From Sensoji Temple to Tokyo Skytree, you must walk this 'TOKYO mizumachi'
Sensoji Temple in Tokyo is a very familiar tourist destination—almost everyone visiting Tokyo for the first time goes there. After three years away from Tokyo, I discovered the latest way to enjoy Sensoji Temple: exploring the area with a geisha guide.
Exploring Asakusa is not only about taking a rickshaw; you can also hire a geisha as a guide. She led us through the Kaminarimon Gate and along Nakamise Street, recommending various long-established specialty shops on this street full of the charm of old downtown Asakusa, and finally took us to the nearby but less crowded Asakusa Shrine.
Asakusa Shrine features many mythical beasts painted inside. Although they are imaginary animals, they are symbols of peace and exist to fulfill people's wishes for happiness. Compared to Sensoji Temple, which has more tourists than locals, Asakusa Shrine is mostly visited by locals. If you go to Sensoji Temple, you can also stop by Asakusa Shrine to see the difference between Japanese temples and shrines.
The Asakusa area still retains the bold and free-spirited character of the common people from the Edo period in Japan. The streets, temples, and shrines infuse the area with a strong sense of history, and the central Sensoji Temple attracts countless pilgrims and tourists from far and wide. Asakusa not only has Tokyo's oldest temple for praying for safety but is also an excellent place to experience the commoner's lifestyle of the Edo period.
Before June 2020, if you wanted to go from Sensoji Temple to the Skytree, you had to take a detour to get there on foot. On this trip to Tokyo, I was delighted to discover that a new pedestrian bridge, the "SUMIDA RIVER WALK," has been built over the Sumida River, finally connecting Asakusa and the Skytree!
This waterfront walkway offers great views. On clear days, you can enjoy the scenery along both banks of the Sumida River and find a "water-level photo spot" for taking pictures with the Skytree. Attentive travelers might even find an "Easter egg" of the Skytree's little sister, haha.
After getting off the walkway, you can also check out the complex facility "TOKYO mizumachi" under the elevated railway between Tobu Skytree Line's "Asakusa Station" and "Tokyo Skytree Station." Designed with the concept of a "water street," here you can taste famous Japanese confectionery shops, visit stylish cafes and trendy restaurants, and even enjoy a picnic in the adjacent Sumida Park.
When I visited the Skytree at the end of last year, it happened to be the 10th anniversary of the Skytree. I took an elevator decorated with seasonal scenery to the observation floor. From 445 meters to 450 meters in height, there is an approximately 110-meter sloping corridor called the "Tembo Deck," where you can enjoy a "skywalk" experience. In this corridor, there is a "SORAKARA POINT" at a height of 451.2 meters, which is the highest accessible point of Tokyo Skytree.
Standing over 400 meters high at dusk, overlooking the entire Tokyo, I saw the most magnificent sunset of 2022. Mount Fuji appeared in the distance above a sea of clouds, and below was the bustling Tokyo metropolis. This must be the perfect interpretation of Eason Chan's song "Under Mount Fuji."
At the base of the Skytree, there is also a commercial facility called "Tokyo Solamachi," which has over 300 shops and restaurants. You can buy Japanese specialties and enjoy Japanese cuisine there. This time, I even ate at the best eel restaurant I had tried before in Nagoya: Bicho. There were also traditional Japanese craft shops like Asakusa sugar candy figurine shop, a cosmetics brand specializing in gold leaf products, and a strawberry dessert specialty shop with delicious ice cream. The store was full of cakes, Japanese sweets, drinks, cookies, and other items all made with strawberries. There were many shops on my list that I didn't have time to visit; Tokyo Skytree Town really can keep you busy for a whole day!
The night scenery when walking back from the Skytree to Asakusa was also beautiful, especially at the Ushijima Shrine in Sumida Park, which had a special light show. This year, it was easy to get the most dreamy photo spot of the Skytree. The event ended on February 15 this year, and I hope it will be held again next year.
The Asakusa Tobu Hotel, which opened in October 2020, is very close to Sensoji Temple, right across from Tobu Asakusa Station. It is also convenient for reaching central attractions. Most importantly, it is the only hotel in Tokyo's 23 wards with Hello Kitty-themed rooms. The hotel has six Hello Kitty rooms in two themes: "Japanese Modern" and "Sakura Angel," each with three rooms. The rooms are large, with four beds, perfect for families or groups of friends.
The "Japanese Modern" room we stayed in was a theme room full of local color and traditional Japanese style. The walls were painted with patterns of Kitty wearing kimonos and Edo-style Japanese paper umbrellas. A tablet on the bedside table allowed us to adjust the room lighting, air conditioning, and alarm clock, with an interface available in Chinese. The bathroom was separated into wet and dry areas and was also full of pink elements.
The hotel thoughtfully prepared a Hello Kitty gift matching the room theme for each guest, including a canvas bag, chopsticks, and a charm. If you bring children, you can take Hello Kitty photos without leaving the room!
