Travel Japan: Takahata Fudoson Temple

The Takahata Fudoson temple is located at 733 Takahata Hino-shi, Tokyo. The Takahata Fudoson temple is 5-minute walk from Takahatafudo station on the Keio Line or Tama Intercity monorail.

The Takahata-san Myoo-in Kongo-ji Temple of the Shingon-shu Chizan-ha (Chizan division of Shingon Sect) Bekkaku Honzan (Extra-status Cathedral), is called Takahata Fudo-son Temple.

The Takahata Fudoson temple is counted among the Kanto religion's 3 major temples dedicated to Fudo Myoo (Acala Vidyaraja). The temple contains a lot of cultural assets, some of which are designated as Important Cultural Assets.

Major annual Festivals:

Travel Japan: Asakusa Temple or Sensoji Temple

Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, the center of the shitamachi. For most of the twentieth century, Asakusa was the major entertainment place in Tokyo.

The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built there for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making Asakusa the oldest temple in Tokyo.





When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of the Sensoji and symbol of Asakusa. A shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple's second gate, the Hozomon. There are many shops selling toys, souvenirs, swords, dresses, foods, freshly made cookies and various other items.

 

Beyond the Hozomon main gate stands the temple's main building and a five storied pagoda. The Asakusa Shrine, built in the year 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu.

Sightseeing:

Next to the Sensō-ji temple grounds is a small carnival complex with rides, booths, and games, called Hanayashiki. The neighborhood theaters specialize in showing classic Japanese films, as many of the tourists are elderly Japanese.

Asakusa is Tokyo's oldest geisha district, and still has 45 actively working geisha. Sayuki is an Australian-born geisha in Asakusa.
 
Cruises in the Sumida River is very famous and it is merely a five minutes walk from Asakusa temple.

Tthere are frequent matsuri (Shinto festivals) in Asakusa, as each temple or shrine hosts at least one matsuri a year, if not every season. The largest and most popular is the Sanja Matsuri in May, when roads are closed from dawn until late in the evening. Among others there are

• Hozuki-ichi (Hozuki Market) - July: Hozuki are ground cherries, a typical summer plant in Japan. 
• Asakusa Samba Carnival - August
• Tokyo Jidai Matsuri - November: a festival commemorating the history of Tokyo and the Edo culture.
• Hagoita-ichi (Hagoita Market) - December: Hagoita is the wooden paddle used in Hanetsuki, a traditional game that resembles badminton. 

How to get to Asakusa temple:

Sensoji or Asakusa Temple is a few steps from Asakusa Station, served by the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line and Tobu Railways.

From Tokyo Station: Take the JR Yamanote Line to Kanda Station (2 minutes, 130 yen) and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa (10 minutes, 160 yen).

From Shinjuku Station: Take the orange JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station (10 minutes, 160 yen) and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa (10 minutes, 160 yen).


To move around inside the temple area there is a special type of man driven car, called ricksaw.

Continue Reading More on Japan from My Blog:

• Tokyo Disneyland
• Tuna Auction
• How to Reach Tsukiji Market
• Takahata Fudoson Temple
• Breakfast in Japan
• Takahatafudoson Temple in Japan

Travel Japan: Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo disneyland is a amusement park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. It stands over a huge 115acres property. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. Tokyo Disneyland and its companion park, Tokyo DisneySea, are the only Disney parks not owned by The Walt Disney Company.

There are seven themed areas in the park: the World Bazaar; the four classic Disney lands: Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland; and two mini-lands: Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown. The park is noted for its extensive open spaces, to accommodate the large crowds that visit the park.

World Bazaar
World Bazaar is the main entry point and primary shopping area of Tokyo Disneyland. Souvenirs from Tokyo Disneyland is one of the must buy things in Japan. World Bazaar consists of two "streets": Main Street and Center Street, which forms a perpendicular line with Main Street and leads to Adventureland in one direction and Tomorrowland in the other.