Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
20
Cafe Meursault
CAFE, BAR
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
With a large window and a terrace looking over the Sumida-gawa, this cake shop
with views serves coffee (from ¥630), tea and light lunches. You can sip beers here
at night and watch the ferry boats roll by.
(
3843-8008;
http://cafe-meursault.com
;
2-1-5
Kaminarimon, Taitō-ku;
11am-10pm;
Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa, exit A3)
Entertainment
21
Asakusa Engei Hall
COMEDY
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
Asakusa was once full of theatres such as this one, where traditional
rakugo
(comedic monologue) and other forms of comedy were performed along with jug-
glers and magicians. It's all in Japanese but the lively acts are fun all the same, and
form the foundation for a lot of what you see on Japanese TV.
(
3841-6545;
www.asakusaengei.com
;
1-43-12 Asakusa, Taitō-ku; adult/child ¥2500/1100;
shows
11.40am-4.30pm & 4.40-9pm;
Ginza Line to Tawaramachi, exit 3)
Understand
Traditional Festivals
Throughout the warmer months, Tokyo's shrines host riotous
matsuri
(festivals) that
seem to turn back the clock a few centuries. Men don
happi
(short sleeve coats) and
fundoshi
(the traditional loincloths worn by sumō wrestlers) to carry
mikoshi
(portable
shrines) through the streets, chanting as they push through the crowds. These celeb-
rations have their roots in Shintō tradition, but they also serve to renew age-old com-
munity bonds. Asakusa's
Sanja Matsuri
, held the 3rd weekend of May, is Tokyo's
