Spring in Tokyo (Part 5): Giant Robots to Giant Crab Claws

- March 29-30, 2024, Friday to Saturday.

- On my last full day in Tokyo, I experienced another big downpour yet that did not stop me from going to Odaiba (Daiba Station) to visit the life-sized Gundam statue outside Diver City Mall. This particular Gundam robot, the Gundam Unicorn, was installed in 2017, replacing an older Gundam statue. The Gundam moves a little during several specific times of the day, but I was too early as I always like beating crowds. (Well, the downside was I couldn't go inside the malls to take shelter from the rain because the malls were still closed too.)

Without the crowd.

I saw this really nice garden beside the Gundam statue!! Cherry blossoms and tulips that both bloom in the spring!!

Now back to the Gundam.

Statue of Liberty and the Rainbow Bridge at the back. Both are also iconic landmarks in Odaiba.

Fuji TV Tower! (If you're a Digimon fan like me, you'd know how significant this building is too!)

- It was difficult to maximize my morning with the torrential rains, but I was able to squeeze in a trip to the Tsukiji Outer Market (Tsukijishijo Station) for my bunch. Although the main Tsukiji Market - which has been in this location since 1935 until 2018 - has now been relocated to Toyosu Market, many stalls selling raw and cooked seafood still remain. Although my morning hasn't that great because of the rain, my meal made up for it as I was finally able to try some king crab! I've been wanting to try this giant crab for years now, but never had the chance, also because they can be a bit expensive especially if buying one whole crab. However, the Tsukiji Outer Markets has king crabs sold by the leg. This particular stall I found also cooked the crabs so it was convenient for me!

Rainy Tsukiji.

Some food to make up for the bad weather. 2 king crab legs + chirashidon. It was my first meal of the day OK.

Very happy with my giant crab leg.

Simple restaurant with good food.

This is the restaurant/stall name by the way. It's near the main street, so no need to go through the alleyways.

This is what it looks like outside. You get to choose and they can cook it for you.

So many choices omg.

- I decided to go back to the hotel afterwards to dry myself and wait for the rain to stop before going out once more (I took the time in the hotel to fix my things as it was our last full day in Tokyo). True enough, the afternoon was so warm and dry, you wouldn't think it rained an ocean that morning. 

- That afternoon, I decided to check out the Tsukiji Honganji (Tsukiji Station, or Tsukiji Shijo Station). Originally built in 1617 but got burned, this Buddhist temple's current structure that was built in the 1930s remains special as it was built to resemble Indian temples rather than Japanese ones. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go inside as I arrived shortly before closing time. But it was at least nice to see its Indian-inspired facade.

Tsukiji Honganji from the overpass.

I super love its non-traditionally-traditional look.

Close up.

- Later on I walked all the way to Ginza (Ginza Station, if going directly by train). Ginza is known as one of Tokyo's long-standing shopping centers. It is home to some department stores and buildings since the early 1900s.

Kabuki-za, originall built in 1911, but this current structure was built in 2013.

The Kabuki-za is one of the most prominent buildings in Tokyo in traditional architecture. As the name suggests, the place shows kabuki theater.

Wako Store, originally built in 1881, but this current structure was built in the 1930s.

Uniqlo Flagship store.

Mitsukoshi Ginza.

- I met my family after walking around Ginza, and soon had dinner together in an omakase-style restaurant in Ginza. The servings come one by one so it was surprisingly filling as each serving was usually some bit-sized piece of sushi.

Freshly made.

We got to try all of those!

- Even as we left Tokyo the day after, I didn't give up on the chance to have some good food at the airport, and boy does Tokyo Narita Airport have some good food!

Lobster, sashimi, and tempura bento. I mean....this is airport food that looks like fancy dining!

Lobster close up.

Bought some more fruit sandwiches before going because why not.

- Despite not having planned this trip too well like I normally do + the occasional heavy rains, I was glad I was able to pull off my trip - I even got to spend a day away from Tokyo! Tokyo is just too big a city, with an infinite things to see and do. I know I hardly had time to see everything, but this just gave me an excuse to go back to Tokyo some day. Tokyo is a mix of old and new, corporate and creative, as well as noise and peace. There are too many things happening at the same time, and that's exactly what I like about big cultured cities. Perhaps I'll have an opportunity in the future to go to Tokyo once more!

** Please check out my other blogs in this series:

Part 1: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Super Sentai Restaurant (click here)

Part 2: Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and nearby shrines (click here)

Part 3: Kawagoe and Tokyo Tower again (click here)

Part 4: Sensoji, Ueno, Ameyoko, Cat Cafe (click here)

Spring in Tokyo (Part 4): The Sense of Sensoji, and the Way of Ueno

- March 28, 2024, Thursday.

- One of the highlights of visiting Tokyo is going to the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa (Asakusa Station). Established in the 600s, it is perhaps the oldest temple in Tokyo. It is mainly a Buddhist temple, but it also has a Shinto shrine within the temple grounds. The temple welcomes its guests through the Kaminarimon, or the main gate, followed by Nakamisedori (a popular shopping street), before entering the main temple courtyard. This temple, being the most prominent in Tokyo, is always crowded with tourists. I suggest going early to prevent headaches when taking photos. However, the shops in Nakamisedori and Nishisandori open around 10am.

Kaminarimon.

Tokyo Skytree from the temple.

I super love the fact that there's this giant fully-bloomed sakura tree, which makes the perfect "Spring in Tokyo" photo.

On the way to the main temple.

Main hall.

Photography isn't allowed inside so this is the most I can show. (Also, in case you see the swastika on the lantern, please note that the swastika was originally a Hindu-Buddhist symbol before being appropriated by the Nazis.)

Main hall.

Lion guarding the Shinto shrine behind.

One of the shopping streets accessible from the temple, Nishisandori.

Nakamisedori, the main shopping street.

New Nakamisedori, also in the area.

A mikoshi (religious palanquin) exhibited at the Asakusa Station.

- After visiting the shrine, I rode the train to Ueno Station (just a few stations away). Ueno Park, established in the 1870s, was made to be like a Western-style park. It is honestly one of my favorite parks now. Not only does it have quiet places to find peace, such as temples and shrines from earlier centuries, but it now has a concentration of national museums and galleries, and a zoo as well. It reminds me, to an extent, of Washington D.C.'s National Mall. I didn't have time to visit each attraction, but my main agenda was to visit the Tokyo National Museum. Built in the 1870s, this is the oldest national museum in Japan. (If only I had the time, I would've also visited the Museum of Nature and Science beside the National Museum.)

National Museum.

There was a special exhibit on the 900th anniversary of the Chuson Ji Temple's Golden Hall.

Main hall, the honkan entryway.

Royal palanquin.

Samruai armor.

A Kawari Kabuto helmet. I was able to try wearing one last year (click here) and boy was it heavy!

Kimonos.

Noh Theater kimonos. (So they look fancier than the usual.)

Kannon statue.

Doll exhibit.

Ainu style clothes.

A typical google-eyed dogu statue. Archaeologists still aren't sure what they're for.

Japanese pottery through the ages.

The Hyokeikan (1909), which is an exhibition hall only for special exhibits. 

At the Asian Gallery, of course I had to take photos of Gandhara Art from India.

Asian textiles.

Saw this series of torii gates, which reminded me of Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine.

- Ueno Park would've been nicer if I had a lot of time to go around, and if it didn't start drizzling (it was, a least, light). However, I was at least able to squeeze in a visit to Ameyoko, which is right beside Ueno Park, and on the way to the station. Ameyoko, or Ameya Yokocho, is a long shopping street below and beside the train tracks. It is honestly the most chaotic thing I've seen in Tokyo, and reminds me of the narrow streets of Chinatown over here in Manila. It has foot stalls, a wet market, and plenty of stores selling souvenirs to everyday things. In short, be prepared for a sensory overload!

Ameyoko.

This wasn't the most crowded part.

The crowd starts getting "worse" here as more stores and restaurants can be found here.

- I went back to the hotel as it started to rain, and had a bit of rest before going out later in the afternoon to visit the Cat Cafe in Shinjuku. Cats aren't my thing but it was at least something a bit different from all the places I have visited in the past days. After all, one of my goals was to visit one of these quirky cafes, The cats were used to people, but appeared a bit moody. Or maybe cats are just like that I don't know. After visiting the cat cafe, I had a short stopover at Don Quijote (no photos) before going back to the hotel to have dinner with my family.

Cat Cafe Mocha Lounge.

I love this large sleepy cat.

The goal.

They can be extra friendly if they know you have treats for them.

They play with each other too.

I wasn't prepared to go to the Cat Cafe as it was a last minute decision, so I wasn't able to bring my own cat ears. Thankfully the cafe had some cat headbands!

Look for this when you're looking for the cafe.

The cafe was inside this building.

- I was happy to see Asakusa's Sensoji again as I had some nice memories there from my first visit in 2013. As for Ueno and Ameyoko, these interesting places required so much time and patience to fully explore them - which only gives me an excuse to go back to Tokyo next time! But for now, it's on to the next leg of my Tokyo adventures!

** Please check out my other blogs in this series:

Part 1: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Super Sentai Restaurant (click here)

Part 2: Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and nearby shrines (click here)

Part 3: Kawagoe and Tokyo Tower again (click here)

Part 5: Odaiba and Gundam, Tsukiji Outer Markets, Tsukiji Honganji, Ginza (click here)