Day 3: Roppongi, Asakusa & Shibuya

(Photo: Kaiyi)

Had my meetings at Mori Tower level 49 and level 41. Just want to clarify to those reading this blog. I paid my own passage way to Tokyo and attended TIFFCOM during my vacation in Tokyo. My company did not pay a single cent.

(Photo: Kaiyi)

Kaiyi only explored TV Asahi during her time alone. Then off to Aasakusa.



(Photo: Kaiyi) Of course, one of the first things that we looked for is food. We had a few snacks. First a rice cracker (yes, the Wang Wang kind but it's grilled over charcoal.). Then we had green tea ice cream and then the above.

(Photo: Maggie)

Fried custurd bun. There were many different flavours to choose from. From green tea (I tried when I was there the first time two years ago) to chocolate. We decided on custurd and we made the right choice. YUMMY!

(Photo: Maggie)

This is the street leading to the Sensoji Temple.

(Photo: Maggie)

White lanterns adorned the walkway leading to the Karminarimon (aka Thunder Gate) where the huge red lantern hangs. Karminarimon is said to be the portal between the human world and the spirit realm.

(Photo: Maggie)

(Photo: Maggie)
According to instructions, one has to first wash your hands with the water and scope some water into your hand and use the water to rinse your mouth. PLEASE DO NOT DRINK FROM THE LADLE and DON'T SWALLOW THE WATER.

(Photo: Maggie)

After cleansing yourself with the water, you light an incense at put it in the incense "bowl" and draw the smoke to yourself with your hands.

(Photo: Maggie) The proceed to making a wish inside. Throw money into the hole and pray.

(Photo: Maggie)

You can also pay 100yen like Kaiyi and pick a stick and get a slip of paper according to the number on the stick. Number 58...

(Photo: Maggie)

(Photo: Maggie)

It says:
"No. 58: Bad Fortune. So many wide river and sea are on our way, they are so hard to walk across. Just like to push up a coach to a step mountain, going ahead or coming back, both are impossible, so can't move anymore. Some people stand our front as barrier, everything doesn't go so smooth."

"Your request will not be granted. "The patient is hard to recover." "The lost article will not be found." "The person you wait for will not come." Let's stop build a new house and removal. Let's stop the following: Any kind of marriage. New employment. To start a trip."

Sister, did you ask about the trip for Hakone? If you did, then it's definately you! Hahaha.

(Photo: Maggie) You cannot take your fortune paper home. You have to tie it to a stand provided. The staff of the temple will burn it away when it is full.

(Photo: Maggie)

(Photo: Maggie)

After Asakusa, we set of for Shibuya. The weather was pretty fine (cloudy) until end of Asakusa. It rained at Asakusa. We were cold, hungry and tired so we didn't bother taking photos. We saw Hachi-ko statue from inside Shibuya station. We kept getting lost while trying to get to 109 building and Tokyo Hands. Felt like giving up. It was only 5.30pm when we arrived. Too early for dinner. So we went 109 building and walked aimlessly. Wanted to give Kaiyi a taste of 109. Personally, 109 styles are not my cup of tea. Too Singapore Far East style. The escalator just went round and round. We walked really aimlessly and decided to look for Tokyu Hands. We found Tokyu Hands but I was too hungry. I just need to find something to eat. Reader, did you realise that after that wonderful breakfast, we only had three snacks (two of us shared one portion) for lunch at Asakusa. I was getting disorientated and SUPER tired.

So we decided to keep our eyes on Tokyu Hands and not wander too far away from it while looking for something to eat. We couldn't find any ramen shops. I guess it was too early. We finally chanced upon a shop selling an interesting snack. It is a fish looking pancake. In Singapore, we usually have ice cream or red bean paste as fillings. In Shibuya, we had one with potato and cheese and another with Japanese curry. Gosh...they tasted like food for the King. Right, we were hungry and desperate.

Our aim at Tokyu Hands is to buy Ms Tay her organizer. It must be about A5 size with pockets at the back for putting things. The prices were outrageous for some. We finally bought something that was reasonably priced and fitted her criteria nicely.

It was still raining when we left Tokyu Hands. This time, most of the shops were opened. We finally went into a ramen store and ate as slowly as possible. Our badly tortured legs badly needed a rest.

We were supposed to take Tokyo Metro line back to hotel. But the station was too far away from the hotel. So we decided to take another line that was not covered by the one day pass but the walking distance was reduced by half. Who would bother saving money when we almost wanted to chop off our tired legs. The one-day pass was still worth it as we really did go to a lot of places.

What a cold and rainy day.