Asakusa, Temple and Local Farmers' Produces

This is the area where you can visit the most touristy temple, do some Japanese culture activities (if you're not visiting Kyoto), hunt for local made kitchenware + knives, visit the neo-classic street filled with interesting grocers + restaurants/cafe.

It took us 1.5 days to cover the above.

We were out for weekend farmer's market before arriving Asakusa on Day 1. It was already late afternoon when we arrived (￣～￣;)!!

Asakusa Station

You know you've arrived at the most touristy temple when you see this at the train station!

Despite being this late, there is still quite a bit of crowd at the temple's entrance! ＼(º □ º l|l)/

Decided to take a walk C= C= C= C= C=┌(;・ω・)┘ at the alley shops before heading over to the temple shopping street [Nakamise]

Jidaiya, this is the company with a group of macho+sexy male rickshaw pullers

GPS: 35.71, 139.797

浅草念珠堂

浅草念珠堂 - [LINK] Bought a cute porcelain neko incense burner here! There's also a few café along this row of shops. There's a shop to rent traditional Japanese summer attires (male/female). They will dress and doll you up for a fee. It's slightly cheaper here than those nearer to the temple.

GPS: 35.71, 139.797

Now for the main attraction of this area - Asakusa Kaminarimon. Took some photos at the entrance before the shopping street. I was photobombed by an uncle (｡╯3╰｡) See if you can spot him below;

Uncle Photobomb is busy executing his pranks, walking back and forth where many WILL take photos here.

Now, at the other side of the gate, right before we enter the ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ shopping street.

The back of the entrance gate. Facing the shopping street.

There's less people here for your photo-taking session φ(︶▽︶)φ ... whilst the Uncle Photobomb is still busy with his rounds at the (o¬‿¬o ) other side.

Time to brave the street! Try not to get any souvenir here. You should get it from shops found along the nearby streets like the one I've been before coming here. Or at the streets near where I'll be checking out the organic local producers soon. The prices here are a little high, packed with tourists and the vendors can be quite unfriendly.

Gate entrance to the temple from shopping street

Hey, it's surprisingly NOT crowded!

I've spoken too soon about it not being that crowded. The area between the entrance gate and the temple itself is pretty crowded. I know, I know, it wasn't as crowded as I've expected. After all, we still have an hour before the temple closes for the day ヽ(>_<ヽ) ―rushing

Purify yourself before entering (the temple)

Main (temple) hall

Ceiling Art

After we're done at the main (temple) hall, we proceed to our left (facing the main hall's deities), walking through a few smaller shrines, zen garden, etc and out from the shrine compound.

Famished now. We found a sheltered shop arcade which housed a few small eateries, a game shop, souvenir shop and costume renting outlet [LINK]. We've decided to have tempura accompanying our cold soba noodle. A quick one before we head towards the area where a Donki is nearby.

The sweet grandma from the soba shop insisted to take a photo for us here!

The walks toward Donki is lined with many, many more interesting shops and eateries. We finally spent some time at Marugoto Nippon for some AC. Bought a few local artisan farmers' produces & snacks. Even made a friend here ＼(＾∀＾)メ(＾∀＾)ノ Food-related chat and contacts exchanged ٩(๑･ิᴗ･ิ)۶٩(･ิᴗ･ิ๑)۶