I can’t say I’ve ever truly felt unsafe in Japan. And then it was brought to my attention that Adachi is a ‘dangerous’ place. People even use it as a cautionary tale to scare young children into behaving themselves. The things local tour guides don’t tell you before showing you around their neighbourhood. Hmm… The area is renowned for its broken public school system and a couple of high profile incidents. 

Anyways, as a tourist for a day, I don’t have too much danger to report back on. But please indulge me as I tell you about the happenings of the day. 

Yanaka Street in Nippori 

My day actually started around 12.30ish in Nippori. I saw the usual array of shrines and temples. As beautiful as they are – I’ve seen so many that I’ve grown a little jaded to the whole experience. The highlight for me was Yanaka Street: reminiscent of some long ago Tokyo that’s almost gone. There’s random street food everywhere and a free and easy atmosphere. I like.

Tan Tan Mien at Bazoku

Hey – take me someplace where’s there’s handmade noodles, gyoza with a generous stuffing of pork and broth that isn’t super oily and I’ll be there. Two minutes away from Nippori Station, this bowl of noodles was exactly what I needed on this cold and rainy day to keep my rumbling stomach quiet for the next couple of hours. It’s been six hours since I ate this and I’m still not hungry. I approve. 

Nippori-Toneri Liner

And then it was on the Nippori-Toneri Liner to ride the train to Kohoku. We were lucky enough to get a seat in the front of the train, so I got to see the view of the train tracks. For some strange reason, it brought back memories of sitting in front of a double decker bus as a kid. I dig it. 

Nishiarai Daishi Temple

Compared to other places in the Kanto area, I found the general atmosphere at Nishiarai Daishi Temple (also known as Sojiji Temple) super relaxed and chilled out. Again – there was street food everywhere – even a giant gyoza for some strange reason. The gardens, temple complex and everything else was predictably beautiful, elegant and amazing as always. 

I also drank some amazake: which kind of tasted like a slightly alcoholic rice gruel thingy which I was glad to sip on cause I was cold, cold, cold. 

It was FANTASTIC for me to see a new side of a city that I love so much. I must thank my very lovely Canadian and British tour guides for taking me around. You know who you are.

And for the rest of you out there – if you come to Tokyo, check out the suburbs. They’re waaaay more colourful than the boring city sights. I’d pick Adachi over Shibuya any day.