I do have to admit that I was so sad leaving Korea…it felt like home and I felt just as sad when I had to leave Japan and come back to the USA. There is something about traveling that soothes your soul and changes you. You suddenly realize that you became attached to the location, culture, food, people and all.
Like traveling to any country, once you land, you will have to go through customs and immigration. After filling out the forms (they were similar to the forms that I had to fill out when I landed in Korea & when I returned back to the USA). So the forms are all filled out, baggage claimed and money changes into Japanese Yen, we were off to find our apartment. And yes, we got lost!! LOL…my friend and I did not know how to speak Japanese nor did we know how to read Japanese but everyone was so friendly. The security help escort us and even got a taxi for us.
The first night, we didn’t do too much. Just walked around for a bit to get a better feel of our location and then met up with my Unnie’s for dinner. I have no idea what I would have done without them. They took time out of their day to meet up with us and show us around. Even gave us directions on how to find restaurants and places to go see when they are not around. I love them forever…
Let’s see…where should I start????…Shibuya.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is fantastic. It is the museum of hiostry of Tokyo during the Edo Period. There is a life-size replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge which leads into Edo. The beautiful Nakamuraza theatre and old, huge life-size buildings and towns that were around during the Edo period.
SOURCE:
Edo-Tokyo Museum:
1 Chome-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo 130-0015, Japan
+81 3-3626-9974
Website: http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/
Before making our way to the Tokyo Tower, we made a stop at the Zojoli Temple and I was lost for words. Before actually making it to the temple, you will walk past the Zijoji Temple Cemetery. I didn’t take any pictures of the cemetery because it didn’t feel right but if you go google it, you will see the photos. Each grave was beautifully marked and super clean.
Here is a little background information on Zojoli:
- Zojoji is the main temple of the Jodo (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism. Zojoji was founded as the sect's eastern Japan seminary in 1393 and was relocated to its present site in 1598 by Tokugawa Ieyasu - the founder of the Tokugawa dynasty.
- Zojoji was once a massive complex containing 48 subsidiary temples, over 3000 priests and 150 temple schools. Times have changed and Zojoji now occupies but a fraction of its former area, with many of the buildings dating from the 1970's.
- Zojoji was closely associated with the Tokugawa family that ruled Japan in the Edo Period 1603-1868, and is home to the mausoleums of six Tokugawa Shoguns and their family members behind the iron gate decorated with fearsome dragons.
- Zojoji has a huge 21 meter (69 foot) high gate, the Sangedatsumon, dating from 1622, the only remaining part of the original temple and supposedly the oldest wooden structure in Tokyo.
SOURCE:
www.japan-guide.com
http://www.zojoji.or.jp/en/
http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-temples-shrines/zojoji-temple
When we arrived inside the temple, there was a ritual that was going on and we were allowed to sit in and watch. It was stunning. The chants, the drums…everything was beyond words. There was a little family that was sitting to the left side of me. I couldn’t help but watch them because they were there for their mother (grandmother). She seemed very ill and they were all praying for her and asking for blessing. Even though I didn’t know the family, I just couldn’t help it. I also asked Buddha to give the family my blessing.
The next and final stop...TOKYO TOWER