We visit the new Samurai and Ninja Museum - Monday 19 February 2024
Last year we were quite disappointed to learn that the very enjoyable Samurai Museum in Shinjuku had closed permanently. This year, we were very pleased to discover that it has re-opened in Nishi Asakusa. It's a very short walk from the Tawaramachi Subway line station, and conveniently, this is the same station that serves Kitchen St!!!!
Cost was a bit steep at ¥3300 per person, but Mr Seat 0A is a big fan of this era and loves Japanese armour, so it was a no brainer for us.
We dressed up in replica armour for some fun photos too cheesy to post here, and also got to throw shuriken (ninja throwing stars) - which is much harder than it looks. Still, I did at least manage to hit the target and make it stick!
The guided tour was fun and informative and filled in a few more details for us about how the Samurai class lived, and quite a bit about how ninjas emerged and their role in society. It also improved my knowledge of the Tokugawa and Edo eras of Japanese history. I've left the photos full size so you can read the info on the exhibits if you want to.
They had some nice suits of armour on display too - some with certificates of authenticity and some were replica.
Overall, it was quite fun and interesting, but I really preferred the museum we visited in Kanazawa in 2023. Those exhibits were much better, and many more were certified as authentic by the Japanese government. The whole Kanazawa experience was much less touristy and cheesy than this new Tokyo museum, and it was much less crowded and significantly cheaper at ¥800 per person. They also had much better souvenirs. So if you ever find yourself with time to spare in Kanazawa, I would recommend a visit there.
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I managed to avoid the siren call of Kitchen Street this time, having shopped up big last year, and feeling hungry.
After lunch, we visited the large Daiso store at Harajuku because Mr Seat 0A was still chasing the excellent value (¥770) apple watch charger he bought last year as it has been so useful he wants a couple for different locations and also some for gifts. Once again, he bought out the whole stock at Harajuku store, having done the same at Ikebukuro yesterday! That will be messing with their restocking algorithm for sure! next on our agenda wasa spot of shopping at Shinjuku, including a coffee and cinnamon scroll stop when it all got a bit too much. It was excessively hot - I often find Japanese shops overheated, and we again had a record high temperature for the day.
Mainly Mr Seat 0A wanted to visit the Bic Camera store shown inthis photo taken from Starbucks, where I sensibly waited for a while as he ummed and ahhhed before choosing a nice set of binoculars (Canon x 12) that had been on his wish list for a while. These were in fact about 30% cheaper than he could get them in Australia - but it is interesting to note that we usually find most technology items in Japan slightly out of date, and relatively expensive, so it is really necessary to know your stuff before you buy anything.
Final stop on our whirlwind shopping spree was at Gotanda Donki for some very cheap alcohol - way way cheaper than anything you can buy at duty free at the airport either in Japan or in Australia. Also got a great selection of fancy flavour Kit Kats as gifts for friends and family.
Hee's a shot of Mr Seat 0A doing his best to fit in with the locals on the train! Notice that he's in a T shirt and carrying his puffer jacket, whilst all the locals are dressed for the more typical February conditions. They must have been so hot. it was 22 degrees!
Dinner was a repeat of ramen at IFU although I had the shiro ramen, which was not as good as the aka ramen from last night, and Mr Seat 0A sensibly avoided the spicy ramen by eating gyoza.
Once again home feeling very footsore and glad of a shower.
We leave tomorrow to head home, so did a bit of preliminary sorting out of things for packing, threw out a massive amount of packaging (if you've been to Japan, you'll know what I mean) and felt a bit melancholy about the end of the trip.
Just for fun, here are a couple of bits of cutesy Japan that we saw around Tokyo today. First is a poster about manners on the train - interesting to see that manspreading is a thing in Japan too.
And the second was a cover on a water hydrant. Very reminiscent of Astro Boy to this old Boomer!
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! Skated through with no damage to dignity or clothing. Almost a local now.
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