I promise this will be the last update for a while that includes shrines. Well actually I have no intention of keeping that promise, but I think the next update won’t have any in. Although I might just sneak one in at the end.
Yumi, one of Matt’s adult class students and a great friend and helper to us offered to take us for a day trip to Kawagoe, a small town not far from Tokyo, for a day of sightseeing and being roasted by the scorching hot sun. Needless to say I grabbed my camera, forgot my sunblock and headed off on our way.
Of course, the first place we visited was a shrine complex near the station, called Kitain. As usual, the whole place was incredibly scenic, however it was also crawling with crowds so we didn’t stick around very long. Just long enough for me to take a few photos I could post here and bore you with. Haha!
As it was absolutely baking hot, we didn’t really fancy standing around all day. Both Matt and myself are quite fair and thus prone to sunburn, and I was beginning to feel like toast as it was. So we quickly made our way into the centre of Kawagoe, stopping along the way a few times to, you guessed it, look at shrines.
Nope, I didn’t buy any. Infact, all I did buy from Kawagoe were lots of sweets because I love sweets. Mmmm.
The centre of Kawagoe was even worse than the shrines for people. I’m talking Shibuya at 7pm on a Friday busy. I have no idea why there were so many people there, but it was hard to move and even harder to restrain myself from beating down a few slow walking people who kept cutting me off. Just because you’re not in a car doesn’t mean you can walk out directly into the path of of a speeding foreigner you crazy people!
We stopped at lunch time for some Chinese Ramen, which was excellent. I think of all the food in Japan, the one thing I’ll miss the most is restaurant-quality Ramen. Just a big steaming bowl of noodles and soup. You really cannot beat it, and I’ve never seen anything in England that even comes close. It makes me sad. I think on my last day here I will order 4,149 bowls of the stuff and empty them into a bathtub. Mmmm. Bath of Ramen…
One thing we were very lucky to see was the flower festival ritual. Now I know what you’re thinking. “A flower festival? Laughing! Children playing! Joy!” Well, you’d be quite wrong, as apparently the flower festival is quite a serious affair in Kawagoe. I didn’t understand a single word of the prayer, but I did try to avoid stepping on any dandelions afterwards.
We continued our journey through Kawagoe, stopping for souvenirs, candy and repeatedly whilst Yumi could find this sweet potato stuff that only one shop in the entire universe sells. Before long though, it was time to head home, if only to stop Matt taking strange pictures of himself on my camera.
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Shrines rock, imo. Any 2 or 3 you would recommend in particular in the Tokyo area?
I’d say Asakusa’s huge shrine near the station (don’t know what it’s called), as well as Harajuku’s Meiji Shrine. As for a third one, I’d say just find a little small one. I’m a big fan of small ones. :)
Hey, Mike!
I didn’t know I can leave my comments here.
It’s good to hear that you’re enjoying Japan.
I’ve never been to Kawagoe.
I usually don’t travell around Japan!
Now I really think I want to.
By the way, the temple near Asakusa station is called
Sensoji.
Kanji for “Asakusa” can be read “Senso” and “Ji” means temple.
りるび: I’ve only been to Sensoji once before, but I want to go back and take more photos.
Thanks for commenting. Kawagoe is really cool we should all go some time. :)
wow I really like those pictures
Jamaipanese: Thanks :)
Hi! found your blog the other day and thought I’d just drop a note – really like your writing, it’s very entertaining.
I don’t know if it’s rude to comment about a different post, but I’ll do it anyway: The Lion King was so not the best Disney movie… Robin Hood is! Wee little foxies robbing rich lions and giving to the poor, what’s not to like??