On one of my last days in Tokyo during my recent visit, I took it easy since I was fasting to take a medical test which my friend recommended. The lab was in Shibuya, which is a trendy shopping area for young Japanese. Here are some photos of the main junction. The vibes on the street were intense.
After the test and late lunch, my friend accompanied me to see the historic area of Asakusa. He insisted I see this area because it dates back to when Tokyo was known as Edo and it has been through centuries where tourists always visited when coming to the city. Fellow blogger Bindi also recommended I visit it.
Past the gate, visitors are funneled to souvenir arcades with long histories.
On either side of the main street are covered arcades.
The area was a licensed prostitution district in the 1600s, a kabuki theater district in the 1800s, a cultural center of literature and cuisine from the 1800s until WWII.
At the center is a Buddhist temple, Senso-Ji, which was founded in 628.
The main temple.
The pagoda.
Near to Asakusa, across the river, we walked to see the Ashai Breweries Building by Philippe Stark, completed in 1989. The building is a shiny black box covered in black granite, with tiny round windows, and a distinctive flame shape perched on top. The shape is a trademark of the designer and contains a restaurant.
As the evening winded up, I photographed some building interiors and exteriors at a different metro station, but did not document the location. By now my friend was used to me pointing and photographing many places, so he was saying, "look! interesting architecture!" and I would point my camera in the direction he pointed, going, "click, click."
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