A Day in the Old Downtown Asakusa

My next stop in Tokyo trip was in Asakusa, it is known as the centre of Tokyo's Shitamachi. It a popular tourist area where you can find the famous Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Dempin Temple. The street leading to the temple is lined up with stores and shops selling various stuffs from kimonos to Japanese dolls, to assorted rice crackers and souvenir items.

One thing visible on you way to Asakusa is theTokyo Sky Tree, an observation tower in Sumida. One can never miss this towering structure while going around this area.

The 634 meter Tokyo Sky Tree

Nearby Asakusa is the Tobu Asakusa Sation in the background
which houses the Matsuya Dept. Store

The rickshaw drawn by a man is fun way to go around Asakusa, The drivers are mostly university students. There's no need to negotiate for pricing as the fees are fixed and straight forward, you can even pay through credit card. Japanese are known for honesty and so you can be assured that everything is place.

The Rickshaw, a two-wheeled vehicle with bright red blankets.

Kaminarimon Gate was built more than 1000 years ago, and leads to Sensoji Temple, past the gate is the crowded Nakamise Shopping Street. 

Kaminarimon Gate, built more than 1000 years ago

The giant lantern at the gate

The intricate details of the lantern

Nakamise Shopping Street is a tourist haven, too may interesting stuff on display from clothing to food to souvenir items. Do what the tourist do and so I did some shopping, got the "Yukata" (summer version of Kimono) for my daughters, Japanese doll, some key chains and fridge magnets, and of course had the taste of their tempting freshly cooked aromatic rice crackers.

Me, right in the middle of the busy and crowded Nakamise Street.

Rice Cracker shop, this smells so good.

Interesting food stuff, so colourful and artsy

Cant figure out these lantern, no idea what's written on them

Asakusa Kannon also known as Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo

View of Tokyo Sky Tree from Sensoji Temple

Tourists flocking inside the temple to pray and give respect, some are curious
to see what's inside

Ceiling artwork in the temple

Making a wish

Showing text and characters on the prayer card

Cute friends with my niece and nephew

Chocolate coated Fancy bananas for hungry kids in the temple

With the locals in their traditional yukatas