We went to field work in Asakusa and Ueno area today. The schedule in the morning is visiting Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center and the shopping complex “Marugoto Nippon”. One of the members who is a wheelchair user will join us in the afternoon and will visit Senso-ji Temple and Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International. Then we will take the subway to Ueno.
The weather is magnificent and a little bit hot.
The report of the morning part is posted by ALFA.
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
We are supposed to meet at the shopping complex “Marugoto Nippon” which opened Dec. 2015 and three of the members are taking a bus from Tokyo Station to Asakusa. The bus is convenient starting in front of Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Gate and arriving at Thunder Gate (Kaminarimon) in about 30 min. via Nihonbashi, Kanda, Akihabara and Ueno. The bus stop in front of Marunouchi OAZO building might be difficult to find.
The bus starting from Marunouchi North Gate 
Thunder Gate of Senso-ji Temple
Stopping by Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center in front of Thunder Gate and got some maps at the tourist information desk on the first floor. There is a restroom with wheelchair access on the first floor and elevators are installed. The view from the observation deck on the top floor is fabulous. A money exchange corner is provided and the building is crowded with tourists though it is only before 10 in the morning. The building using unique louvers has been designed by Kengo Kuma.
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center 
he restroom with wheelchair access in Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
The water bus on Sumida-gawa River viewed from the observation deck 
Tokyo Skytree viewed from the observation deck
Marugoto Nippon
“Marugoto Nippon” is located on the 1st~4th floors of the newly constructed building in Asakusa. The food floor is on the first floor, the daily necessities floor is on the second floor, the experience corner is on the third floor and the restaurants floor is on the fourth floor. The upper floors are The Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International. There are restrooms with wheelchair access in the building and elevators are installed. The hotel allowed us to have a look at the room for wheelchair users in the afternoon, which is the major purpose of this field work.
We had lunch after window shopping.
“Marugoto Nippon” and The Richmond Hotel Premier Asakusa International 
he Entrance of “Marugoto Nippon”
We are heading for Toei Asakusa Station to meet one of the members who will join us in the afternoon. Only platform No.2 of the Ginza Line has an elevator going up to the ground level and Toei Asakusa Station is recommended for wheelchair users. The exit of the elevator is close to Kototoi-Bashi Bridge and you are required to walk a little bit to Senso-ji Temple in the crowded area especially on holidays.
The elevator of Toei Asakusa Station 
A photo in front of Thunder gate
