Tokyo Tour: Zojoji Temple

After letting our breaths be taken by the view 150 meters above the ground via the Tokyo Tower, my tour buddies and I then walked just a few minutes across Tokyo Tower's vicinity for our next stop: Zojoji Temple.  According to some research I've made, it's the main temple of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism in the Kanto Region, originally built in 1393. However, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of Tokugawa shogunate relocated the said temple in 1958 into its present site to establish his provincial government in Edo (present-day Tokyo). 

Okay, so much of the history thingy. I'll let the photos do the touring and the talking. :-)

Sangedatsumon or Main Gate. The wooden gate which serves as the front face of Zojoji Temple. It's a two-story high vermilion-lacquered statue; in the upper story are enshrined images of Shakyamuni Buddha, Samantabdhra and Manjusri bodhisattvas, and the sixteen arhat disciples of the Buddha. 

With my childhood friend, Aira.

View of the main gate from the inside.

Daibonsho or Big Bell. It is renowned to be one of the Big Three Bells of Edo Period and is tolled twice a day- six times each, in the morning and in the evening. This doing is said to ward off 108 earthly passions called bonno.

Tourists aren't permitted to go near the bell. 

Daiden (Hondo) or Main Hall. A huge image of Amida Buddha is enshrined here. This temple is used for all religious rites and memorial services. 

Tourists may opt to make their wishes after placing a coin on a wooden "well" at the front door of the hall. My childhood friend said that it's better to place coins with holes, I don't know the rationale for that. :)) I wasn't able to go inside the main hall since there's a ritual going on when we got there. I am also not sure if people can go inside even for a brief look.

Ankokuden. Another temple located beside the main hall, this time, I was able to go inside. Tourists are permitted here, in fact, the right part is mostly allotted for selling candles and other stuff. However, taking pictures is prohibited.

Before going inside, we lit some incense sticks for 100 yen each, I think.

Took this from the outside 'cos taking pictures inside the temple isn't allowed.

Some statues and tombstone-like monuments can also be found around the temple's confines. 

The well water can be used for washing hands and drinking.

These are statues of jizobosatusu, the protector of the souls of stillborn children. It is said to be the Buddhist's equivalent of an angel.  Mothers who have lost an unborn child may dedicate an image of the deity and adorn the statue with  baby clothes and toys.

According to Aira, these are wish papers. These are tied here to ward off bad luck.

There's a huge wooden frame wherein wooden blocks with names written on them. I believe those names are that of monks who have had lived and died there over the years.

Encountered this Koi fish balloon on our way out. Hi, brother! :)

For more information, you can visit http://www.zojoji.or.jp/en/index.html

Last stop for the day: Shibuya (next post)

Tokyo Tour: Tokyo Tower

Since my childhood friend is also in Japan, we agreed to tour Tokyo and do some tourist-yyy stuff. We met up at Tachikawa Station since it's the only place I think I know how to go to from our house in Wakaba Cho. So from Tachikawa Station, we rode the rapid train to Shinjuku Station, which is by the way, a huge one. My friend said she once got lost in that station for an hour! Haha! I don't know what kind of planning the Japanese did regarding train stations; subway trains, monorails, rapid trains, and the normal trains fit in one! Amazing, ain't it? :B 

Shinjuku Station map.

So from Shinjuku Station, we rode a subway train to Akabanebashi. Tokyo Tower is a few minutes walk from the subway station. In fact, the tower can be seen right away when you step out of the station. And yes, you can imagine me giggling just at the sight of it! Hihi! :>

First stop, Tokyo Tower. It is a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris but is said to be taller. :)

The view from the subway station. 

Getting closer. :>

At the tower's foot.

Koi balloons, I think? Heheee. Took this while waiting for my turn at the ticket line.

We decided to just go at the Main Observatory which is 150m above. The Special Observatory's got a separate fee. And yes, it's a couple of meters higher. 

When the elevator which brought us from the ground floor to the Main Observatory opened, I saw this immediately. What a lovely version of Tokyo Tower! <3

 

I don't know what this is called but I heard it's like the lock thing in Korea wherein visitors may fasten two locks for a happy relationship. Here, instead of locks, are wood carvings in hearts and towers. Tokyo Tower's tag line is Love Power Spot (I saw this written on the shelf where the Tokyo Tower version above is placed), after all! :)

My brother before throwing a coin and making his wish.

Overlooking Tokyo. The roads look like a star to me. :)

Another view from the Main Observatory.

My childhood friend, Aira.

The tower has lookdown windows for a view all the way down. Here's my brother, Masato. :)

The view from the lookdown window.

Tokyo Tower post cards sold for about 200 Yen each at the Main Observatory's souvenir shop . There's a coffee shop and a club named Club 333 in the first floor of the Main Observatory, too. Brilliant idea is brilliant! :))

After roaming around the the first and second floors of the Main Observatory, we went down the ground floor cos the three of us were really hungry. Good thing there's a handful of restaurants and fastfood there. And there's a little amusement park for children, too. Kawaiii! :)

Bye, Tokyo Tower. Til we meet again! :)

Next stop: Zojoji Temple

Hello, Tachikawa!

I know I've been a very bad blogger these past few weeks; I don't get to update often. It's not that I don't have time. I'm immensely burning up time just slacking off since I got here in Tokyo for heaven knows why. The chilly air really got me, eh? Haha. Maybe because I know for a fact that I'll be spending my whole summer here (will be back in the Philippines sometime in June) that I am not in a hurry to visit all the places there is to see. Having no one to accompany me with (parents busy working, brother attending school), too, just sucks. Not to mention that I don't know how to speak and read Nihongo.

Anyway, here's where and how I spent my first week in Tachikawa, Tokyo. :-)

The streets of Tachikawa City.

Tachikawa station at night.

Takamatsu-cho pavements.

Caffe Veloce. They sell delicious coffees. Cafe au' lait.♥

First Kitchen date with Mama. Floats with tapioca are a must-try. :)

Takashimaya Mall.

Loooove. ♥

Tachikawa City Hall.

Sakura tree. But the flowers were washed away by the rain. :(

Mini grapes at Yaoko Marketplace.