1 post tagged “kannon temple”
So, one more tourist stop I made today with the sunshine. I took the subway across town to Asakusa (pronounced, ah-sack-sa) to check out the many temples.
I only made it to one, then I didn't feel like seeing anymore because my camera battery ran out. This will be the first time I've charged the battery here in Japan. Something like 300+ photos were taken from the first charge. That means this is only the 2nd time that I've fully charged the battery since I bought the camera. Anyway ...
The subway stop is a very short distance from one of the most postcard picturesque spots in Tokyo I've encountered. Very photogenic area, I must say. The temples with the reds and golds, and green bronze buddha statues, along with the many stalls makes for some very pretty imagery.
It was wonderful to walk through, although very crowded with visitors. I just blended in with the smatterings of foreign tourists with eyes glued to the back of cameras. People bathing in the incense smoke to drive off disease and pain, praying to Kannon, the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion.
At a smaller temple close to the Kannon temple, there was a small creek full of koi. Koi holds a bit of special significance to me due to it's symbolism in regards to my birthday, so I gleefully took pictures of the large and friendly fish. Quite obviously they're used to being hand-fed as they gather near the bridges where people stop to look at them.
I also took a walk over to the Asahi Brewery building, across the Sumida River, but sadly my battery ran out literally as I was taking a picture of it. It is topped by a sculpture designed by Phillip Starck, which looks kind of like a giant golden poop.
With my fill of temples, statues and getting to see the giant poo, I moseyed on home.