Tokyo 11 November 2010 - Sensoji Temple ( Asakusa) at Twilight

Sensoji (a.k.a Asakusa Kannon Temple) 浅草寺 is a Buddhist temple located at Asakusa, Tokyo. It was completed in 645, making it the oldest temple in Tokyo.

It's just a few steps from Asakusa Station. Turn right, walk straight after you come out from the station, you can't miss it.

Note that you can reach there by Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line and Tobu Railways. If you have a JR pass, you may take JR line to Kanda Station, then transfer to Ginza Subway Line. It can be quite confusing when you reach Kanda Station, it's advisable to look for the information counter in the station before you start looking around. The fare for Ginza Subway to Asakusa cost JPY160 (the minimum fare).

We didn't plan to go there at night, by the time we reached Tokyo from Kyoto, and check-in to Sheraton Miyako, it was already 4pm. It took about 45 minutes from the hotel to Asakusa. When we arrived, it started to get dark and the main hall was already closed but the shopping street was still open. But to our surprise, the temple was very beautiful at night!

Hours (Main Hall): 6:00 to 17:00

Shops: close between 6-7pm

Closed Day:  None

Admission fee: Free

Shopping street, some has more than 100 years history.

The temple ground is always open.

Prayers wishing for good luck.

The pagoda.

This renown shop is more than 100 years old. Of course we have to try.

Red bean pastry, it wasn't very sweet so I was quite okay with it.

Japanese sweets?

We then proceed to Ginza from there.

My Japan Itinerary


 

Kyoto, Shabu-zen (10 November 2010) Gion

Yeh! Another great Japanese cruisine!
It's all-you-can-eat, so make sure you go there with empty-stomach!

This is definitely the best shabu-shabu I have ever had thus far. Every bite was heavenly!

 Shabu-Zen at Gion, Kyoto

Address: 〒605-0074 京都府京都市東山区祇園町南側574 藤ビルB1 B1F, Fuji Bldg. 574, Minamigawa, Gioncho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Kyoto 605-0074

From Shijo Station of Keihan Dentetsu Honsen - 2 min walk;
From Kawaramachi Station of Hankyu Kyoto-Line - 5 min walk.
Quite easy to find, just take a map with you.

We ordered the third All-You-Can-Eat which includes black-haired breed Wagyu beef, Hokaido crab, pork and vegetable.We got an additional 10 % discount from the voucher that we printed from the website before we left home.However, please note that the prices shown below is before tax.
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/fl/en/k017801/

Different sauces for different meats.

Plain water! That's the best 'soup' for the best meat!

Too anxious to try it, therefore didn't realise that this photo was out-of-focus.. same to other pictures here to..  :))

Beef. Is this what's called marbled meat?

Pork, as delicious as the beef!

Hokaido crab!

Cooked pork.

Even my son loves it! The best thing is, young child eat for free!!

A little bid overcooked crab.

The pretty waitresses gave us re-fill without any hesitation. So remember, go there with empty stomach, best after a long and tiring walk!

After the very satisfying dinner, we had a walk at Gion Street, this is 花见小路. It was very cold that night, my hands were shivering.

It was below 10 Celsius that night, we were worried that our son might get cold, thus we didn't spend much time there....in fact, our son did fell sick after that night :(


My Japan Itinerary

Kyoto (Kinkaku-ji, Golden Pavilion) 10 Nov 2010

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, Temple of the Golden Pavilion)


Wikipedia:-

The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf. The pavilion functions as a shariden, housing relics of the Buddha (Buddha's Ashes). The building was an important model for Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple), and Shokoku-ji, which are also located in Kyoto.

Kinkakuji can be accessed from Kyoto Station by direct Kyoto City Bus number 101 or 205 in about 40 minutes and for 220 yen. Alternatively, it can be faster and more reliable to take the Karasuma Subway Line to Kitaoji Station (15 minutes, 250 yen) and take a taxi (10 minutes, around 900 yen) or bus (10 minutes, 220 yen, bus numbers 101, 102, 204 or 205) from there to Kinkakuji.

Note that it is at the Northern side of Kyoto, the journey can eat out quite some of your time. The garden is huge, you need to cater at least an hour for it.

Open : 9am to 5pm

Admission fee: JPY400

Entrance to the garden

UNESCO World Heritage


On the way walking to the pavilion






Marvelous!!





A group of teenagers wearing kimono visiting the pavilion too.

Zen...

Rock..



Pavilion from the side



The golden pavilion from the back. The first two floors are covered by gold leaf.





My happy son

 
Tea house





Where the shogun had tea, a very simple tea house overlooking the plush pavilion.




The Kinkakuji is fabulous and really breathtaking. It is really worth a visit. Heard the view is even more breathtaking during winter.
How I wish I had more time so that I could visit the Silver Pavilion, Ginkakuki which was modeling after this Kinkakuji.