Yanaka

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Yanaka

  Yanaka is one of the few areas of Tokyo that survived the Great Earthquake and Big fire of 1923. Old houses, many temples and old Edo atmosphere remain here. “Ya” means valley and “naka” means middle, so Yanaka means “in the middle of valley” from where we stroll down to the Nezu area.  Tenno-ji temple Tenno-ji temple, the largest in the area was established in 1274 during the Kamakura era (1185-1333) and a Buddha statue was built in 1690 modeled after Buddha in Kamakura. The lotteries that were held on the temple compounds were stopped in 1842, since then the temple regains the calmness, and is well maintained. Lotus […]

Temple style public bath
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Temple style Public Bath

Temple ?! No! This is not a temple, but a public bath, Sento. This temple style Sento can be rarely seen nowadays, except in animation scene of “Sen to Chihiro” English titled “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki. But here in temple style public bath called Atami-yu in Kagurazaka area, you can actually enjoy bathing. People have enjoyed public bath Sento as a communication place with neighbors since Edo period. Public bath is must place to experience Japan. You may see temple style public bath “SCAI THE BATHHOUSE” in old town, Yanaka but now used for gallery. Edo- Tokyo open air architectural museum exhibits Temple style public bath called Kodakara-yu meaning […]