BIGGEST MOSQUE IN JAPAN: TOKYO CAMII

Recently, I feel 旅行気分。

I want to go everywhere.

I have booked a flight ticket to Hiroshima and planned to go to Kyoto on October. I want to go to Philippines or Jeju Island. But currently there is no direct flight to Jeju. If I have to transfer in Seoul, I need a visa. 😔

Sometimes, you want to travel faraway but actually there are many interesting things around your place. And that's what currently I am feeling.

I have been in Tokyo for almost a year and I found that I haven't been anywhere. So I decided every weekend, I have to go somewhere in Tokyo!

Last Sunday, I decided to go to Tokyo Camii Mosque located Oyamacho, Shibuya-ku.

Tokyo Camii is the biggest mosque in Japan. It was originally built by Tatar immigrants from Russia in 1938. However, due to structural damage, it was demolished in 1986. In 1998, it was rebuilt with support of Turkey' and the construction finished in 2000.

When I arrived, the entrance was closed so I asked an Indonesian family who was standing there. They said, the entrance was closed due to prayer time but we could enter the mosque directly via the stair.

I decided to check the halal supermarket first. I entered to the Turkish Culture Center that adjoined to the mosque. The market was also closed due to prayer times.

The toilet sign is written in three languages: Japanese, English, and Turkish. While the warning sign 'Please do not walk bare feet in this building' is only written in two languages: English and Bahasa Indonesia.

It seems the majority of visitors are Indonesians. (Or is that Indonesian always walk bare feet after wudu? )

After passing the toilets and halal market, I arrived to a big room where there is a small book and souvenir store, big hall next to it, and sitting place in Turkish design. The room was dark, no light. I suspected it was due to prayer time also, not sure.

I went up to go to mosque.

I asked a Malaysian girl who sat in front of mosque where is the women prayer section. I went down again to go to toilet to take wudu.

I went up the stair again and entered the mosque. There is a sign that women need to cover hair to enter the mosque. Tokyo Camii is the super friendly mosque, they provide white scarves for women visitors. I brought my own shawl.

I went up the stair inside mosque to go to women prayer section. I opened my bag and oh my god, I forgot to put my prayer dress inside my bag! Luckily, there was a prayer dress available inside the mosque. I suspected that someone 'donated' the prayer dress. AFAIK, no women use prayer dress except Indonesians and Malaysians.

I'm not sure though.

There were some Japanese visitors who were taking pictures of the mosque. They were wearing the white scarves. Kawaii. While me, I let my hair open 😂.

After pray, I took many pictures of the mosque as well. The mosque is very beautiful. If a mosque built by Turkish in Japan is this beautiful, how are the mosques in Turkey?

I asked the Malaysian girl again who was still sitting in front of mosque. She said she couldn't enter the mosque because she was on period.

I said to her that I believe women can enter mosque on their period. But it's what she believe, I respect.

I went down the stair and the room light had been turned on. The halal market was open. I wen to the halal market and I felt I wanted to buy all. Oh my God, the shop staff is very handsome. 🥱

You can eat dates and drink Turkish tea for free. You can feel the Islam and Turkish friendliness there. If you think Islam is scary because of the news, you should come to this mosque. It is one of friendliest mosques I have ever visited in my life.

While I also agree some 'muslims' are scary 😂.

Note:

旅行気分 (ryokou kibun) = traveling vibes

wudu = ritual washing before prayer