Tokyo Bay and Sumida River Boat Cruise...

Wednesday was another free and easy day so pakdokter and partner decided that we try out the Tokyo Harbour and Sumida River Cruise that would take us up to Asakusa. It was possible to catch a water boat right in front of the AquaCity in Odaiba which was just a 5-minute walk from our hotel but as the next boat was about 2 hours away we were recommended to catch the next earliest boat from Hinode Pier on the mainland. So we took the monorail from in front of our hotel which ferried us across the Rainbow Bridge to Hinode Pier which was only 3 stops away from Daiba where our hotel was.

the Rainbow Bridge viewed from the monorail..
Hotel Inter-Continental near the Hinode Pier...

pakdokter's " mummy-san" at the window-seat of the boat......

The cruise up the Sumida River from Hinode Pier to Asakusa took about 35 minutes. All along the river banks, every plot of land has been developed either into 'posh' high-rise apartments or office complexes. A large part of the river banks was developed into walking/jogging and cycling paths. What attracted pakdokter's attention was how clean the river was. There were no plastic bags or bottles or used styrofoam food containers floating around!

We also passed the famed 'Tsukiji Market' where early every morning tourists would flock to this market to witness the spectacle of fresh salmon and tuna being auctioned to restauranters etc. Our son told us that a few months ago tourists were banned from visiting the Tsukiji Market because many of them were touching and feeling the fish to the annoyance of the fishermen and buyers because that would have affected the freshness and cleanliness of the fish. Tourists are now allowed but have to observe the proceedings from a distance away...

the Tsukiji Market viewed from the Sumida River..

some of the bridges across the Sumida River....

the Asahi Office Complex at Asakusa...

Asakusa is a 'one-of-the must-visit' location for any Tokyo tourist itinerary. 1300 years ago, on March 18th in the year 628, two fishermen caught the Kannon statue in their fishing net in the Sumida River. That was how the Sensouji Temple in Asakusa was started. The Kannon Bodhisattva image became the symbol of faith to many people and the temple became popularly visited by people from far-away places causing Asakusa to develop into a prosperous district.

Today,the streets leading to the Sensouji Temple still retains much of its Edo character and atmosphere and has become a popular tourist site where one can shop for Japanese souvenier items and sample the many Japanese restaurants there.

the Kaminarimon Gate at the entrance to the street leading to the Temple...

Nakamise-dori, the Edo-style street lined with many little shops offering Japanese arts and crafts, cakes and cookies etc....

the Hazomon Gate from mid-way along the Nakamise-dori...

Goju-no-Tou...

the Hozomon Gate leading into the Sensoji Temple..