Temples and Street Food in Asakusa - Japan Vlog Day 5

This is the fifth vlog of our trip Visiting Tokyo Japan in September 2015 and features Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum, Asakusa, a Sightseeing Boat and Odaiba. UENO PARK Ueno Park (上野公園) is a large Public Park and the location of some of Tokyo’s main Shrines and Museums. The park grounds originally belonged to the Kaneiji Temple, one of Tokyo’s largest and wealthiest temples. In 1868, Kaneiji was almost completely destroyed and the grounds converted into one of Japan’s first western-style parks. Many Museums can be found in Ueno Park including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and the National Science Museum. It is also home to Japan’s first zoological garden, Ueno Zoo. TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM The Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館) is Japan oldest and largest national museum. Its permanent exhibition features a very large and beautiful collection of Japanese art and archeological artifacts. In addition, the museum holds regular special exhibitions. The Tokyo National Museum is a large museum complex with six different buildings, each one large enough to be considered a museum by itself. If you are following my suggested itinerary, you will probably only have time to visit the main exhibition in the Honkan Building. ASAKUSA Asakusa (浅草) has an amazing atmosphere and will transport you back to old Tokyo. The main attraction of the area has to be Sensoji, an incredibly famous Buddhist Temple. The temple is approached via Nakamise, a popular shopping district, which provides temple visitors with a wide selection of traditional snacks and souvenirs. Although Asakusa is easy to explore by foot, you might consider hitching a ride on one of the local rickshaws (jinrikisha). A 30-minute tour for two will set you back 9000 yen (currently 48£) SIGHTSEEING BOAT When you have had your fill of Asakusa head to the river and board one of the sightseeing boats. Located in a bay and crisscrossed by rivers, Tokyo has several ferry companies. A ride on a water bus always makes an enjoyable alternative to the crowded underground. Most of the water buses are operated by Tokyo Cruise Ship Company. The most popular route has to be the Asakusa-Odaiba Direct Line, a 50-minute ride from Asakusa to Odaiba in a very boldly designed Himiko Boat with panoramic windows (1560 yen, currently 8£). ODAIBA Odaiba (お台場) is a popular highly modern shopping and entertainment district on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. Modern city planning provides Odaiba with plenty of green space and a very pleasant division between vehicular and pedestrian traffic. All pedestrian walkways are elevated above the traffic below. Odaiba boasts some of Tokyo’s boldest architectural creations such as the Fuji Tv Building, Telecom Center and Big Sight. All the man-made islands in the Bay are connected with the elevated Yurikamome Train Line, not dissimilar to the DLR in Canary Wharf. I would suggest you head to Palette Town for some fun on the Ferris Wheel and the massive Arcade, before sitting down for Dinner in Aquacity The video was filmed in September 2015 CATCH-UP On the other vlogs of this series Tokyo – Day 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UKModwjCw Tokyo – Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UKModwjCw Tokyo – Day3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x28mKISTlaU