Senso-ji temple in Asakusa

Asakusa’s Senso-ji is now fully visible after over one and a half years of renovations.
Senso-ji founded in 645 is the oldest temple in Tokyo, it has been destroyed by disasters several times and reconstructed. The temple was the designated oration place for Tokunaga Ieyasu and subsequent Shoguns. currently with 30 million visitors every year remains one of the most important centers of worship.


The main entrance to the temple is through the famous Kaminarimon gate, with the gigantic lantern guarded by Fujin (wind god) and raijin (thunder god). The lamp is folded only during the sanja festival, and typhoons.


Leading the way between the Kaminarimon and the Hozomon gate the nakamise shops offer souvenirs and snacks to temple visitors.


Lateral streets provide a great view of the sky tree.



After nakamise the Hozomon gate guards the entrance to the main hall. The Hozomon gate is used to store the temple treasures.


To the right of the Hozomon gate stands the five stories pagoda, originally built in 942.



After the Hozomon gate, the main hall is now finally visible. You need to look carefully to notice the renovations as it has been done mostly to some of the exteriors part in the roof area.



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Asahi Beer Tower and Asahi beer Hall

In the previous post of the Tokyo Sky Tree, I failed to mention the very distinctive buildings framing the new tower. Since completion on 1989, the Asahi Beer Tower and the Asahi Super Dry Beer Hall became one of the most distinctive landmarks on the Asakusa area.


The Asahi Beer Tower resembling a gigantic mug of foamy beer, and the Asahi super dry beer hall representing a torch with a golden flame on top, most of the people associate the flame with a very different image though. The beer hall was designed by the ultra famous French designer Philippe Starck (his only architectural design as far as I know), the golden flame on top of the hall is also one of his trademarks motifs.

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Senbei (rice crackers)

Senbei's makers working at a traditional store in the Asakusa area.
Senbei are rice crackers flavored normally with soy saucem, mirin, and nori, grilled or baked.



Shoppers lining to buy fresh made senbei.
Senbei is a popular snack offered to visitors, normally accompanied with green tea.

Spanish.