Travel Diary: Asakusa + Tokyo Runway

If Europe has its cathedrals, Asia has its temples. This is why a trip to Tokyo wouldn’t be complete without visiting at least one of its famous shrines.

During my trip to Tokyo last year, I visited Meiji Shrine. This year, we decided to go to Sensō-ji, a popular Buddhist temple located at Asakusa. Comparing the two, I prefer Senso-ji. Maybe because the old town vibe of Asakusa is so endearing. I’m really a sucker for old towns with traditional architecture (which you might’ve noticed in my travel diaries about Europe).  There are just so much more stories to tell and things to explore.

I felt like I was transported back to the olden times, especially with these man-powered vehicles or jinrikisha scattered around Asakusa. They offer short and long tours around town.

This is the Kaminari Gate or Kaminarimon built 1000 years ago as the symbol of Asakusa. It is the first gate you’ll see before you reach the Sensō-ji Temple.

If you stand below the huge lantern-like sign, this is what you’ll see. Isn’t it so intricate? The craftsmanship is amazing!

This is how the jinrikisha is ridden. If I ride this, I’d probably feel like royalty!

While on the way to the temple, we passed by Shin-Nakamise or “New Nakamise”, a covered shopping arcade full of traditonal shops and restaurants like this.

Once you walk past the first gate or Kaminarimon, you’ll see another shopping street called Nakamise. The Nakamise shopping street is approximately 250 meters long and leads straight to the main grounds of Sensō-ji Temple. Understandably, this street gets really crowded, as you can see above.

Nakamise Shopping Street is lined with more than 50 shops like this one. Most of the shops sell touristy items, souvenirs and local specialties.

You’ll also find a lot of street food along Nakamise. I don’t know what these are though. My friend, Laureen, bought them for us. All I know is, they’re super delicious! They might be crab cakes topped with sweet sauce.

Our new found friend, Indonesian beauty blogger Stella, bought this candy-coated banana to munch on. As you can see, the selection of street food on Nakamise is quite diverse!

Finally passed the second gate. That’s the Sensō-ji Temple right there.

Here we are, standing in front of the second gate or Hozo Gate.

This is how the Sensō-ji Temple looks like inside.

From what I observed, visitors throw coins at that area in front of the encased shrine and then proceed to pray, very much like how it works at Meiji Shrine and most Buddhist temples.

I’m assuming these are prayers from visitors.

Because the Tokyo Skytree is just nearby, you can see it clearly from the temple. It’s that really tall gray structure that looks a little bit like Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Radio Tower, except less colorful.

After our tour around Asakusa, our next schedule was to attend the Tokyo Runway show at Yoyogi National Gymnasium (which is near Meiji Shrine). We did a complete 180°–coming from a cultural experience of Tokyo’s traditional aspect to an equally exciting experience of Tokyo’s latest fashion trends.

Tokyo Runway is an event held twice a year in Tokyo. It features the latest fashionable but affordable streetwear from over 30 brands and modeled by hundreds of top models and popular TV personalities on the runway. Because of this, over 15,000 young girls attend Tokyo Runway each time, resulting to it being dubbed as one of the best “real clothes fashion show” in Asia. Tokyo Runway is more than just a show, however. Aside from the fashion shows, there are lot of entertaining event booths by sponsors as well where visitors can have the chance to take photos with top models and get some product samples.

Since I wasn’t allowed to take photos of the fashion show itself, I just sneakily took photos of random people outside instead. LOL!

I did manage to snap a photo of the stage before I got reprimanded though. Tada!

Hopefully, I’ll get to attend more shows in Japan in the future. These ninja photos will do for now.

Tomorrow, a new outfit post from Tokyo and sakura/cherry blossoms await you! #CoolJapan #100Tokyo

64 Responses to “Travel Diary: Asakusa + Tokyo Runway”
  1. July

    Your photos are really beautiful! And you dress well (if it’s you on pictures ;)) ^^

    Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Joy Dianne Gumatay

    Awiiiiieee! I love your shots Ms. Camille! I just visited that exact temple last March 2014 and seeing your photos brought back too many wonderful memories. TuT

    I love how fashion bloggers hang out together for fashion and fun. Sooo happy for all of you.

    Hope to see you soon, Ms. Camille. :”>

    Reply
  3. Katrin Tuano

    What is Fashion? ba kamo? The answer is super easy. Camille Co is Fashion. Boom baby boy hahahah! :) I also do hope to attend japan fashion shows and here in the Philippines too featuring coexist ahaha

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      Thank you Katrin! :) We’re so busy! Sana hopefully, we’ll do a fashion show in the future :)

      Reply
  4. jarelle tan

    your photo of people walking and you just standing in the middle is super cool! mejo matrix feels. haha. :)

    Reply
  5. Pobi

    I always get hungry when I look at the food on your photos ;) I’m jealous of Japan! Maybe next year…

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      I can’t help it! You’ll love the food in Japan, but then again I may be biased because Japanese cuisine is my favorite :)

      Reply
  6. Shaina

    Hi! :)) nice photos! :)) wow! Amazing! Nice blog by the way :) what do you use blogspot or wordpress? If not, what is it? :) so nice :)) please reply! Thanks po! :*

    Reply
  7. Hannah :)

    Nice photos! :)) wow! Amazing! What’s better na camera brand po, is it nikon or canon? Please reply :)) your opinion po :))

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      Thanks Hannah! Canon 5D Mark iii. Canon and Nikon are both good actually, I’ve used both. :)

      Reply
  8. shine

    i always love reading your travel diaries ate camille. sobrang detailed which i love most, unlike other bloggers na more on photos and postcards. you are a great story teller. i could listen to you the whole day, if given a chance. please please post more travel diaries. to travel is my dream! I wish i had your life. hihi someday soon i’ll see those magical sakuras too and stunning architectures in japan (ps: im an architecture student) hihi love you ate cams!!

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      Awww thank you! I like telling stories! :) And I’m happy there are people like you who look forward to hearing them :)

      Go for it! You’ll achieve your dreams too :)

      Reply
  9. Pia Talja

    I’ve always wanted to go to Japan. Your travel diaries about it made me love Japan more. You’re so lucky you got to see a Cherry Blossom tree! You’re one of the reasons why I started blogging. Thank you for sharing photos and stories about your trip to Japan!:)xx

    Reply
  10. Kaye Alid

    The street foods are interesting. Huhu i want to go to japan RN, i cri hahahaah but naah I’m still a 14yr old still learning. Hope i can go there someday with my love ones.

    Reply
  11. Alexa

    you HAVE to go to Kyoto next time! I swear the most amazing temples are there! and especially since you mention you have a knack for old towns!

    Reply
  12. Lourine

    I can’t blame you for liking old towns. I want to visit those in the future. I bat it makes you feel like your transported to different era, like being part of the history. I like those blurred effects of some of your pictures. Parang may pagka-dramatic. Hehe. Dunno. Just feel like it to me. :)

    Reply
  13. Camille

    I feel like kasama nyo ako sa travel.. Thanks for sharing those photos..

    Reply
  14. KimClaire

    Hi Ms. Camille. Just like in pictures, you really standout. :)

    Reply
  15. Hanie

    I think it’s the first time I see such details of Asakusa! :D Usually I only see the huge lantern and the shrine, but to think that there’s so much more to explore makes me want to go there even though I’m not there to pray.

    Giveaway on my blog!

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      Yes! I wish I got to check out the stores too and the side streets :)

      Reply
  16. Arianna Tan

    Your beauty stands out in that crowd Ms. Camille :) Gorgeous as always! <3

    Reply
  17. Ren

    It’s quite scary when you ride that jinrikisha because it might be out-balance, pero bawing bawi naman sa pagkaroyalty. Wave to people HAHA. Ang ganda naman ng effect nga blurry picture mo in the middle. E-billbooard mo na yan! They didn’t allow the cameras in the fashion show so the audience could just enjoy the show and save them in their memories. Pero ang arte pa rin nila no? Wala tuloy akong nakitang fashion show dito sa blog mo. Meh nila!

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      Hahaha! Tama! With matching wave pa! :) I don’t know nga why it’s not allowed eh. :(

      Reply
  18. Angelic Robles

    Just finished going through your latest travel diaries, Miss Camille! You’ve intrigued me very much on Tokyo and its latest. I loved your choice of kimono, especially the obi belt.

    For this part of your journey, I enjoyed the fascinating details of the angles you took in each photo. The shots of you in the middle with a blurry, sort of moving background felt very much like a movie scene. I was even humming “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton!

    The traditional side of Tokyo really does credit to summer colors. I am very partial to the anachronistic vibe they portray simply by not being afraid of mixing past and present, even with the food! Wish I got to try the yummy snacks you showed here as well. The crabcakes look scrumptious!

    Now for your outfit: Your jacket is adorably diverse. What with all its layers and textures. It really made your youthfulness glow because of the streetwear image that immediately came to mind. Under that, your crisp blouse and pants had me root for your professionalism in being a representative of the Philippines. You look so ready to take on the world!

    And it kept getting better because I took a second look and realized you were wearing ankle boots! That just capped off the entire ensemble really well. You look tall and sophisticated. I can say this one has to be a major style hit.

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      What a nice background music. :) Thank you Angelic! I know what you mean! I love how they’re able to merge the old and new. It’s something that’s very Japanese :)

      Reply
  19. Bunny

    What kind of camera and lens are you using? These pictures are gorgeous!

    Reply
  20. Tasha D.

    Yung outfits mo from Tokyo look so editorial-ish! Very well styled! Sobrang unique! Something only a few can come up with!

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      Kinilig naman ako! Thanks Tasha! I really love it kasi people in Tokyo don’t care what you wear. So I feel like it’s my playground, I can wear ANYTHING! :)

      Reply
  21. Chantel :)

    Beautiful, since i was a kid im not a fan of japan.But when i saw this photos of your’s things are change now.Ill definitely visit japan on my future out of the country trip. xoxo

    Reply
    • Camille Co

      I think there is something for everyone in Japan so it’s nice you’re giving it a chance. :) I’m sure you’ll like it!

      Reply
      • Chantel :)

        Yah! Youre right Cam’s, looks like you enjoyed your trip there, looking forward to my turn…be safe and enjoy….xoxo

        Reply
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