Posted September 1, 2014 by Jonelle Patrick4 Comments Just...Beautiful

Diva In The Spotlight: Asakusa At Night

The grand dame of Tokyo temples, Senso-ji

Asakusa is always entertaining by day, but it’s totally stunning at night. From theatrically lit temples to glittering reflections on the Sumida River, this neighborhood never disappoints.

Even the doors are larger then life. — Even the doors are larger than life.

Old meets new: the five-story pagoda and Skytree, together

The side gate framing the temple beyond — A side gate frames the temple beyond

A geisha hurrys along a side street, on the way to her evening appointment on a rainy night — A geisha hurries along a side street on a rainy night, on the way to her evening appointment

Festival lanterns light a side street — Festival lanterns glow over a side street

A pleasure boat motors past Skytree on the Sumida River

If you’d like to visit the Asakusa area the next time you’re in Tokyo, a map is on my website, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.

And just for fun, here are the eleven strangest shrines in Tokyo, with all the inside scoop on the resident gods’ superpowers

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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had

Jonelle Patrick View All

Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!

4 thoughts on “Diva In The Spotlight: Asakusa At Night” ›

Hey! I’ve been there! My Facebook not-profile (theme? landscape?) picture is a shot of the underside of that big lantern I took when I visited.

Except when I went there were tons and tons of people, it was daytime, and it didn’t look nearly this cool… Because there were tons and tons of people and it was daytime. $:\$

Jonelle Patrick says:

September 2, 2014 at 12:24 am

Yeah, daytime isn’t as scenic, but it’s always fun! I usually take first time visitors to Asakusa on their first day, because it’s everything people hope Japan will be. And unlike other places I’ve been to countless times, I always see something new and fun in Asakusa! Next time you should swing at night though, don’t you think?

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Exquisite, Jonelle. I’ve never been there at night. And you didn’t mention the Giant Sperm building in the last picture. An explanation might be in order for people who don’t know what it’s supposed to be.

Jonelle Patrick says:

September 2, 2014 at 12:29 am

Ahaha, I always thought of it as the Golden Poo! And I’m not sure I actually know the significance. The building to its left is the Asahi beer company’s corporate headquarters, and in the daytime it’s clear that the gold-tinted glass sides capped with a bubbly white cornice are meant to look like a tall cold brewskie, but the poo? Do you know why it’s perched up there?

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