104
Smile
May2016
KEEPTHELITTLEONES
OCCUPIEDATTOKYO'STOP
ATTRACTIONS
Smallkids,
bigculture
When inAsakusa:
They’re
probablygoing tonot like
squeezing through thecrowd
atNakamise-dori, but you
mighthold their attention for
abit if youencourage them to
checkout the
ningyo-yaki
(a
snackmadeof pancakebatter
and filledwithbeanpaste)
beingpreparedat the stands,
or ask them tohelpyoupick
out a souvenir fromoneof the
shops there.Onceyouget to
Senso-ji’smainhall, ask them
topickout an
omikuji
,
or paper
fortune. They’ll enjoy shaking
theomikuji boxandmatching
the
kanji
(Chinesewriting)
characterson the rod to the
labelson thedrawers. Read
their fortune to them.Wedid
thisandour boygot theNo. 8
Best Fortune,which said that
happinesswill come tohim
“just likecutting riceplants
withacutter”.
When inMeiji-jingu:
If
theyhave theenergy, or if
they’vebeen strappedonto
their strollers for too long,
let themwalkor run. They’ll
enjoydragging their feet on
thegravel path leading to the
shrine.Once there, purchase
an
ema
orwooden tablet
from theamulet office, then
proceed to thedesksunder the
camphor tree. Therearepens
youcanuse towritedownyour
wishes. Askyour kid for their
wishandwrite it downonyour
ema.Onceyou’redone, hang it
together.
Kid-certified family fun
1
