Monday 1 February 2010

Asakusa

Again i am behind with my diary. We went to Kyoto! but the trip was big, so im going to try write it in parts. There are about 150 photos to add also.

We wanted to visit Kyoto for a day but after checking the fair for the Shinkansen
(bullet train) we decided it was too expensive for 3 of us to go. About
90,000 yen. But instead those guys went online and booked us into a
night bus which would take 9-10hours. The plan was to sleep this. So
we met for lunch at Asakusa then went back to Eams to catch the bus at
9pm. It should get to kyoto station for 6am.

Today we went to Asakusa which has a really nice shrine. There was a
walk way to the shrine which had shops on each side all the way to the
end. They still had a few decorations left house from the new years
festivities. So many shops to look at we never gad much time but I
will come back alone. We tried some sweet sake which I really liked
even tho I don't like sake but others were not so keen on it. I guess
it's like mulled wine at xmas really warming on a cold day as it is
served hot.

Here are some shots from the breif time we spent in Asakusa

this lantern was crazy huge!

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Main street still with the decorations up from the new year
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Hello Kitty sushi set, i may have to go back and get this :)
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random shoppers
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Slice of life, a look down the back ally's of Japan
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Example of the plastic food models that are displayed outside many restaurants
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this place had lots of nice flavours of ice cream. I got rose which was really nice, if you like turkish delight, Charlie got some choco cookie and Eam got almond which i hated but i guess if you like nuts would be good!
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girls placing wishes at the shrine
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more stupidly large lanterns, id love to climb inside one and jump down and scare someone, god im so childish haha
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at the shrine entrance people cleans themselves at the purification fountain before entering. This is done by taking the clean water and washing both hands, then drinking the clean water from the newly cleansed left hand. Spit the water down the gutters at the side, NOT back into the fountain.
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incence is also burned, the smoke is said to hold healing properties and people take the smoke and waft it over themselves
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biscuit treats on the way back from the shrine
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sushi gifts, i will probs buy all of these for friends, as it is one of the most cliché things about Japan but makes a good small gift.
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Sweet sake i tried which was really nice and warming
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Some random homeless guy i managed to snipe, even tho i had the camera to my face when i shot this he still never even noticed ;)
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