Cafe W.E

Cafe W.E is located on the bank of the Sumida River in the Sumida Park, 5 minutes walk from Asakusa Station. You can enjoy a nice river view from the window. Roast Beef Sandwich is my recommendation.

Cafe W.E

http://www.cafe-we.com/

shop#170 Studio Nana-iro

Would you like to transform into a beautiful Oiran in Kimono or a cool Samurai? At Studio Nana-iro opened in Asakusa, you can change into Kimono and take photos by a photographer. Nana-iro means seven colors, which means various in Japanese.

1. Make reservation at www.nana-iro.tokyo.
2. Confirm the plan at the reception.
3. Select Kimono.
4. Hair setting and make-up.
5. Wear Kimono.
6. Photograph.
7. Get Photos.

Shop website
http://nana-iro.tokyo/

shop#169 Karin Karin

Karin Karin is a Japanese sweets shop selling Karinto, which is a fried thin cookies. Traditional Karinto is just sugary but there are about 20 flavors for this shops' Karinto, such as matcha, sesame, almond, cinnamon, burdock, blueberry or even curry.

shop#168 COURAGE

Courage is a small bakery in Asakusa Kaminarimon street. Asakusa-Ampan is one of my favorite sweet bread, which is filled with whipped cream and red bean jam. Talking of Ampan in Asakusa, you may remind Andesu-Matoba, locating back of Sensoji. As there are dozens of kinds of Ampan there, it is fun to choose. However, Ampan of Courage is different from any Ampan of Andesu-Matoba and it is very good. Please try!

Asakusa-Ampan
230 yen

Sekai Cafe - newly-opened cafe

To Vegetarians and Muslims:

Sekai Cafe is opened on November 11 in Asakusa. Very friendly to travelers.

- open: 8:00-20:00
- Organic foods for vegetarians and Muslims are available.
- All staffs can speak English.
- Free WiFi
- Free two-prong outlet

website:
http://sekai-cafe.com/index.html

shop#167 Takumi-no-hako

Takumi-no-hako means the box of Artisans. There are two shops located at 2k540, Nihon-no-Kogei (Japanese Crafts) and Kisetsu-no-Kogei (Seasonal Crafts). Nihon-no-Kogei was operated by five young Japanese artisans from Hokkaido to Kagoshima, making boxwood comb in Beppu, bamboo craft in Kagoshima, Kimono fabrics in Fukuoka, wood craft in Hokkaido and Mizuhiki (paper art) in Kagawa.

The photos are artworks of Mizuhiki. 

The photos are artworks of Mizuhiki. Mizuhiki is traditionally used on an envelope, which is used at a wedding ceremony. When we attend a wedding, we bring the envelope with money inside. These artworks are hair ornaments or earrings, innovated by the craftsmen, which are compleately different from the image of Mizuhiki . You may actually see an artisan making products at the store.

Schedule
http://2k540.1no1.jp/schedule/l1.html

Autumn Leaves

I create some pages in "Place-to-Visit".

Now (late November) is a best time to visit Yokoamicho Park in Ryogoku. There are beautiful Ginkgo Trees.

These pictures are taken in Sensoji in Asakusa.

In Sensoji, there are some Ginkgo Trees. You will see yellow leaves soon.

shop#166 Ragtime

Ragtime is a umbrella shop where you can buy an umbrella made to order, not a ready-made. It takes about 4 weeks, but you will have an unique umbrella, only one in the world.

Lady's 13,000 yen
Men's 15,000 yen

If you live in Japan, you can order through internet.
http://www.rag-t.com/order.html

The atelier with a shop is located between Kuramae and Asakusa.

Torinoichi

Torinoichi was held on November 10. There is one more chance to feel year-end event this year on Nov. 22.

shop#165 MAITO

Kusaki-zome is a method to dye not chemically but naturally using natural plants. You can find cloths and scarves at MAITO, dyed in Kusaki-zome which color is very soft and gentle.

In Kuramae, there is an atelier with a shop.

shop#164 REN

REN is a bag manufacturer using original pig skin. The bags are colorful, smooth and light but tough. REN's designers choose materials, make patterns and create prototypes by themselves, then make products through trial and error. I love the color of red of REN's bag.

The shop is located in Kuramae.
Closed on Mondays.

shop#163 Karaage Yukari

Karaage is a deep-fried chicken, which everybody loves. Though there are some Karaage shops in Asakusa area, Karaage Yukari has a head store in Asakusa. You will enjoy many flavors such as juicy, crispy, garlic, garlic sesame or hot spice. It tastes good. The catchword of the store is "The legend of Karaage."

Try some, then you will hear them saying "Kokoro wo komete, Arigato Gozaimashita" which means "Thank you very much, with all of our heart."

shop#162 WAPLUS & ALLOY

They are spatial and product designers, who work to produce shops as WAPLUS and to design products as ALLOY. In the small shop they build, there is an essence of their works. The bike-stand in front of nui (http://backpackersjapan.co.jp/nui/) is one of their recent work^^

closed irregularly.

WAPLUS & ALLOY
http://alloyjapan.com/

shop#161 SyuRo

SyuRo, located near Torigoe Shrine, is selling handmade goods and products for a simple life. It is a very comfortable place to shop. It is a kind of shop to visit casually when you are out for a walk on a beautiful sunny day.

closed on Sundays and national holidays.

http://www.syuro.info/consept.pdf

shop#160 TSUMAMI-DO

Tsumami-Zaiku is a Japanese craft which has a 300 years' history, using a small square texture colorfully dyed in a traditional way. Here at Tsumami-Do, you can experience Tsumami-Zaiku. Folding a texture like Origami, you can make a flower-shaped accessory in 30 to 40 minutes. Once you know how to make it, you can buy materials here, as it is the only material store of Tsumami-Zaiku. A Kanzashi (hair ornament) made by this method is very beautiful.

The owner, Takahashi-san, said they welcome foreign people. However, the class is in Japanese only, so please take someone who is Japanese or who speaks some Japanese. Please contact them in advance if you are more than 3 people.

Located between Asakusabashi Station and Kuramae Station.

■　Tsumami-Zaiku Experience
Reservation is not needed.
Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00
Fee: 860 yen (hairpin), 1,600 yen (charm)
available children over 6 years-old