Senoji Temple

In the centre of the Asakusa district is one of Tokyo's most colourful and popular tourist sites - a Buddhist temple known as Sensoji (also called Asakusa Kannon) Temple. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.

Kaminari Gate - first built more than 1000 years ago

Hozo Gate

A shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon. Alongside typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries.

Nakamise

Japanese masks are used traditionally in theater, festivals or rituals. They are connected to folk myths and tails. Masks represent people, creatures, devil, ghosts, and animals.

 In early days, in the classical performances, male actors played both female and male roles.

• Gigaku masks are the oldest masks, used in dance drama art form, but this dance art form doesn't exist today. They represented a face of superhuman, demon, lion, bird and were made from wood.
• Bugaku masks are old masks of dance drama art form. They have moveable jaws.
• Gyodo mask represents Buddhist figures. It is used for outdoor Buddhist processions.
• Tengu mask represents bird-like protector of sacred forests and mountains. It looks like a human with a big nose.
• Kappa mask represents river monster that can attack swimmers. This creature can challenge a man to sumo wrestling match.

Many Japanese and Korean visitors dress in traditional costume for the occasion so the experience for western tourists is particularly exotic.

Traditional dress for a visit to the Sensoji Temple

Visitors who come to worship at a Buddhist Temple put the incense into an incense burner and fan some smoke towards yourself as the smoke is believed to have healing power. For example, fan some smoke towards your shoulder if you have an injured shoulder.

Helen seeks healing power for dicky knee

The adjacent Asakusa Shrine, also known as Sanja-sama (or Shrine of the Three Gods), was built during the Edo Period and was one of one of the only two buildings in the area to survive the air raids of 1945. 

Asakusa Shrine

For many centuries, Asakusa used to be Tokyo's leading entertainment district. During the Edo Period (1603-1867), when the district was still located outside the city limits, Asakusa was the site of kabuki theaters and a large red light district.

Fundraising with owls

Traditional Tourist Transport

Helen, Vivienne and Doug at Senoji Temple

Our detailed trip itinerary (only if you're interested) can be downloaded from this link.

You can also click here to find our current contact details wherever we happen to be.

Cheers, Roger and Helen.

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Large gates frame the entrances to the Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Meiji Jingu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Shibuya, Tokyo. The shrine is dedicated to the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. Emperor Meiji was instrumental in opening Japan to the outside world after a long period of self-imposed isolation. The shrine is also sometimes called just Meiji Jingu or Meiji Shrine and is Tokyo’s largest and most famous Shinto shrine. Meiji Jingu Shrine is built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style with Japanese cypress and copper.

It is located in a beautiful part of Tokyo in a forest that covers an area of about 175 acres. The evergreen forest consists of around 120,000 trees of 365 different species, donated by people from all regions of Japan. The forest is an oasis in the middle of Tokyo, and is a popular recreation and relaxation spot.

Although completed in 1920, repairs were required after the shrine was damaged during World War II.

Gate to Meiji Jingu Shrine

We were delighted to be treated with a cultural surprise during our visit - a Traditional Shinto Wedding which involved a slow procession by the extended bridal party across the courtyard.

Art - modern and very modern

Just before going to the 52nd floor of the Roppongi Hills (Mori Tower) skyscraper to watch the sun's rays fade over Tokyo, we accidentally found the Maman Spider in the building's forecourt next to the Mori Art Museum).

The original Maman (1999) is a bronze, stainless steel, and marble sculpture by the artist Louise Bourgeois. The sculpture, is among the world's largest, measuring over 30 ft high and over 33 ft wide. It includes a sac containing 32 marble eggs and its abdomen and thorax are made of ribbed bronze. The original sculpture is on permanent exhibition at London's Tate Modern. This is one of only 6 bronze copies.

Maman Spider

Whilst taking in the views of the Tokyo skyline we were also able to get a glimpse of an excellent Pixar exhibition on the observation deck level. We suspect that this exhibition has been perfectly timed to coincide with the release of Toy Story 4 on July 12.

Nella meets Dory at the top of a Roppongi Hills (Mori Building). Fancy getting this far from the Great Barrier Reef!

Special g'day from Sulley and Mike to grand daughters Niamh and Connie.

Tokyo Metropolis - the most populous metropolitan area in the world

Our Hotel is located in Akasaka. This turns out to be an easy walk to the adjacent District of Roppongi. 

Asia Center Hotel of Japan

Asia Center Hotel Reception

Tokyo is a massive metropolis however at street level in the Akasaka neighbourhood it is surprisingly peaceful. The local streets are not hectic with vehicles and there are no emergency vehicle sirens or car horns at all. The main roads are busy but not choked with traffic.

Here are just a few shots of Tokyo at dusk taken from the top of Mori Tower (Roppongi Hills) to begin our Japan Blogs. 

Looking south towards Tokyo Bay and Haneda Airport

Rappongi neighbourhood

Below are a few more vistas of Tokyo as the sun sets over Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately we couldn't see Mt. Fuji on account of the low cloud and smog.

View to the south towards Haneda Airport

Towards Shibuya along Rappongi-dori Ave

Tokyo Tower begins to stand out as the sky fades and the city lights switch on

Detailed Itinerary and Contact Details

Hello friends and family,

Qantas Boeing 747-400

Our detailed trip itinerary (only if you're interested) can be downloaded from this link.

You can also click here to find our current contact details wherever we happen to be.

Cheers, Roger and Helen.

Cruising the Cut with David Johns

Quite a few narrowboaters document their story on video and post these videos on YouTube. I've been following this fellow David Johns who used to work as a local TV news reporter for ITV in the south east of England, quit his job, sold up and bought a narrowboat called Wreyland then began cruising around the UK canal network.

His channel Cruising the Cut features life on board, some beautiful scenery and places to visit plus some tips and tricks for people who are interested in cruising on a part or full time basis.

Narrowboat Wreyland

Here is a list of the videos of most of Leicester Ring ie. the same canal route that we plan to follow during our time in the Midlands in late June / early July.

Episode 84: Braunston to Crick
Episode 85: Crick to Kilby
Episode 86: Kilby to Birstall
Episode 87: Birstall to Loughborough on the River Soar
Episode 88: Loughborough to Ratcliffe on the River Soar
Episode 89: Ratcliffe to the end of the River Soar then onto Shardlow on the Trent and Mersey Canal

Hope you enjoy these   s  l  o  w  canal experiences as much as we do.

Cheers,

Roger and Helen

Yellowstone & Badlands National Parks

Yellowstone National Park

Hi everyone,

Our planning for the 8 week adventure in June & July is really progressing well.

All of the Airbnb and hotel accommodation for the USA sector (in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota) has been selected and deposits paid. Starting with Denver we'll stay with Airbnb hosts in small midwestern villages around the perimeter of  the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton National Park

After Yellowstone, we're going to be stopping overnight in Buffalo, Wyoming before we spend three nights at a Lodge in the Badlands National Park in South Dakota.

Badlands National Park

To give you a good idea of what we'll see, 'Dances with Wolves' and 'Thunderheart' were both filmed in Badlands National Park. The Lakota (Native American) people were the first to refer to this place "land bad." due to the extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the exposed rugged terrain.

On the way to Badlands National Park we also plan to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial where four of the early US Presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln) have been carved into the mountain face.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Numerous new fossil species have been discovered in the White River Badlands - terrain that has developed an international reputation as a fossil-rich area. They contain the richest deposits of Oligocene mammals known, providing an insight into life in this area around 33 million years ago.

Here's a just a glimpse of the unique Badlands landscape we're looking forward to seeing.

https://youtu.be/brZzLyzaXbA