that if you visit Sensoji temple during this fair,
it worth 46,000 times you pray☆
I did already;)

Are you interested in plants or already into gardening?
Every three times a year, Sengen shrine(a 5-minute walk from here) has a plant fair.

Around that shrine, there will be about 350 open booths and it saids that
plants you buy there grow very well.

The first two was over but the last one is on the 1st of July.
If you have a time, why don't you take a look?
It will be fun!

We had a memorial service for the fire fighters behind Sensoji temple today.

There is the monument for firefighters who had died on their duties.
On the 25th of May, we have this ceremony for them every year.
As part of this event, they have a parade of firemen in traditional garb.
Also, you can see their performance that dramatic and unusual acrobatics
(hashigonori) atop twenty-two-foot-high bamboo ladders.

The Mikoshi (portable shrine) just passed in front of Sakura Hostel this morning!
I left Jack at the reception and took many pictures with our guests:P

Each town has their own Mikoshi (and Happi, too), so I saw many in the afternoon.
The call of people who are carrying Mikoshi is very cool!
As this is one of the biggest Festivals in Tokyo,
people get excited♪

Hiromi, who is the festival girl, dropped by here to say hello:)
She also carried Mikoshi this year again.

Sanja Matsuri Festival just started today.
Tomorrow around noon, mikoshi (portable shrines) parades will start at Sensoji Temple, and they carry mikoshi all over Asakusa.