Taito ward in Tokyo downtown.

KUMADE -- Japanes Old Rake -- A festival is held yearly near my home during November called " Tori No Ichi " which means "Fair of the Rooster ". It is a festival where rakes are sold of variuos sizes as souvenirs which are said to bring good luck to the owner, which implies,"Scrape up your money with a rake". It's located about 300m East from my QTH.

If a visitor asked me, "what is a typical busy shopping street in Tokyo ?" I would say that in reality there are many. The main ones are the Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya (Harajyuku), Asakusa and Ueno. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro were highly developed after WW2, but the Ginza, Asakusa and Ueno were original amusement quarters even before the war. Both Ueno and Asakusa have been representative busy areas for over 300 years here in Tokyo. My Qth is located in the Taito Ward section of Tokyo which includes the two large districts of Ueno and Asakusa. They are noted as being ideal sightseeing areas as well as having rich historical significance from times past.

ASAKUSA 1Km South East from our QTH Asakusa is a temple district in Tokyo and has a famous temple referred to as Asakusa Kannon, it is also called Kinryuzan Sensoji temple. Asakusa is also known for its famous shopping and entertainment centers and is a popular stopping off spot among foreign visitors. Sensoji Temple is believed to be the oldest temple in Tokyo. Legend states that the golden deity enshrined in the temple was found in the Sumida River in the year of 628. The deity is about 6 centimeters high or about 2 and 1/2 inches. It has been said that the Sensoji Temple was completed in 645. The Asakusa area of Tokyo has the well known temple called "Asakusa Kannon". During each year traditional Japanese events are held there, such as , the Sanjya Festival which honors shrines in the area, as well as, the Hozuki Festival, which honors the ground cherry market and Hagoita-ichi which honors the battledore market. Needless to say, the Asakusa area of Tokyo is always crowded and tourists can be seen at all times. The present temple ( the main hall ) was rebuilt in 1958. Nakamise Avenue, still maintains traces of the Meiji Era and vermilion-lacquered signs add to the beauty of the area. Asakusa is famous and is a " must see " for anyone visiting Tokyo for the first time.

UENO 1Km South West from our QTH

Ueno main street	Statue of General Takamori Saigo

Ueno Park is the largest Park in Tokyo(626,000 square meters) and it is also Japan's oldest public park ... was opened in April 1873. In Ueno Park, there are numerous cherry trees. In spring ,a great number of people visit the park to admire the spectacular beauty of these cherry blossoms. Also, the park contains many cultural institutions such as the National Museum, the Tokyo Culture Hall, Ueno Zoological Garden, etc.

Other places in Taito ward

- IRIYA - Enshrines Kishimojin,the guardiangoddess of children. Famous for its morning glory fair in July

- AMEYOKO - Very famous shopping street. At the end of the year, there are many crowds in the street.

- SHINOBAZU No Ike - This pond is located below Ueno Park's hill and is a popular gathering point for birds.

Taito ward has hosted many traditional events sincethe Edo Era, and these events continue throughout the four seasons. We enjoy visiting the sightseeing area of Taito district which transmits a breath of the Edo Era. My QTH is located between Asakusa and Ueno. If you would like more information, Please refer to Taito Ward in the Taito Tourist Guide. (Japanese & Machine translation)