Glass and Fancy Gates

Day 7 – Kinari Glass Shop and Sensoji Temple

For those of you that don’t know my mum is a glass artist *cough* and as such I have an interest in the art  as well, today for me was about sourcing out some Japanese Glass arts. The Japanese are known for their glass and lampworking skills and I was privileged today to get to sit in on a Boro class that was going on at the Kinari Glass Shop in Asakusabashi. I have never seen Boro work being done first hand before and the teacher Yuko Wantanabe (I wonder if he is part of the rim world, he might be rich, I should totally start stalking him) invited me in to have a look.  Boro is a hard glass and needs a hotter flame to work and it all appears very time consuming and intricate but the end results are amazing. I was also the model daughter and brought my old mumsy some presents from here and if that doesn’t make me the favourite daughter then that shit is rigged and I want a recount. Getting there was a bit of a struggle though because I got off at the wrong stop, walked in the wrong directions, couldn’t find the station to get back to the right stop and generally just messed  myself around. But instead of being annoyed about it, I can look reflectively at it, here are some things I have learnt from my Japan trip

Tokyo University

Getting lost can help you get found – Today whilst loosing my train station I came across the Tokyo University, I strolled into the grounds and it was one of the most beautiful places (think UWA beautiful) had I not got lost I would have never found this place, or the temple down one little side street, or the house covered in Morning Glory… getting lost gives you an opportunity to find things that you may have missed otherwise

Beautiful Ivy Covered House

Look Up – I have learnt this one from being interested in Graffitti, if you look up there is generally something to see. When I was walking around today I looked up and saw the most intricate wrought iron lace balcony walls on an apartment block. If I had never looked up I wouldn’t have seen the hidden beauty that Tokyo had to offer me

Don’t sweat the little things – like the rain, it rained all day today and while yeah it can be annoying, to me it added to the character and ambience of the city. It made me appreciate the warm miso when I had my lunch and allowed me time to stop and rest and take in the sites, something I probably wouldn’t have done if the sun was out

Planning is overrated – last time I was in Japan I planned everything down to the wire, this time I have decided to wing it (thus getting lost today) and its working out amazing, it gives me a surprise when I happen to stumble upon something that I didn’t know about. Its discovering a city and finding the little things

This is where Godzirra goes to use the phone, not really a little building I hope

On my wayward mission today, I got off at the wrong stop which took me out to the Senso-ji Temple, I visited Senso-ji last year, and they day was much like today, overcast and wet and even so the place has a magical air about it. The temple enshrines a Golden Image of Kannon, the Buddhist God of Mercy, which according to legend, was pulled out of the Sumida Gawa  by two Fisherman in AD 628 and the image has remained there ever since (it isn’t on display to the public though so it could all be a falacy)

To get to the temple you head through the Kaminarimon (Thunder) Gate, which is guarded on either side by two giant gold figures of Fujin- the god of wind and Raijin - the god of thunder, through the gate  you step into a shopping wonderland. The streets on the road to the temple are lined with little stores selling everything from Genuine Kimonos and ceremonial head wear to Totoro toys and sumo figurines. One of my favourite things about this place is the food venders that are in front of the main shrine itself, my top picks are the little custard pancakes in the shapes of the temple and the BBQd corn.

The Thunder Gate - Not at all like the Thunder Throne

I am always in a sense of awe when I enter temples and shrines to see the spectacle that takes place when people go to give their prayers. At the steps of the Senso-ji temple there is a large incense cauldron and its said that the smoke has healing powers so people push the smoke onto themselves to get the healing that it can bring. Not one to be missing out I did it as well, because hey you never know your luck and Zombie Jesus may be back at any time and I need all the help that I can get. Before you enter the Shrine you need to cleanse yourself or your sins, and for this there are water fountains that have ladels cups on them, the idea is that you get your cup, fill it with water, and put the sacred water of your hands and you mouth to cleanse you of your sins before you step inside to pray. I also gave this one a bash, cause you gotta be in it to win it.

Healing Smoke 

The Cleaning Water Fountain

The only thing about Senso-ji that I don’t like is the crowds, the streets are literally lined chock a block with people and it can get a bit frustrating if you are seeking a bit of quiet (which generally I am) and room to move.  I guess my thoughts are that because it’s a holy place people should be quiet, but I guess the general population don’t have the same sentiments as I do. What did strike me about this shrine is the attention to detail in all of the buildings and surrounds, the seats around one of the trees in the court yard is made of polished marble, the underside of the paper lantern in one of the gates  is engraved with a large dragon (which I wouldn’t have seen if I didn’t look up) so I guess it’s the little things that matter the most.

The Dragon lantern... I think he is an angry Dragon

This shall probably be my last post for a while as in the morning we are heading to Ebisu to Die… ummm I mean drift. You can visit the live cams here to see us drifting, look for a sil80 covered in bright Pink and Green Zombies and possibly a small asian man hanging out the side of the vehicle calling for his mummy (I seem to have that affect on me) , if I don’t die of the side of a cliff I will post up when I can (not that you really care anyway but thanks for pretending)

Love and Drift Jumps

Miss K 

Back Alley Shrine 

mmmm Delicious Downer Corn

Inside of Senso-ji Shrine