Asakusa

Still struggling with jetlag, but managed to get out of bed at 12. We decided to spend the day in Tokyo and stepped off the train in the Asakusa area. Our first stop was a department store called Yodobashi Camera. It has all sorts of fun stuff, like tons of camera equipment, gigantic TVs, but also kitchen supplies and massage chairs. After looking around the store, we went to the Sensoji temple. This is Tokyos eldest temple and dates back to year 645.

We ended the day having a hot bath at Jakosuju, one of the traditional public hot bathhouses that has existed since the Edo period. This hot spring has “black water” which is said to date back to the Paleozoic era, during which the grass and leaves that were buried underground blended into the ground water to create this mineral spring. First cleaning ourselves in those weird sitting showers, before jumping into the hot water. You could switch between hot and cold water, but I preferred staying in the hot water, which was at approx. 40 degrees. Enjoyed having a lovely chat with some of the locals. Guess there is something disarming about sitting naked together in hot water. The perfect way to relax after a long day of trotting around in Asakusa.