Flirting
I spotted this group on a Tokyo corner. The three girls were giggling at everything this boy said.
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Today is Children’s Day in Japan. Since Girl’s day is March 3, Children’s Day is more devoted to boys. Families and schools display the koi flags and also samuri helmets or dolls in their homes. They hope for the success, happiness and long life of their sons. We went to the Ginza and watched a parade that was entirely marching bands. I found this to be totally unexpected and quite fun.
Kilts in Tokyo?
These are for you, Alex
Tuba Line
All Girls Band
The funniest thing we saw was the band parents they were running along behind the crowds videotaping. Most were not paying attention to their cameras, but just to where they were running. I can imagine how their videos turned out.
Parents
Masks=Hot!!!
Nezu Shrine Azaleas
Today we began out outing by going to Nezu Shrine which is famous for the hillside completely covered by azalea bushes. The shrine area is quite small and because of the holiday there was a steady stream of people on the trails among the flowers.
We walked from Nezu to Rikugien garden. It is rated as one of the best in Tokyo. It is much larger than Nezu, but it was still very crowded.
Rikugien Pond
I just thought this image was humorous. This group was just huddled on the top of this hill looking out over the park and taking pictures.
This week is Golden Week in Japan. It is a week with 3 holidays in a row and when you combine that with the weekend it is a good holiday. We usually travel, but this year we decided to stay in Tokyo and take day trips. Today we went to Yokohama station and traveled from there by subway and bus to Sankeien. It is a very large garden with several old buildings brought from other places in Japan. Most of the buildings were moved here to preserve them. For example, one of the buildings would have been destroyed when a dam was built. It was a fabulous day and the gardens were beautiful.
After we finished at the garden we hopped on a bus headed back into the city. Our destination was Chinatown and lunch. What we thought would be a quick bus ride ended up taking over an hour because of traffic. There are some days when the train is the best option. Yokohama’s Chinatown is one of the best I’ve seen. There are over 160 Chinese restaurants. It is said that just about anything Chinese can be found here. After lunch we walked around a bit.
Which way?????
This week is a big holiday week in Japan and much of Asia, Golden Week. Several national holidays are together and we usually go away. This year we decided to stay in Tokyo and take some day trips. Today we went to Naritasan (Naritasan Shinshoji Temple). It is a large and very popular Buddhist temple complex in Narita City, not far from Narita Airport. I thought it was going to be packed when got there because the train was crowded and everyone seemed to get off at Narita. It was also quite busy on the shopping street leading up to the the temple complex. We stopped at a restaurant and ate tempura. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t very crowded.
Omotesando Shopping and "dining" Street
This temple is as popular as Meiji shrine in Tokyo. I definitely liked Naritasan better. There is so much more to see than at Meiji.
Main Gate
Incense smoke
Prayer Tablets
Naritasan was built in the year 940 around its main sacred object of worship, a statue of the Buddhist Fudo Myoo deity. Many temple buildings stand on the spacious grounds of Naritasan, including the temple’s new and former main halls, a three storied pagoda and a huge Tahoto style pagoda, named the Great Pagoda of Peace. The park that surrounds it is beautiful. We had a great day and I can’t believe that this is our first trip there in four years.
Three Story Pagoda
Details
This hall is 920 years old
Turtle Island covered with turtles
Close up
My friend Megan has just launched Modern Verses she has taken the words of the scriptures and used them to make fabulous prints. I ordered four of her 8 X 10 prints a few weeks ago. I am so excited that she is offering them in a 16 X 20 size now. I like to think of this one as the theme for our family. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I am going to order it in the 16 X 20 size. Megan is having a giveaway on her blog so visit and enter. She is constantly adding new prints. Go to her Etsy shop and see everything she has available now.
Today it was so rainy I didn’t take my camera out. And yes I was out in it, all day, visiting sisters in my branch. This is a photo of my Kokeshi dolls:
Fish kites are put out this time of year to celebrate boy’s day. These are on the apartment building next to mine. Shortly after moving here I remember seeing a mother, father and grandmother out on the terrace walking a screaming baby. It must have been a boy, hence the kites, and he must be about 3 years old by now.
