November'15 Tokyo - Kyoto - Hakone Dream Trip #4 : Day 2

Tsukiji Market – Asakusa – Shinjuku

Dringggg....drinnngggg....drinnnngggg~~~

It's 2.30am of Day 2 in Tokyo, Japan!

Yup! It's midnight! And woke up by my alarm, and starting to well prepare myself before out to the place listed top in my MUST-GO list - TSUKIJI FISH MARKET.

Why so early? Because we want to go for the world known Tuna Auction. They are only allow 120 visitors daily to enter to the fish market to enjoy the free admission Tuna Auction Sessions twice a day at 5.25 am and 5.50 am. Only limited to 60 pax for each session. That's why we have to be early there; latest before 4 a.m. There is no way to book. First comes first serves basis. 

Due to there is no any public transport available during that time therefore before came to Japan, I had made a taxi booking online which can fit the 5 of us in one car through MK Taxi online. You may direct call them for reservation or just download a reservation form (PDF) or reservation form (EXCEL) and fill in the details required and email to them. They will respond to your request promptly to get your confirmation. 

It took us about 30 mins to reach there and the total charge is ¥ 4,150 meter + ¥ 1,000 midnight charge = ¥ 5,150. We all know that the taxi charges at Japan is expensive but the service they offer is so good. Their driver will dress with a standard uniform that like a butler. They made us feel like we are the VIPs. 

For those who were travel alone, or who are not travel with elders, in order to save the expensive taxi cost, you might stay at nearby 24 HRS comic house or cyber café. By walking distance you may make it on time to secure a seat for the auction tour.

However, the Tsukiji fish market is scheduled to move to a new site at Toyosu on November 2016. Whether they are having the tuna auction session for tourists, might need to check upon that time.The tour only took about 20 minutes. But it was an interesting tour because you will find it’s so cute that the auctioneer shouting with such a rhythm that keep me remembering it until today. The participants would check on the quality of the tuna fishes before the auction start by using a kind of special tool to expose the colour and texture of the tuna. And, try to give attentions on the signals given by the participants of the auctions by using their hands.

The participants are checking on the quality of the Tuna before confirm on which to auction with. 

After the end of the auction, then it’s our very own food exploration tour in tsukiji external market. There are many foods that must try in the market: sashimi, tamago yaki 玉子焼, grilled scallop etc. There are too much that you might need to have another stomach to pack them in. After the great early breakfast, we took metro from Tsukiji market travelled to Asakusa.

ASAKUSA 浅草 tour starts!

Asakusa Kaminarimon淺草雷門 is one of the must-see place in Tokyo. It’s famous with the big lantern on the entrance gate to the Asakusa Temple which had been built at least 1000 years ago. But, because it’s a tourist spot, so be ready that it will be crowded and there are many of expected and unexpected tourists showed in your pictures taken.

After the Kaminarimon, there is a street of  stalls selling souvenirs, food etc which they named it as Nakamise street. We are having lots of fun to explore those shops along the street and the goods they are selling there. So you can shop until reach at the entrance of Asakusa Temple. Walked around the historical Asakusa temple site you will find the beauty of the buildings. The power and the wisdom of the ancient people who built these. With a better weather and clear sky, you may see the Sky Tree from here. 

In Japan, whenever you are going shrines or temples, they got a different way to pray.

Shrines - Before entering to the shrines, you will have to pass through "torii" gate. 

Temples - There is "sanmon" gate which normally have fierce guardian statue.

Pray at shrines (They will have a guide showed somewhere):

(i) Bow in front of the "torii" gate before passing through and walk at the side of the pathway.

(ii) You will find a water pavillion named "temizuya" to purify your hands and mouth to wash away the impurities within you. There are a proper guide to follow with:

       Use right hand to scoop the water with the ladle (you can only scoop the water once) ->  rinse your left hand (not to rinse with all the water in the ladle) -> now hold with left hand -> rinse your right hand -> hold the ladle with right hand and take some water with your left hand to rinse your mouth. NEVER EVER touch the ladle with your mouth. -> Then use the remaining water to rinse of the ladle up to the handle by tipping it. 

(iii) At the altar, throw the "saisen" coins into the offering box "saisenbako". Normally they do use 5 yen because of it sounds as goyen which means bond of relationship. 

(iv) Then bow twice and claps your hand twice and hold it together to pray by expressing your own wishes or gratitude silently within yourself. 

(v) Then bow once again to complete the praying session. 

Pray at temples:

There is no many steps to follow as to pray at shrines. Only if happens that there is a "temizuya", follow the steps as above. Then head to the altar, hold your hand together to pray without clapping it. 

Once you walked back to the Kaminarimon, you will see a unique building just opposite the road which is the cultural centre of Asakusa. There is tourist information available there and maps that can be taken from there. Up to the highest floor of the centre, you can have a view of the Asakusa and even can see the Tokyo sky tower. Have a view there while drinking a cup of coffee was enjoyable.

Well, after a long day, we head back to the accommodation to take a rest since we woke up before dawn. 

After the long rest, we bumped into a Kabukisa yakisoba shop at Shinjuku accidentally, and we found it so good to eat there. The shop is typical small as others shop in Japan. But, the food served were so delicious and yummy that I couldn’t get the right word to describe. You will know until you try.

Then, we walked to the Shinjuku Metropolitan Building for a night view. This is one of the famous place for Tokyo night view and it’s free of entrance fee.  If the weather is permitted in the daytime, you might get a chance to see Mount Fuji. Besides, you can get to see Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower and others landmarks. With the lights on at night, this is a famous place to catch the night views.