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Just Back from Japan: Part I
jeff lapoint
Registered Users Posts: 1,228 Major grins
My wife and I just returned from an all too short trip to Japan. I was considering posting everything in one thread, but I think the at a very minimum the dial-up folks would kill me :dunno.
We arrived in Tokyo the night before the Sanja Matsuri festival at the Asakusa Shrine. Its one of Tokyo's biggest celebrations and it involved the carrying of around 100 portable shrines through the local streets.
We showed up at the Shrine around 6:00am local time and it was already packed with people hoping to get a glimpse of the action.
Food seems sacred in Japan. You'll almost never see people wolfing down food while walking or waiting for the subway. Even at 6am there was plenty of food ready to be eaten.
Nice lady selling the tentacle sticks
Even the good stuff was available early:wink
Of course that means someone will end up having too much of it (not me this time)...not the best quality as I was shooting guerrilla style here:rolleyes
Many of the men are dressed in very tradition garb.
And here's what everyone is here to see.
These shrines are supposed to be temporary homes of the gods and it is a huge honor to get to carry them. Last year people climbing on them was a problem (and from what I'm told quite disrespectful). This year there was a signed agreement stating riding on the shrines would not be allowed, but later that day I saw a bit on the new stating it was still an issue.
Locals tell me in the old days these shrines that are carried through the streets would just happen to crash into houses and stores of those that had wronged the community during the past year.
Like I said, I'm wary of having a 30 pic post so tomorrow I'll continue with part II: Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine
Thanks for stopping by!
-j
We arrived in Tokyo the night before the Sanja Matsuri festival at the Asakusa Shrine. Its one of Tokyo's biggest celebrations and it involved the carrying of around 100 portable shrines through the local streets.
We showed up at the Shrine around 6:00am local time and it was already packed with people hoping to get a glimpse of the action.
Food seems sacred in Japan. You'll almost never see people wolfing down food while walking or waiting for the subway. Even at 6am there was plenty of food ready to be eaten.
Nice lady selling the tentacle sticks
Even the good stuff was available early:wink
Of course that means someone will end up having too much of it (not me this time)...not the best quality as I was shooting guerrilla style here:rolleyes
Many of the men are dressed in very tradition garb.
And here's what everyone is here to see.
These shrines are supposed to be temporary homes of the gods and it is a huge honor to get to carry them. Last year people climbing on them was a problem (and from what I'm told quite disrespectful). This year there was a signed agreement stating riding on the shrines would not be allowed, but later that day I saw a bit on the new stating it was still an issue.
Locals tell me in the old days these shrines that are carried through the streets would just happen to crash into houses and stores of those that had wronged the community during the past year.
Like I said, I'm wary of having a 30 pic post so tomorrow I'll continue with part II: Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine
Thanks for stopping by!
-j
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Thanks so much! I had such a wonderful time, I only wish there was more of it!
More shots are definitely on the way...hope ya dont get tired of these
Thanks! I think even if I lived there for 4 years and shot a few hundred clicks per day I'd still feel that way. There's just so much to see and do.
Thanks so much. Did you see anyone riding on the shrines?
you mean this wasn't a really tan Ben? Crap, I bought that guy 3 beers by mistake then
Welcome to Dgrin! Thanks so much for the kind comments!
Yes, I remember that, I think I have a photo somewhere... oh, I just looked, I don't have one with someone on it while they were carrying it, it was a great experiance, I went two years in a row while my parents lived there.... I would love to go back again someday... just to soak it all in a bit more, I think I would appreciate it more now...
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“PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”
http://jwear.smugmug.com/
That good be me, but only 3 beers ??
Looking forward to Part 2 !
Promise not to show the one of Jeff in a Sumo Wrestling Outfit!
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We switch to sake after the brews, dontcha remember?
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