Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
1
Asakusa-jinja
SHINTŌ SHRINE
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
Asakusa-jinja was built in honour of the brothers who discovered the Kannon
statue that inspired the construction of Sensō-ji. The current building, painted a
deep shade of red, dates to 1649 and is an impressive example of an early-Edo ar-
chitectural style called
gongen-zukuri -
a building with an H-shaped footprint
(
3844-1575;
http://www.asakusajinja.jp/english/
; 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taitō-ku;
9am-4.30pm;
Ginza
Line to Asakusa, exit 1)
2
Asahi Flame
LANDMARK
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
Designed by Philippe Starck and completed in 1989, the Asahi Beer Hall, with its
tell-tale golden plume, is a Tokyo landmark. The golden bit - which weighs more
than 300 tonnes - is open to interpretation: Asahi likes to think it is the foam to
the building's beer mug. Locals call it the 'golden turd'.
( Flamme d'Or; 1-23-1 Azuma-
bashi, Sumida-ku;
Ginza Line to Asakusa, exit 4)
3
Taiko Drum Museum
MUSEUM
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
There are hundreds of drums from around the world here, including several tradi-
tional Japanese
taiko
. The best part is that you can play most of them (those
marked with a music note).
( Taiko-kan;
http://www.miyamoto-unosuke.co.jp/taikokan/
; 2-1-1
Nishi-Asakusa, Taitō-ku; adult/child ¥500/150;
10am-5pm Wed-Sun;
Ginza Line to Tawarama-
chi, exit 3;
)
4
Chingo-dō
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
