The spiritual heart of Asakusa, and for that matter Tokyo, is the impressive Sensoji Buddhist Temple. Built sometime in the 7th century before Tokyo was even Edo, to house the golden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, which, according to legend was fished out of the nearby Simudagawa, by two local fisherman brothers. Despite their efforts to return Kannon to the river where she was found, the statue kept finding its way back to them. Subsequently a temple was built to house the goddess. Sensoji is Tokyo’s only agreed tourist attraction, and is visited daily by hundreds of tourists and worshipers from Japan and all over the world.

Arriving from Asakusa subway station, Sensoji is entered through Kiminarimon (“Thunder Gate”). A majestic structure that houses two protective deities: Fuijin, the god of wind, on the right, and Raijin, the god of thunder, on the left. These ferocious gods oversee all who enter the temple and keep the grounds safe.

Once inside the gate, you will come to Nakamise-dori. This shopping street, set within the actual temple precinct, has a history all of its own. These stalls and their proprietors are a living part of a centuries old tradition of selling wares to the pilgrims visiting the temple.

In the late 17th century, neighbors of the Sensoji who received and served visitors to the temple, were rewarded by being given a special right to open shops to sell their wares along the approach to the temple.

This continued until 1885, when the Tokyo metropolitan government, having taken control of the land belonging to Sensoji, ordered all Nakamise merchants to leave and in the same year built western style brick shops, leading to the beginning of modern Nakamese.

Today you can find everything from tourist trinkets, such as folding fans, to traditional Japanese clothing including kimonos and yukata, to local snack foods. Stretching out for some 200 meters, Nakamise-dori is the perfect place to while away an hour and pick up a souvenir or two before entering the main ground of the temple.

The main ground itself buzzes with accents from all over the world and the click of cameras. Travelers and locals mix on the temple grounds, uniting in their mission to pay their respects. 100 yen will buy you an omikuji (fortune written on a small piece of paper). You place the money in an honor box and shake a small cylinder containing sticks with numbers written on them. Shake the cylinder until one of the sticks falls out and pull your fortune from a drawer with the corresponding number. If your fortune is bad, tie the paper onto a nearby string so that the wind can disperse the bad luck.

Center stage in the temple forecourt is an incense burner. Here you will usually see a group of visitors fanning smoke from the burning incense over themselves. The incense is believed to have healing powers, and so fanning the smoke over your ailment will help to heal it. If you suffer from headache, fan some of the smoke over your head.

The main temple hall still houses the golden statue of Kannon, a diminutive 6cm tall, and is viewable by the public. Step forward to cast some coins in the offer box, which sits in front of the alter, take a step back, place your hands together, prey and then bow. This is the standard practice of preying at a Buddhist temple.

To the left of the forecourt and forming part of the temple, is the 5 story (53 meter) pagoda. A 1973 reconstruction of the original pagoda built on the same ground. This is the largest pagoda in Tokyo.

Destroyed by earthquakes and World War Two aerial bombings, Sensoji Temple has been rebuilt and reconstructed time and time again. Testament to the significance it holds within the Buddhist community and the general public. A remembrance of centuries old values and traditions that carry on today within Tokyo’s chaotic lifestyle, Sensoji is a steadying reminder that despite warring nations and new technology, some things will always

About the Author

Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and writer, and the founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company offering fine art, limited edition prints as well as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com.

 

Over the last several years, Cancun has grown into a beach city to rival the best in the world. However, many tourists never venture outside the Hotel Zone – a small stretch of land jutting into the Caribbean. Just a few miles inland, permanent residents and informed travelers mingle in the downtown area – known locally as El Centro. Besides offering a peak at authentic Mexican culture, this area is teeming with excellent restaurants and shopping opportunities.

Though Cancun is a very young city – major growth began only 40 years ago – the downtown area resembles a more rustic Mexican community in many ways. Throughout the streets, you will see mariachi bands and other types of traditional performers. If you want to witness a popular sport of yesteryear, visit the Cancun Centro Bullring for a bullfight. Even the restaurants and markets maintain the flavor of Mexican tradition, offering a nice counterpoint to the glitz and glamor of Cancun’s Hotel Zone.

Tulum Avenue is the main thoroughfare of downtown Cancun and a good place to start exploring the area. Along the 20 blocks of this street, you will find everything from bars and restaurants to outdoor markets and shopping malls. If you enter the city on the R1 bus, the first stop on Tulum Avenue will put you in the heart of Market Ki-Huic. This bustling market is one of the best places in Cancun to find locally made products and souvenirs – including beautiful silver jewelry and handmade blankets.

To complete your shopping experience in downtown Cancun, you should also visit Market 28 – known locally as Mercado Ventiocho. This marketplace is full of local artisans selling their paintings, pottery and jewelry. As it is customary for shoppers to bargain with vendors, you are unlikely to find better prices on souvenirs anywhere in Cancun. Next to Market 28, you will also find Plaza Bonita – a rustic collection of small boutiques and galleries.

As most tourists visit downtown Cancun for a taste of an authentic Mexican city, restaurants featuring local cuisine are very popular. Within a short walking distance you will find such celebrated restaurants as La Parilla, Pericos and La Habichuela. Many of these authentic Mexican restaurants also feature dinner entertainment, typically incorporating music and dance performances by local artists. Most importantly, such eateries won’t break your family’s budget. If you have had your fill of Mexican cuisine, you can also try several highly rated restaurants serving everything from traditional Italian and fresh seafood to Chinese fare.

Unlike many restaurants in the Hotel Zone, several establishments also open for brekafast in downtown Cancun. For example, Los Bisquets de Obregon serves a family-style breakfast in a casual setting. If you get to downtown Cancun in the morning, you can also beat some of the crowds to the popular markets and still have plenty of time to return to the beach in the evening.

If you stick around downtown Cancun after the sun sets, there is plenty to do in the streets surrounding Yaxchilan Avenue. Located near Market 28, this stretch of bars and clubs is one of the best areas in all of Cancun to experience the nightlife. You can sample some local tequilas or just kick back and enjoy live music. Though there is plenty of excitement for even the most party-oriented travelers, Yaxchilan Avenue remains a family-friendly destination – evidenced by the multitude of all-ages cafes and boisterous mariachi bands on the street.

Getting to downtown Cancun is simple. From the Hotel Zone, you can take a taxi – a fare that usually averages only a few dollars – or the R1 bus. The reliable Cancun public transportation system visits stops near all the major resorts and rides within downtown cost less than a dollar. To help you get around downtown Cancun, you can pick up a map of the area from your resort or visit one of the shops or restaurants downtown.

About the Author

Justin Burch writes articles about travel in Cancun [http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/cunmx-casamagna-marriott-cancun-resort/] and Mexico tourism for the Marriott Resorts.