This week, we explore Tokyo in spring by taking the Toei Bus (city bus) service. It is run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation and plies 139 routes throughout Tokyo. A day pass, which costs 500 yen (S$7.80), allows you to take unlimited bus rides within Tokyo’s 23 wards. As you travel, consult a route map to find your bearings and plan your journey. Along the way, enjoy the beautiful spring scenery as you discover the different sides of Tokyo.
Start the first adventure by taking the JL Line to Koiwa Station in Edogawa ward, at the eastern end of Tokyo. Travel from east to west by first taking a bus bound for Kinshicho, Funabori Station. The bus heads west along the Chiba Route, which is National Route 14. Look out for interesting signs along the way and get off to find out more. One such place is a famous shop along the road which sells lottery tickets. Previously a tobacco shop, the owner started selling lottery tickets 30 years ago. Many winning tickets have been bought from this shop, which explains its popularity among lottery fans who want a shot at becoming millionaires. One can still buy tobacco here, which is sold in a small corner of the shop.
Continue your journey on board a Toei Bus bound for Kinshicho. The bus passes through Koto ward before arriving at Sumida ward. It stops in front of Kinshicho Station. There is a popular fish shop here called Uotora. Its specialities include roughly chopped octopus and tuna. There is often a long queue of people waiting to buy these delicious treats. After exploring Kinshicho, take a bus heading west to Otsuka. Get off at Kinshi Park and visit a unique magnifying glass shop called Loupe House. The specialty store opened 15 years ago and sells a dazzling variety of magnifying glasses. There are about 150 types of magnifying glasses such as normal ones, those used by jewellers, those used for reading books, a magnet one useful for clipping your nails or even a fashionable pendant-type! Next, make your way by Toei Bus to Otsuka Station. Along the way, you will be able to see the Sumida River and Asakusa. Once the bus enters Taito ward, look out for a sign which says "school lunches served here". Get off at Shin-Okachimachi and visit this interesting place which is popular for its nostalgic school lunch menus. You have a variety of set menus to choose from, one of which is the "special school lunch", comprising eight dishes. It costs 1500 yen (S$22.40). Items include deep fried bread, a favourite treat among children. Previously, it was dusted with sugar but now it comes with many other toppings. Relive your childhood days as you tuck into popular school lunch items such as vermicelli salad, deep fried whale and pasta with meat sauce. Top off this nostalgic meal with some powdered skim milk.
Board the Toei Bus and continue your journey across Tokyo. The bus leaves Taito, heads to Bunkyo ward, and makes its way up Yushima hill. Get off at the Bunkyo Civic Centre, a metropolitan government office. This Bunkyo ward facility was built 15 years ago. The local government office has an observation deck on the 25th floor, which offers a splendid view of the city. On a clear day, you can even see Mt Fuji behind the Shinjuku sub-centre. This scenic place is a popular dating spot in the evenings. Take the Toei Bus, this time heading to Ikebukuro Station. The bus will make its way to the Ikebukuro east exit in Toshima ward, and you can get off at Ikebukuro Station. From here, to go west, board the Toei Bus bound for Nerima depot. Get off at the Shinjuku shopping district. There’s also a temple here where Kishimojin (Goddess of Children) is worshipped. Explore the area, which boasts a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere. Visit the Toden Arakawa line, which is the only street train (Toden) line left in Tokyo. There are lots of shops selling tasty treats such as chicken cutlet rice and even minced meat fried cakes, which are served piping hot.
Hop on board the Toei Bus from Toshima and head to Nakano ward via Mejiro Station. Visit Tetsugakudo (a philosophy hall), which is rich in history in culture. Inoue Enryo, a philosopher and founder of Toyo University, set up the Philosophy Hall Park in 1906 as a place to train the mind. There are several unique facilities here which are named after things related to philosophy. For example, there is the Shiseido (4 saints temple), which is dedicated to four major Eastern and Western philosophers - Buddha, Confucius, Socrates and Kant. Continue on the bus journey to Nerima depot. Get off at Toyotamakita Yonchome and transfer to another Toei Bus heading towards Oizumi Gakuen, near Hikarigaoka. However, do note that at some bus stops – like those along Sakuradai Station Street - the buses arrive only after every four hours, so find one where buses come more frequently. Consult your route map to guide you. Once you’ve found the correct bus stop, take a Toei Bus which goes west under Loop Route 8 and runs through Nerima ward. On the way to Oizumi Gakuen, you may choose to get off and visit Fujino-Yu, a public bath. The refreshing bath costs 450 yen (S$7) per person. This public bath with a nostalgic atmosphere has more than 40 years of history. After this, take the bus to your destination Oizumi Gakuen, the west end of this Toei Bus route. This route - from Edogawa ward to Nerima ward – covered 36.2 kilometres across nine wards of Tokyo.
The next Toei Bus trip starts from the Marunouchi north exit of Tokyo Station. Explore Tokyo's old town (Shitamachi) and enjoy the flavours of the Edo era. You can take this special Toei Bus old town route using a day pass which costs 500 yen (S$7.80). The route takes you from Tokyo via Ueno to Asakusa and Ryogoku. It is a popular route for sightseeing. The bus is spacious and comfortable, and features unique round windows, creating an aquarium-like atmosphere. The bus passes through the Nihonbashi district and Akihabara, which is full of electrical stores. You will soon reach Ueno where you will see the Shinobazu Pond. On the other side of Shinobazu Pond is Ueno Park, which is famous for its sakura. You can see different varieties of sakura here. For example, the best time to view the Someiyoshino variety is at the end of March. Visit the Ueno Toshogu shrine here, which was built by Takatora Todo. It enshrines three Tokugawa shoguns - Ieyasu, Yoshimune and Yoshinobu. Visit a kiosk next to the big Torii gate, which sells delicious Curry Somen noodles with a nostalgic taste. After lunch, board a Toei bus heading to Asakusa. Alight at the entrance to Kappabashi, which has several wholesale shops. Known as the kitchen town, its shops specialise in wholesale kitchen tools. The shops sell everything from crockery to kitchen implements, from signs to uniforms. There is even a shop here which claims to be the only raingear department store in Japan.
After this, make your way by the Toei Bus to the main sightseeing spot, Asakusa. The bus stops right front of Kaminari-mon gate. Here you will see many tourists and even students on school trips. Visit a famous rickshaw shop at Asakusa called Jidai-ya. At this interesting shop, you can indulge in some “costume play” - trying on various costumes – and get a memorable photo taken. The shop also features colour woodblock prints, one of which shows Asakusa in 1917. Next, go in search of the secret behind the five-storied pagoda. It was destroyed and burnt during the Great Tokyo Air Raids, but rebuilt in 1973. It used to be located on the right side of the Senso-ji temple, and there is a mark on the ground proving this. However, the pagoda was rebuilt on the left side after the war. To find out more, pay a visit to the temple. You will find out that the pagoda was rebuilt on the opposite side, not adjoining the surrounding buildings, after taking into consideration the urban development plan. After you’ve solved this riddle behind the five-storied pagoda, return to the bus stop. If you’ve got some time before catching the next Toei Bus, follow the signs and try “Asakusa's latest specialty" – piping hot Monja croquettes! There’s a variety to choose from such as Mentai cheese, and even a mixed one filled with fried noodles and ginger. After this delicious treat, board a Toei Bus heading for Ryogoku. Along the way, you will see a sign “Kokugikan” (indoor sports arena). Get off the bus and visit a unique hot pot (for sumo wrestlers) shop, which looks like a real sumo stable. It used to be a Miyagino sumo stable where grand sumo champion Yoshibayama used to train. The Miyagino sumo stable was turned into a restaurant, which is named after the famous sumo wrestler. Customers can enjoy a meal with a view of a real sumo ring. The restaurant’s speciality is the sumo-wrestler's hot pot, filled with delicious ingredients from the mountains. After lunch, explore the sumo town of Ryogoku. One place worth visiting is a 260-year-old tabi (Japanese socks) shop. Here you will find the footprints of sumo wrestlers who have had tabi made here. The most peculiar feet belong to grand champion Futabayama, who had very wide feet, which is said to be the secret behind his strength and stability.
After Ryogoku, take a normal route bus to the Toyomi seafood wharf, where the journey ends. You can use your day pass on board this bus too. As you head to your destination, get off at Kiyosumi Garden, which is well-known as Tokyo’s first registered scenic beauty spot. The beautiful and well laid-out garden used to be the mansion of the famous merchant of the Edo period, Bunzaemon Kinokuniya. The area is 50,000 tsubos (17 hectares). Plants are arranged around the pond to complement each season. The spacious garden is also known for its collection of good stones from all over Japan, guaranteed to delight any stone enthusiast.
