Floating down the river in style

I am trying to take my parents to see many of the famous places in Tokyo.  One of the top destinations is Asakusa, a historical district with lots of character.  It is a large area with lots of things to explore. 

We started our morning at Sensoji Temple.  The temple with big lanterns is very famous.  It is also framed by lots of fun shops to explore.  There were lots of people dressed up in rented kimonos, which adds to the fun atmosphere despite it being a place of reverence.  I caught my dad with his mouth agape a couple times, especially after I point out intricately painted ceilings or something similar. 

Up next was a stroll through Kappabashi - the kitchen street!  I could spend hours here, and so could my stepmom.  There is so much to see.  I made sure to show them interesting contraptions used for Japanese cooking, huge restaurant pots, and sample food (the plastic food in the front of restaurants).  I bought a couple small plates to replace some plates that aren't really working for me, but that was it since my kitchen is so small.  I'm trying to use what I have and not acquire more!  The eternal struggle.

After restraining myself in Kappabashi, we decided we would go take a boat ride down the Sumida River.  Of course the dock was on the other side of Sensoji Temple, so we needed to back track.  but along the way, we spotted a park for my son to explore.  We've seen so many interesting park structures in Tokyo.  They may be far and few between, but they are really neat when you find them.  This one was a "wooden" structure wrapped around a tree.  There were many places to climb, a couple swings attached to the underside of the structure, and several slides.  It was very simple, but my son had a blast climbing and expelling energy.  Shopping can be very boring for a kid, so it was so great for him to run around.

A few blocks later, we found the dock.  Purchasing our tickets was super easy because they are purchased via a machine with an English option.  We waited a couple minutes and then boarded the cute red boat that would take us under 14 bridges.  The tour isn't really a guided tour.  It is more of getting from point A to point B while letting the passengers know what bridge they are passing under.  But it was a really nice day for a laid back ride through a different part of the city.  One thing we enjoyed was how each bridge was painted a different color.

One thing I enjoy about taking people to places I've been is that there is always more to see and experience.  I may have already visited two of the places we went today, but I was able to see it a little differently than the last time and I added on a totally new place too.  It all adds up into a fun time for everyone.