Benzaiten's Rain in Ningyocho

So where was I? Four trains up till Tokyo Dome. I then boarded the Oedo Line at Korakuen. I think I've ridden every part of the Oedo Line after five trips to Tokyo. This time from Korakuen Station to Kuramae Station where I got on the Asakusa Line. Rode that back to the place I stayed at the last time I was in Tokyo. Ningyocho.

Unlike the last time it was cool weather and very rainy. Which made taking photographs at Koami Jinja very difficult. It was sad for me because I really wanted to get some nice shots in the daytime. My prior visit was at night as I wrote about in this post.

I did use the chōzubachi this time although I had trouble remembering which hand to wash first.

Even in the rain it was nice to see the shrine again in daylight.

Walked a bit more to come across another place I had visited before. Dai Kannon Ji Buddhist Temple which I wrote about here with a lot of photographs.

I did get to see inside the shrine this time. I think that is Amida Buddha although I can not find information online about it. Very ornate shrine. The large cast iron head of Tetsuzo Bodhisavatta was not on view this time. It is behind the doors that are behind the statue.

I had hoped to get a bite to eat at the Mifune Izakaya this time but it was not open. Such was my luck. I did remember how to get to another place that had food that I enjoyed.  人形町今半惣 which translates to Ningyocho Now Semi-Prepared Foods. More about this great little place in this post.

Along with finally getting world famous taiyaki from Yanagiya.

After taking the Asakusa Line back to Hamamatsucho Station (would that be six or seven trains?) I was able to enjoy that delicious karaage fried chicken and potato salad for dinner. The little cup sake was from a konbini and I kept the cup since it is nice. More about sake in a later post.

Also enjoyed that Yanagiya taiyaki. Which ended up a little flattened by the time I made it back to my hotel.

Not to leave empty handed from Ningyocho, I did get a couple omamori or charms from Koami Jinja. The white one is for good health and the purple one with dragons is a protection charm. It joins my purple protection charm from Portland, Oregon. Covered from coast to coast now perhaps?

Grabbing a Bite to Eat in Ningyocho

I said I would write about a few Ningyocho food items that I ate. How would you like to try something to eat from here? I did.

The sign says 人形町今半惣 which translates to Ningyocho Now Semi-Prepared Foods. While not an enticing name it does say what they offer. It's actually part of a famous sukiyaki restaurant, Imahan, which is across the small street. I came across this place after accidentally going the wrong way from the Ningyocho Station one extremely hot day.

I picked up a small serving of karaage fried chicken 唐揚げ and potato salad ポテトサラダ. Sharing this photo because of the ingenious little ice pack they placed on the potato salad.

Don't know if I ever mentioned how much I love Japanese potato salad and well made karaage. Theirs was excellent. The salad was really creamy and just right with the spices. Nice bits of crunch amidst all that potato goodness. As for the karaage, it was also really great. Tender, well seasoned and not oily or overcooked. It sure beat konbini versions.

In fact it was so good I went another day to get more for lunch. Normally I would not eat this much but between the heat and all I lost 15 pounds this trip.

Something I do eat almost every day is bananas, usually one for breakfast. I have found they help reduce muscle cramping for me. I was buying them at a konbini but then found Sukaya Fruit Shop 須賀屋果実店. You would think bananas would cost more here but actually they were cheaper. So I was happy to help out this local business.

As for what food was most popular in August while I was there? It has to be Kakigori かき氷 sweetened shaved ice. I did not partake of this but I saw many people enjoying it from places all over Tokyo.

Naruto Taiyaki Honpo 鳴門鯛焼本舗 was closed along with all the other taiyaki shops when I was wandering around early in the morning. Taiyaki is big in Ningyocho. Taiyaki is made with a waffle-like batter with a filling. Traditionally that filling is sweetened red (adzuki) bean paste but other fillings like chocolate or vanilla pastry cream are also used. The cooking molds are in the shape of a tai fish, thus the name.

Itakuraya 板倉屋, a Japanese confectionary shop that offers ningyo-yaki 人形焼き was open later in the day. I was going from Ningyocho Station to the hotel and made myself stop and take a look. Ningyo-yaki is just like taiyaki except the cooking molds are in the shape of different characters.

Since Ningyocho is known for it's Seven Lucky Gods shrines it's not surprising that there is Seven Lucky Gods ningyo-yaki. So I had to pick some up from Itakuraya.

Benzaiten doesn't look too happy being crowded in there with all those other gods.

These were filled with sweetened adzuki bean paste and were pretty good. Fun way to enjoy local culture.

I will end this with these lovely hibiscus flower that bloom along the streets of Ningyocho. It's a nice place to visit.