Exploring Tokyo- Asakusa and Ueno districts

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We had a fantastic family trip exploring Tokyo. We stayed in Asakusa, so we got to enjoy the Sumida River, the Tokyo Skytree, the historic Senso-ji Temple, and Ueno Park. Our Airbnb was tucked in one of the narrow streets lined with small residential homes, bike parking, and back entrances to restaurants. It felt like a special hideaway in the historic heart of the city!

Keri, Mom, Dad, Kelsi in front of the airbnb

Asakusa is a glimpse into old Tokyo. We saw women in kimonos and monks at Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most popular temple, and explored quaint shops selling boxwood combs, bamboo fans, and sweet pastries like mochi and adzuki (red bean) sandwiched pancakes. The traditional shops and restaurants preserve the charms of old Tokyo, offering a window into the city’s past.

Running along the Sumida River offered us fantastic views of the Tokyo Skytree. Afterward, we loved stopping at nearby cafes for a coffee.

We had an unforgettable kaiseki meal in a serene teahouse in Ueno Park. The four courses included tofu prepared four ways, a beautiful bento assortment, tempura, adzuki bean rice, miso soup, and for dessert, jello and matcha mochi. We highly recommend Inshotei!

The first course of the kaiseki included fried tofu skin, chilled tofu, warm egg custard, and tuna sashimi.
Second course of kaiseki meal: Grilled flounder, rolled omelet, shrimp, sweet potato, herring, lotus root, fried tofu, tuna, egg plant, and okara (soy pulp) were the second course.
Third course was tempura of jalapeno pepper and crab, miso soup, and warm rice with adzuki beans
The dessert was matcha-flavored mochi (sweet steamed rice pounded into paste and shaped into balls) and jello with fruit.

We visited the Tokyo Sky Tree over the weekend, and it was bustling with people! Opened in 2012, this towering structure once was the world’s tallest freestanding telecommunications tower at 634 meters. While it’s no longer the tallest building in the world (that goes to Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 828 meters), it’s still an impressive sight. From the observation decks, you can take in panoramic views of Tokyo. And there’s a section with glass floor panels where you can look (dizzingly!) all the way down to the ground. You can see the tower from many areas of Tokyo.

Great time at Ueno Zoo as well. As the oldest one in Japan, Ueno Zoo is central to the city and draws many families to see the Giant Pandas. We loved the pink flamingos, giraffes, and plant-loving rhinos.