Opened in 1853, at the end of the Edo period, as a garden of peonies and chrysanthemums, it still operates as Japan's oldest amusement park. Its roller coaster, built in 1953, is the oldest existing coaster in Japan. Banners for the park's 170th anniversary stood in the garden. This time I rode a gondola hanging from an overhead rail and won a yellow duck at the shooting gallery.
2-28-1 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo
Sources: gotokyo.org enjoytokyo.jp
This moment in the journey
Japan's oldest amusement park
Next I headed to Asakusa Hanayashiki, opened in 1853 and the oldest amusement park in Japan. It began as a garden of peonies and chrysanthemums. The lights of the merry-go-round sparkled, and in the garden with its red bridge stood a banner celebrating the park's 170th anniversary.
From a raised walkway, the Skytree and the five-story pagoda of Senso-ji stand side by side. In front of them runs the oldest existing roller coaster in Japan, built in 1953, a popular ride that dashes thrillingly through the old town. I'll try riding something too.
Watch this scene on YouTube7:00
More notes from this journey
Taito, Tokyo
Kaminarimon and Nakamise at Senso-ji
Kaminarimon is the main gate of Senso-ji; its formal name, Furaijin-mon, comes from the statues of the wind god and the thunder god enshrined on either side.
From: An Asakusa food diary that begins at an old coffee house
Taito, Tokyo
Asakusa Rokku and the Toyokan theater
The area west of Senso-ji, covering Asakusa 1- and 2-chome, also called Koen Rokku.
From: An Asakusa food diary that begins at an old coffee house
Taito, Tokyo
Asakusa Chikagai underground arcade
Opened in 1955, the oldest underground shopping street still in existence in Japan.
From: An Asakusa food diary that begins at an old coffee house
Taito, Tokyo
Noodles from Asakusa Kaikaro
A noodle maker founded in 1950, in the Inaricho area of Taito Ward.
From: An Asakusa food diary that begins at an old coffee house
Taito, Tokyo
Kannon-ura
A quiet neighborhood behind Senso-ji, north across Kototoi Street.
From: An Asakusa food diary that begins at an old coffee house
Taito, Tokyo
Mamekan
A sweet of plump simmered red peas and agar topped with kuromitsu syrup.
From: An Asakusa food diary that begins at an old coffee house
More notes from Kanto
Kamogawa, Chiba
Namero on rice
Namero is a Chiba specialty handed down along the coast of the Boso Peninsula.
From: Zero minutes to the sea: summer vacation in Kamogawa
Kamogawa, Chiba
Sauce yakisoba
A staple of summer festival stalls.
From: Zero minutes to the sea: summer vacation in Kamogawa
Kamogawa, Chiba
Grilled seafood skewers
The taste of the festival stall, on a small charcoal grill on the veranda.
From: Zero minutes to the sea: summer vacation in Kamogawa
Kamakura, Kanagawa
A little Kamakura drinking set
At the farmers' market near Kamakura Station, growers from around Kamakura sell "Kamakura vegetables," many varieties in small quantities, grown with as little…
From: A hundred-year-old house in the town of the Enoden
Kamakura, Kanagawa
Kenchin-jiru
A soup of root vegetables and tofu, sautéed in oil before simmering.
From: A Kamakura-vegetable breakfast and a walk on Enoshima
Kamakura, Kanagawa
Kamakura morning set with grilled dried fish
Kenchin-jiru made with Kamakura vegetables, with dried fish from the market shop grilled alongside.
From: A Kamakura-vegetable breakfast and a walk on Enoshima