Asakusa and Sensoji Temple

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Originally uploaded by me-spirit.

Tatay refused to step aside after his picture was taken, so Norv and I just improvised a pose at the Kaminarimon Gate, the entrance to Asakusa and Sensoji Temple.

It is quite a touristy place, along the way to the temple, with shops offering souvenirs and Hello Kitty items galore. But come for the snacks! Despite having eaten the sushi breakfast, we couldn't turn down the sweet, waffle-like smell of the ningyoyaki sponge cakes. Still further down the road, was sembei (rice crackers), warming on the griddle. We had to have that, too.

The new thing for us at this temple was the large incense burners. Here, you gather the incense to your head and body and pray for good health. Later on, Monica and I noticed two women fanning and rubbing smoke onto an elderly lady, probably their mother, who was sitting in her wheelchair receiving the incense. Every so often, we turned a corner in Japan and something or someone turned our thoughts to Mom.