Last Day in Japan, First Day of 2018

A bus and a train ride later, we arrived at Tokyo Station where we stowed our bags…

…goofed around on the plaza…

…and found a quiet corner for a beer.

With time to kill, we headed for Asakusa, a district in Taitō, famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple. We came out of the train tunnel and found ourselves surrounded by crowds of people. Unbeknownst to us it was Hatsumōde, the first Shinto shrine visit of the Japanese New Year. Some people visit a Buddhist temple instead.

That strange gold structure in the background is apparently the Asahi Beer Hall.

People watching was the highlight…

…and there was no shortage of interesting people…

…including Curtis and Kathleen who were interviewed by a local TV station.

The Nakamise-dōri is a street on the approach to the temple. It is said to have come about in the early 18th century, 

when neighbors of Sensō-ji were granted permission to set up shops on the approach to the temple. 

Dominating the entrance to the temple is the Kaminarimon or "Thunder Gate".

This paper lantern is painted in vivid red and black to suggest thunderclouds and lightning.

Not wanting to enter the temple, we found a convenient exit guarded by these friendly police.

Ahhh! Room to move about!

We found our way back to Tokyo Station, where we parted ways with our travel companions 

and headed home. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Japan and plan to return.