Asakusa

January 24, 2019

The Kaminarimon, amongst its giant chōchin, the outer gate of Sensō-ji Temple

Asakusa (浅草?) is a district inward Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, only about famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples inward Asakusa, besides equally diverse festivals.

History

For only about of the twentieth century, Asakusa was the major amusement district inward Tokyo. The Rokku or "Sixth District" was inward item famous equally a house district, featuring famous cinemas such equally the Denkikan. The golden years of Asakusa are vividly portrayed inward Yasunari Kawabata's new The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa (1930; English linguistic communication translation, 2005). The surface area was heavily damaged yesteryear U.S. bombing raids during World War II, peculiarly the March 1945 firebombing of Tokyo. The surface area was rebuilt later on the war, but has forthwith been surpassed yesteryear Shinjuku too other colorful areas inward the city, inward its purpose equally a pleasance district.

Sanja Matsuri inward Asakusa

Sightseeing too historic sites

With then many religious establishments, in that place are frequent matsuri (Shinto festivals) inward Asakusa, equally each temple or shrine hosts at to the lowest degree i matsuri a year, if non every season. The largest too only about pop is the Sanja Matsuri inward May, when roads are unopen from dawn until belatedly inward the evening.

In a metropolis where in that place are really few buildings older than l years because of the wartime bombing, Asakusa has a greater concentration of buildings from the 1950s too 1960s than only about other areas inward Tokyo do. There are traditional ryokan (guest-houses), homes, too small-scale storey buildings throughout the district.

Sensō-ji

In keeping amongst a peculiarly Tokyo tradition, Asakusa hosts a major cluster of domestic kitchenware stores on Kappabashi-dori, which is visited yesteryear many Tokyoites for essential supplies.

Next to the Sensō-ji temple grounds is a little carnival complex amongst rides, booths, too games, called Hanayashiki. The neighborhood theaters specialize inward showing classic Japanese films, equally many of the tourists are elderly Japanese.

Cruises downwardly the Sumida River depart from a wharf solely a 5 infinitesimal walk from the temple.

Asakusa is Tokyo's oldest geisha district, too even then has 45 actively working geisha.

Because of its colourful location, downtown credentials, too relaxed atmosphere yesteryear Tokyo standards, Asakusa is a pop accommodation alternative for budget travelers.