Religion, Tokyo

visit here on new years! See travelogue for info.

details of the prayer ritual.... which includes bowing twice, clapping twice (to get their attention), orating, and, finally, bowing once. A pot of incense is also provided, and one typically rubs one’s hands in the incense smoke and then on an ailing body part for the reputed sanative effects (you will see my photo here somewhere, looking posessed with my incence witches brew)

Literally this means 7-5-3. This is a celebration for children of these ages every year. They dress up in kimono and visit the shrine. I was lucky enough to see these cute little kids visiting Meiji Shrine and so I asked if I could get my picture taken with them.

In a city as populated as Tokyo, land prices are amongst the highest in the world and apartments are small to the extent that sometimes you wonder how people live in places so small. After you have lived in Tokyo you will realize that living in the heart of the city there is no need for large rooms and wasted space. Tokyo is a city without planning and certainly not the most beautiful city in the world. For the first time visitor it will probably seem ugly and ill conceived, it is certainly not an exotic Oriental city. Nevertheless, the longer you stay in this city the more you will come to appreciate it and the more it will begin to grow on you. Tokyo does have many things to offer but these are things that you must find yourself.

i visited asakusa on a cold & windy, however sunny sunday afternoon in january 2000...i had high fever but yet led by my intuition i gathered my strenght and headed for this exotic place with beautiful temples and cute small stands where you can buy all kinds of japanese things; souvenirs, snacks...the beauty of the architecture, the scent of the insence, the prayers flowing in the wind, the happy laughter of those cute japanese school girls, all makes this place magical!!! highly recommended even in high fever!!!

Omamori means "protection." Many people in Japan believe that omamori protects themselves from bad luck. Omamori purchased from shrines are believed to be blessed.

During summer, when you are passing by temple, you may find Matsuri parade by chance.

This photo was taken when I was around Tokyo Mita area.

I will write my apprecition about this later. If interested in this social phenomenon read some interesting material in:
http://bama.ua.edu/~emartin/publications/mkarticl.htm