Today we will check out of the Richmond Asakusa hotel and head to our next hotel. We leave behind one cracked toilet seat lid – with all the reading I did about travel in Japan no where did it warn you to NOT sit on the toilet lid! There are so few places to sit and sometimes you need to sit to put your socks on or put lotion on. I guess not in Japan. The lids are really flimsy and they don’t even sit flat on the seat. So, if you put any minor amount of weight on it, it just collapses. My child only weighs 100 pounds, but that was enough. Whoops!
Even though we were staying in the Asakusa area, this is our first time exploring the area. The other mornings we were up and on our way to other parts of the city before the hustle and bustle of tourists hit the area. The streets were always quiet and the stores all closed. When we'd return at night the stores were closed again with a few restaurants open and people sitting outside eating. This little area that is closed to automobiles really felt like a special place. On the outskirts, where the traffic was, there are stores and restaurants open late, just like any city. But our hotel was right on the edge of this little quiet area with only foot and bicycle traffic -- it really was a wonderful location and I would gladly stay here again. Today we get to see the touristy and crowded side of Asakusa.
Asakusa, which is pronounced Ah-sahk-sa (the u is silent), is famous for the Sensoji Buddhist temple. This is the oldest temple in Tokyo and is very popular. It was first founded in the year 645. It was rebuilt after the World War II bombing of Tokyo and stands as a symbol of rebirth to the Japanese. It is dedicated to the goddess of mercy. 
Next to the temple is the Asakusa shrine, built in the 1600's -- it somehow survived the WWII bombing. It was built to honor the three men who constructed the Sensoji temple. Right outside the big gate to the temple and shrine is Nakamise Shopping Street. There are over 50 little stores with souvenirs and other trinkets We enjoy shopping here and buying gifts for people. We stumble upon a McDonald's in the area and my kid wants to eat there. NOOoooo!!! I didn't travel half way around the globe to eat McD's, but she insists we need to try it. We get our usual -- fish sandwich and chicken nuggets and the only difference is they don't have sweet and sour sauce for the nuggets. Everything tastes the same as back home and the prices are roughly the same. We weren't brave enough to try the black bun sandwich.
As we are walking we come across a shrine dedicated to the raccoon-dog. I had no idea this is a real animal, a tanuki, that looks like a raccoon but is more like a fox. They are popular characters in Japanese folklore. These look like bears to me. Cute!
We walked over and shopped on Kappabashi street, aka “kitchen town” so that we could see the fake food. I really like all the fake food displays outside of many restaurants. They look so real and so delicious. They are very expensive and we only buy a few small things.
We have really enjoyed our glimpse of Tokyo but are ready for our Disney adventure. We grab our luggage and head to the subway station. We have been using the subways with success but today we are a bit baffled. After traveling in Washington DC and New York city you'd think we'd be good at this, but Tokyo is a different beast with multiple subway companies and lines and also train lines. The stations can get very confusing and although the signs have English on them I still find it difficult at times to find the right line going in the right direction. We are trying to find the Asakusa line in the Asakusa station. We've been in and out of the Asakusa station several times, but always on the Ginza line. There are multiple Asakusa stations it seems. Maybe they all meet up eventually underground, but we have luggage so we can't be running up and down the stairs underground. Finally after asking two people who spoke no English but did their best to understand my question and provide help, we are pointed down the block. We walk and walk thinking we may never find it and finally -- Asakusa station with Asakusa line!
It takes about an hour to take the right subway to the right train, maneuver with our luggage and finally arrive at the Tokyo Disney Resort. This is why I've come to Tokyo and I'm just filled with excitement at the first signs of Disney.
We walked over and shopped on Kappabashi street, aka “kitchen town” so that we could see the fake food. I really like all the fake food displays outside of many restaurants. They look so real and so delicious. They are very expensive and we only buy a few small things.
We have really enjoyed our glimpse of Tokyo but are ready for our Disney adventure. We grab our luggage and head to the subway station. We have been using the subways with success but today we are a bit baffled. After traveling in Washington DC and New York city you'd think we'd be good at this, but Tokyo is a different beast with multiple subway companies and lines and also train lines. The stations can get very confusing and although the signs have English on them I still find it difficult at times to find the right line going in the right direction. We are trying to find the Asakusa line in the Asakusa station. We've been in and out of the Asakusa station several times, but always on the Ginza line. There are multiple Asakusa stations it seems. Maybe they all meet up eventually underground, but we have luggage so we can't be running up and down the stairs underground. Finally after asking two people who spoke no English but did their best to understand my question and provide help, we are pointed down the block. We walk and walk thinking we may never find it and finally -- Asakusa station with Asakusa line!
It takes about an hour to take the right subway to the right train, maneuver with our luggage and finally arrive at the Tokyo Disney Resort. This is why I've come to Tokyo and I'm just filled with excitement at the first signs of Disney.
