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Travel

Tokyo Diaries: Sightseeing

imperial palace gardens

Whenever I travel, I’m a big sucker for reading guide books to find out about all the big “touristy” things to do. I’m a lover of sightseeing because I really like learning as much as I can about a country’s history and culture. Especially since I’d never been to Tokyo before, I was really excited to get a glimpse into Japanese traditions, art, and architecture. I picked up a map first thing when we got to our hotel and planned out a full day of Tokyo sightseeing. First stop: the Imperial Palace.

imperial palace

When we arrived at the Imperial Palace, we were first guided through the public East Gardens. It was a beautiful, sprawling Japanese garden that seems perfectly symmetrical. You’re literally surrounded by bright green grass and bonzai trees which are all lined up in order. It seemed so clean, orderly, and organized. Then, we walked up towards the Imperial Palace. However, it was blocked off by a chain so we couldn’t get very close.

imperial palace

I guess I’m used to Europe where you can visit all the castles and even take tours of some of them. Here you could only take photos and admire the palace from a distance. The whole palace area is surrounded by moats and two bridges that form the entrance to the inner palace grounds. I was a little bit disappointed that we couldn’t go inside. They only let people visit on January 2 for New Year’s and December 23 for the Emperor’s Birthday. So no, I did not catch a glimpse of the imperial family if you were wondering. But it was beautiful none the less. 

sensoji temple

Next on our sightseeing through Tokyo, we decided to head on over to Sensoji.

It’s a Buddhist temple that’s one of the most colorful and popular in all of Tokyo. It was completed all the way back in 645, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple. I was shocked by how historic it was, just to think how thousands of years ago people worshipped there and they still do. It was such a beautiful temple, surrounded by so many people and bursting with energy.

sensoji temple

My boyfriend and I basically just watched what other people were doing and followed their lead.

We walked through a market teeming with trinkets, little snacks, and all sorts of souvenirs. It’s a major tourist trap so beware. We walked right on through without buying anything and made it to the temple.

sensoji temple

We both threw an offering into the grates at the front of the temple and bowed. That’s generally what most people do when they go to the temple. Give an offering and offer up their prayers. Even though I’m not Buddhist, I have a great respect for all religions because, just like food, it is a part of a country’s culture and history.

sensoji temple

Another tradition was to write your wishes on a piece of paper and tie it up so they come true. It’s similar to what the Chinese do with wishing trees for Chinese New Year.

sensoji temple

They offer incense that you can burn as well for your loved ones as part of your prayers.

Overall, it was a very unique experience that’s definitely worth trying if you’re ever in Tokyo. Then, afterwards, there’s a bunch of small restaurants and quirky shops that you can walk around and look at in the Asakusa area. 

sensoji temple

We decided that we’d stay and have a look around, and hopefully find some food, since it was getting late. I ended up finding a Buddhist vegan-friendly cafe that was offering up all sorts of plant-based food. I was really excited, since I’d had such a hard time finding vegan food so far. 

vegan food in Tokyo

The woman working there mentioned to me that the best bet for finding vegan food is around the temples. Since Buddhists traditionally follow a vegetarian diet, they offered vegetarian salads, pizza, sandwiches, and desserts. Many dishes could be made vegan to my delight. I was ecstatic to see a green smoothie bowl on the menu.

green smoothie bowl

It was their special of the day, since they have a rotating smoothie menu.

This one was made up of banana, pineapple, kale, and mango. I’m not sure if it was because I’d been so deprived of vegan food, but this smoothie bowl tasted amazing! I even had some rawnola hidden away in my bag that I’d brought with me from home. So of course, I sprinkled it on top and it tasted just like the meals I was used to. 

Tokyo Sensoji Temple

After a busy day of sightseeing in Tokyo, my boyfriend and I were both exhausted. I went with him to grab some Japanese food, then we headed back to our hotel for tea. And then we took a nap. Yes, even when I travel, sometimes I need naps especially after all the walking we were doing that day. I’m only human after all.

Tokyo
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