Asakusa Bura Bura

Asakusa is a major attraction for both Japanese tourists and International tourists. Perhaps, it is the lively streets, the tourist traps errrrrr...., the little shops along Nakamise Dori or the shitamachi culture perpetuated by the residents there.

In today's post I will highlight what I think are three reasons to visit Asakusa.



#3 on my list is Tokyo or Edo's oldest temple. Sensoji Temple.



#2 is my "must do" in Asakusa. Taking a picture of the Golden Doo Doo. How can one resist taking a picture of this classic piece of modern public art gone wrong. The Flamme d'Or. It's gold and it big. This is a good reason not to give an artist money for a project without specific instructions. The only redeeming quality is the building under it. The Asahi Beer Hall.







#1 is having tempura donburi in Asakusa.

Not any soggy tempura donburi. I long for the kakiage donburi. This tempura is thick with squid, shrimp and scallops cooked to perfection. The outside is crispy with a golden color. The inside is amazingly cooked to perfection. My friend Lee (Chef) was amazed how something so thick can be fried to perfection. The batter is light. The kakiage is complemented with this savory amakara sauce (shoyu and sugar based) that is poored over the kakiage and rice.

After you finish most of the kakiage, smash the left overs and mixed it into the rice. It's just heavenly.



This year, we diverted from our usual spot of Daikokuya to Marushin.

Those of you may remember Marushin was in the Hawaiian Regent Hotel. It has since closed. I do not remember the tempura there being as good as the one the we had on this trip.

A Perfect 10................Don

On our visit to Asakusa, the gang stopped by at what is becoming a must go to when in Tokyo establishment. We dined at the Daikokuya for their famous Tendon.

My mom and I stumbled upon this venerable establishment on our trip a few years ago. Asakusa is famous for its many established restaurants. We found Daikokuya by a recommendation from a local merchant. We were walking back to Nakamise dori after purchasing tickets to Nikko at the Tobu Travel office. We were hungry with no direction. We asked a man that was sweeping the street for his recommendation. (I thought he was a janitor, so he can direct us to somewhere good and inexpensive. My mom corrected me that this was a merchant that was taking his turn to sweep. A common duty of the local chamber of commerce). He did not hesitate to direct us to Daikokuya.

Our first visit in 2006, we w@�
���he Honkan (main establishment or original establishment) It was located in a small distinguished japanese style building.

In 2007, we wanted to have the Ten-don that I spoke favorably about. My four other friends had not eaten there and was anxious to get a taste. We went to the Daikokuya honkan, only to find that the restaurant was closed...........Oh S**t. There was flier posted in front of the building. Well, i used my limited Japanese skills to decipher that the restaurant was under renovation. Luckily, I stayed awake in Japanese class long enough to read the second part of the flier. The annex is open for business.

We made our way around the corner through the busy streets of Asakusa. We found it!

We each dined on the famous Ten-don. It consisted of various tempura dishes. A prawn (not shrimp) that was longer then the bowl, it protruded over the rim. A kakiage of local fish and scallops, a fish tempura and a shishito pepper. The tempura covered the rice. A lightly sweet sauce covered the tempura and seeped into the rice underneath. The sauce was a perfect complement to the seafood tempura, it was gentle. The seafood was fresh, the prawn was big but rich in flavor (fresh). The fish (kisu) was filleted and served tail and all. The shishito pepper complemented the semi sweet sauce with just enough pepper to lure you to finish the bowl of rice underneath. The rice was a rich blackish, brown color, tinted by the sauce. The rice was flavorful as the sauce had picked up the flavor of the seafood above it.

A perfect 10 DON!!!

Asakusa Kinryu No Mai Part 3

The procession for the Kinryu no Mai includes.
The priests.



There is also the local maiko that are dressed in kimono.
Key members of the temple.



The Hayashi is performed by childeren pulled in a cart. The Children beat the taiko drums providing a cadence for the procession. The Hayashi also includes flute players.

Asakusa Kinryu No Mai Part 2

Here is a view of the Kinryu in the open lot to the left of the temple.



Notice that the Dragon is movements are manipulated by poles.

Asakusa Kinryu No Mai Part 1

On Wednesday, October 18, 2007 the gang headed to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.

Today was a special day. It was the day that the Kinryu No Mai would be performed.
The Kinryu No Mai is translated as the Golden Dragon Dance. The official name of the Sensoji Temple is Kinryuzan (Mountain of the Golden Dragon)

According to the legend, 1000 pine trees suddenly appeared overnight near the temple on the March 18th. After three days, a golden dragon measuring 100 shaku (approx. 30 meters) descended into the pine trees from the heavens and was never seen again. The Golden Dragon Dance is based on this story.

The Golden Dragon Dance has been performed since 1958.

The Kinryu is paraded through the gates of the temple.


It twists and turns as it makes it way though the crowd to the steps of the temple where it pays tribute to the temple.