Tokyo, Japan, January 19, 2020

The sun was out and a fabulous day was planned, with temples, department store delicacies, a river cruise, and a famous Japanese garden.

From the hotel we took the subway to go towards Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple. I was there 18 years ago, so I was experiencing a lot of anticipation to see the beautiful place that I had seen on my first visit. It was such a pleasure to share it with Paul, Pete, and Cindy. We entered through the Kaminarimon Gate and strolled down the shopping street with thousands of Japanese people. The mood was festival like and happy. Paul was in seventh heaven with the wood block print store. I perused the kimono shops.

The sidestreets also overflowed with people. Men and girls, Japanese and westerners, dressed in kimonos for the day. Of course, there were the vending machines that sell hot and cold drinks among many other things.

At the end of the shopping street we passed by the five-story pagoda and a small temple. There was a small Statue of Buddha and people rubbed the statue’s head, hands and knees and then rubbed their own bodies for good luck. Paul and I felt we needed all the positive health vibes we could get, so we awkwardly, but gratefully, took our turn. We then passed under the second gate. 

Paul and Cindy got their fortune by shaking a metal box until a stick came out. The stick was like a chopstick and it had a character on it that you matched to a drawer and pulled out your fortune.