#daily life in the shitamachi

[todayintokyo]

When I say houses in the shitamachi are narrow, I really mean narrow, as in the width of one car. It’s quite long (deep?), though.

[chiisai-fukurou]

Shitamachi Museum :)

I have been wanting to come back to this charming and pleasant museum for quite a while now :D

As the name suggests (Shitamachi meaning low place) this museum is mostly about the daily life of ordinary people like craftsmen and simple merchants running small shops :) It is very charming to walk through the narrow paths between the small houses that are on display :)

The museum doesn't romanticise but rather shows pretty accurately what life was like back then and it has a very nice section with child’s toys that you are invited to play with :)

There are a lot of small details that might escape the viewer at first glance but that are very accurate and pleasant to see :) Over all while the museum seems to receive very little funding, it does feel warm and welcoming due to the lovingly maintained displays and the gentle and kind staff :)

It is a little gem of a museum right next to Ueno station that easily gets overlooked. It is like a lot of things in Japan that do get overlooked while they each offer a myriad of ways they could entertain the viewer or user depending on their perspective and experience :)

One pleasant thing is the classic Japanese post box greeting you at the entrance :) The first display I decided to put in this article is a Geta shop (Japanese wooden clogs :) They are a nice example of early Japanese industry as the wooden soles were cut by a sawyer specialising in this task, the ribbons holding your feet were woven by another craftsman and the sale and final adjustment were accomplished by the shopkeeper :) In case you are wondering what the wooden board and sticks are for, those were used to hit and soften the ribbons prior to adjusting them to the customers feet :) I admire how early on during history this teamwork was being established leading to all crafts along the line blossoming and developing in a nice way :)

I will write a few more articles about the displays in this museum soon :)

Today I gave the keys to my old flat back to my old landlord :) I hope I can get my security deposit back soon :3 I feel like a burden fell off my shoulders and I’m looking forward towards the weekend :3 Tomorrow I’ll take part in riding the Critical Mass bicycle thingy in Hamburg :) While I’m apathetic towards the political side of it I do enjoy riding on streets that would otherwise be too dangerous and busy to ride on :D I like to let myself fall back to the end and then race towards the front and then fall back again (^-^;) it is quite selfish but well, I do apologise for the inconvenience m(_ _)m

Recently I received a few messages asking me rather bluntly whether I would fancy having sexual intercourse with them (°_°;)  I’m a guy and I’m not into other guys.... I like women and I remember having mentioned that in the past (°-°;)

Anyway I’m enjoying my new home and slowly furnishing it ((((((((((っ･ω･)っ

I wish everyone a great time with sweet daydreams (^-^)/

[babbelcause]

I went to the tiny Shitamachi Museum in Tokyo's Ueno Park today. It's a charming little museum on the daily life of ordinary people in Tokyo until the mid-XXth century. A handful of visitors, some of the staff don't speak English. At the end of my visit, I bought a few postcards, and as I was about to leave, one of the staff behind the counter asked me where I was from. When I replied, he said "I have a small gift for you" He opened a shoebox that contained a number octogonal origami boxes. "You can take one."

[tripcom]

Travel On A Budget | Tokyo 3-Day Itinerary

.Tokyo is one of the most exciting cities on the planet but it’s also one of the most expensive. Thankfully, with our helpful travel tips, it’s easy to experience Tokyo without spending too much money! 

1)    Getting There

Background photo @Moyan Brenn

.Our website or app has the best flight deals to Tokyo. According to our price prediction calendar, the cheapest period to fly to Tokyo in the near future is between February 21th to March 3th. The best value flights will be between 1,400-2,300 CNY round trip (taxes included) flying from mainland China. 

2)    Where to Stay

.Hotel rates in Japan can fluctuate dramatically so its recommended to start looking for a room a few months ahead of time. The best deals are generally found on the east side of Tokyo, especially in Ueno and Asakusa, two popular neighborhoods which offer a taste of tradition.

Local hostels are always clean and well-managed. Expect to pay about ¥2,000 (CNY120) for a dorm and ¥4,000 (CNY240) for a private double room.

Sakura Hostel Asakusa

1 NIGHT: CNY 98

With a stay at Sakura Hostel Asakusa in Tokyo (Asakusa), you'll be minutes from Hanayashiki Amusement Park and Sensoji Temple. This hostel is also within close proximity of Edo Shitamachi Traditional Crafts Museum and Mokubatei.

Business hotels in Tokyo offer small, simple Western style rooms. Options include hotel chains such as Route Inn, APA Hotel, Super Hotel and Toyoko Inn. Most cheap hotels cost between ¥5,000-10,000 (CNY300-600) for a double room.

Toshi Center Hotel Tokyo

1 NIGHT: CNY 288 (special deal for Ctrip members)

Featuring beautiful Tokyo skyline views from its upper floors, Toshi Center Hotel is located in the heart of the city, just a 3-minute walk from Nagatacho Subway Station. It offers 2 restaurants and high-floor rooms with internet. 

Another popular choice is the capsule hotel. This particular hotel accommodates their guests in small capsules! A television, shared bathroom and coin lockers are usually provided. The average price is ¥3,000-4,000 (CNY180-240).

Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel Tokyo

1NIGHT: CNY139

In the heart of the lively Shinjuku area, the Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel is 0.25 kilometers from Shinjuku Train Station. It offers compact capsule beds with a private TV and alarm clock.

Booking tip: Avoid peak domestic travel times, such as New Year, Golden Week (late April to early May), and Obon (mid-August).

3)    Where to eat in Tokyo

Photo @gen.444

 For a good inexpensive meal, visit a shokudō. Usually found at train stations and tourist sites, a regular meal usually includes a main dish of meat or fish, rice, miso soup and salad, for around ¥1000 (CNY60=US$10). 

For a delicious bowls of noodles, visit a tachigui, usually located in and around train stations, for as little as ¥350 (CNY20=US$3.50) per bowl. If you prefer to sit while you eat, for under ¥1000 you can visit Nagi in Shinjuku.

Sushi lovers on a budget can always try kaiten-zushi for a casual lunch or dinner. Dishes are priced from ¥100 to ¥500.

Photo @pinchenpin

Convenience stores (Lawsons, 7-Eleven and Family Mart) stock sandwiches, rice balls, hot dishes and drinks. 

Photo @yakitorimaruyoshi

The perfect choice for a drink is a izakaya, the Japanese equivalent of a pub. 

4)    Transportation

On foot: Though Tokyo is not designed for pedestrians, some neighborhoods like Aoyama or Yanaka, are quite nice for a stroll. Ginza and Akihabara are transformed into pedestrian zones on Sundays as well. 

Photo @cnkirkcaldy

By bike: Cycling is both ecological and flexible.  Various stores offer cheap daily bike rentals.

By taxi: In Tokyo, taxis are a practical but expensive means of transportation. The basic fare for the first 2 km is 730 yen and the final price can quickly exceed 2 000 yen (CNY120= US$17.50).

Photo @adorable_rose

By bus: This a great alternative. The fare is 210 yens, to be paid when entering the bus.

Tokyo is covered by a dense network of train, subway and bus lines. The train lines and subway lines are especially convenient for traveling around central Tokyo. With different passes offered, it is generally cheaper to have a pass than buy a single ticket. The price of one-day pass is 710 Yen.

5)    What to Do in Tokyo: Short Itinerary

Day 1. Visit modern Tokyo (West side)

Photo @1994.anna

8:15am: Take the train or subway to Harajuku.

9:00am: Arrive in Harajuku and visit the popular Meiji-jingu Shrine. After visiting the shrine, walk along Omotesando. Then, walk east all the way to the fantastic Nezu Museum.

11:30am: Walk to the intersection of Omotesando and Aoyama-dori to take the Ginza subway line west to Shibuya.

11:45am: Arrive in Shibuya, take the Hachiko exit and then walk across Shibuya Crossing. Explore the modern department stores of Shibuya.

1:00pm: Eat lunch in Shibuya.

2.00pm: Take the Yamanote Line one stop south to Ebisu Station, then switch to the Hibiya Line subway and take two stops to Roppongi.

3:00pm: Visit Roppongi Hills. Take the elevator up to the 52nd floor Tokyo City View observation deck for stunning views.

6:00pm: Eat dinner in Roppongi and enjoy a drink in one of the area’s many bars.

Day 2. Visit traditional Tokyo (East Side)

Photo @yamashitaphoto

8:30am: Take the Ginza subway line up to Asakusa. Visit Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa-jinja Shrine.

10:00am: Take the Ginza subway line three stops to Ueno.

10:30am: Arrive in Ueno and visit Tokyo National Museum, Ueno-koen Park and Tosho-gu Shrine.

1:30pm: Take the JR Yamanote Line south to Tokyo Station and have lunch in the surrounding area (this a great place to find nice cheap meals). 

3:00pm: Visit the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum or the Bridgestone Museum of Art and enjoy beautiful Hibiya-koen Park. 

6:00pm: Eat dinner in Shinjuku, Ginza, or another popular spot close to your hotel.  

8:00pm: For those wanting to enjoy the night life, visit Roppongi, Shinjuku or Shibuya.

Day 3. Tsukiji Fish Market, Hama Rikyu, the Imperial Palace Area and Shinjuku

Photo @e_ayu

9:00am: Take the subway to Tsukiji and explore the Fish Market. There plenty of sushi places around.  

11:00am: Walk to Hama Rikyu to visit Hama Rikyu Gardens.

1:30pm: Arrive at Tokyo Station. Eat lunch in or around the station.

2:30pm: Walk to the Imperial Palace East Garden. After that, visit Yasukuni-jinja Shrine.

5:00pm: Take the train or subway up to Shinjuku. Go up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices to see the views of the city. Walk back to Shinjuku to take in the atmosphere of the area. Have dinner here and enjoy the interesting surroundings

Click to find the best deals for your next holidays

[todayintokyo]

See the rattan blinds in front of the windows? It's called sudare (簾 or すだれ), and it protects a house against sunlight. You can buy it at supermarkets.

[todayintokyo]

Torigoe Jinja and nearby shops reminding us to maintain a distance when praying and to “let’s wear a mask”.

[todayintokyo]

Spotted in the shitamachi: fresh water left outside a shop, and one of the stray cats it’s meant for. Neko-chan was sprawling in the shade in a gap between two buildings. It was very, very hot.

[todayintokyo]

Ah, the joyous sounds of spring! That’s a 7-story concrete building that’s being demolished by jackhammers. They’ve been at it for two weeks. They haven’t even done one full floor yet.

[todayintokyo]

willbemother said: Many plant pots are always on the pavement. Sitamachi people like putting plant pots on the pavement?

@iwillbemother, yes! I took all these photos (this afternoon) (just for you) (grin) in the short walk from my apartment to the nearest station. I think shitamachi people love pot plants because we don’t have enough space for gardens, so we turn sidewalks and balconies and roofs into green spaces. :) PS: Yes, that’s a last stubborn patch of ice in that top photo. The narrow alleys in the shitamachi don’t get much sunlight. PPS: Don’t you love the little ornaments?

[todayintokyo]

I wouldn’t mind living here, in a green house with white trim behind a cherry tree.

[todayintokyo]

Pot plants in front of houses in the shitamachi. It’s spring!

[todayintokyo]

Almost every house in my neighourhood has flowers at its front door; now -- in early spring -- particularly colourful. It’s fun to observe the different displays and the ever-changing offerings. PS: Many of the dwellings in this old shitamachi area are a combination of shop / business plus home. There is no space between the building and the street: the only separation between private and public is a sliding (often glass) door. Plus a few pot plants. :)

[todayintokyo]

It’s a cool but sunny spring day. Let’s laundry and air the futon! :) PS: Those plastic bottles on the sidewalk are called 猫よけ nekoyoke (cat repellent), because they’re supposed to keep cats out of your plants. I don’t necessarily believe this life hack, but the rest of Tokyo clearly does.

[todayintokyo]

This is what the backstreets in my neighbourhood look like. We’re not exactly talking boulevards.

[todayintokyo]

You often see this little elephant mascot in front of drugstores in Japan. The (orange) male is callled Sato-chan; the (pink) female is Satoko-chan. Elephants for longevity, orange is cheerful and energetic, pink is warm and calm. Quote unquote.