Another day, another blog
Alrighty then. Yesterday, I went to the number two site to see in Tokyo, according to my guide book---Asakuza. It is the remaining part of the Old Edo period grounds, turned blaringly commercial for people like me. It was nice, there were pagodas and shines and temples, and a place where you could bless yourself in fairy water, and rub smoke on your hair. I didn't quite understand the whole, hair rubbing thing, but I am not shinto either. Then again, very few Japanese are either. *shrugs*
So, I found this amazing 5 story pagoda that I took a bunch of pictures of....it looked really old and beautiful. But, then I got up closer to it and read the sign that said it was built in 1973. 1973! I felt like an idiot.
Another thing I did not like was that all the buildings were covered in some sort of netting, and that some of the statues were wrapped in bubble wrap and had cages around them. It doesn't make for a lot of photo opportunities. Also, here is the double standard. The Japanese people really dislike having their pictures taken, and it freaks them out if they think you are taking their picture without asking first. I can understand this. No problem. But, wherever you see Japanese tourists in other countries, all of them are a crazy pack of shutter bugs. Documenting everything from the road to the homeless person.
The thing about Japanese siteseeing is that there isn't a whole lot to see. I mean, you can look at the outside of a shrine for only so long, and if there are no signs to read, or a lot of things to take pictures of, well, the whole attraction lasts maybe an hour and a half. So, I ususally end up riding the train for an hour or two to get to the attraction, then I am there for an hour or two, and then I turn around and go back home thinking I have missed something. It is quite frustrating for me.
So, I found this amazing 5 story pagoda that I took a bunch of pictures of....it looked really old and beautiful. But, then I got up closer to it and read the sign that said it was built in 1973. 1973! I felt like an idiot.
Another thing I did not like was that all the buildings were covered in some sort of netting, and that some of the statues were wrapped in bubble wrap and had cages around them. It doesn't make for a lot of photo opportunities. Also, here is the double standard. The Japanese people really dislike having their pictures taken, and it freaks them out if they think you are taking their picture without asking first. I can understand this. No problem. But, wherever you see Japanese tourists in other countries, all of them are a crazy pack of shutter bugs. Documenting everything from the road to the homeless person.
The thing about Japanese siteseeing is that there isn't a whole lot to see. I mean, you can look at the outside of a shrine for only so long, and if there are no signs to read, or a lot of things to take pictures of, well, the whole attraction lasts maybe an hour and a half. So, I ususally end up riding the train for an hour or two to get to the attraction, then I am there for an hour or two, and then I turn around and go back home thinking I have missed something. It is quite frustrating for me.
posted by Tangerine at 5:59 PM
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