Asakusa Senso-ji Temple on Culture Day

Today is one of Japan's national holidays. It is called 'Culture Day'.
It was formerly celebrated as Meiji Emperor's birthday. Meiji Emperor is the great-grandfather of current Emperor.
Meiji Era started in 1868 and ended in 1912. I went to Senso-ji Temple for the first time in two years and four months.

This is the main entrance to the temple called Kaminari-mon.

On both sides of the street to the temple there are many vendors.

There is another gate between the main gate and the main temple.

Finally I arrived at the main temple.

There was exhibitions of chrysanthemums.

 
I went back to the main gate and entered an information center of Senso-ji Temple.

From the top floor of the center I took some pictures.

Kaminari-mon from another angle.

Mid gate and main temple from the 8th floor of the center.

New Tokyo Tower 'Sky Tree'

This temple is one of the icons of Tokyo.

Chinese New Year Festival in Yokohama

Chinese people celebrate this day as New Year's Day by the lunar calendar.

Many people, both residents and tourists, gathered in Yokohama China Town to see Lion Dances which are the main event on this day.

Dancers visit many restaurants and shops and perform lion dances with a loud sound of a bell and firecrackers.

They are performing dances in the precinct of Maso Mausoleum. Maso was a Chinese woman who had  ESP and has been deemed as Goddess after her death.

 

Bean Throwing Ceremony in Kamakura

Today is February 3rd. We cerebrate this day as the day to divide two seasons: winter and spring.Roasted beans have been used as a charm against demons since ancient times.They are scattered inside and outside the house and the words ' Fortune in，devils out  ' are shouted.The bean-throwing ceremony is held on a grand scale at temples and Shinto shrines.
 These are the photoes and a film taken at Kamakura-gu Shrine in Kamakura today.

 

Miss Kamakura is poised to scatter beans.

Kamakura-gu Shrine

 

 

A foreign diplomat and his wife

 

Big Statue of Buddha in Kamakura on Jan. 25, 2015

This is the icon of Kamakura, 'Big Statue of Buddha'.

You will know how big it is.

A pair of straw sandals which he was supposedly wearing.

There will be full of tourists in the precinct of Kotokuin-temple when winter is over.

 

 

'Hakone Ekiden': 'Long Distance Relay Road Race between Tokyo & Hakone'

Twenty university teams were qualified to take part in the New Year's Hakone Ekiden Race held on January 2 & 3. This is the most popular New Year's sports event in Japan.
I went to Tokyo to see the return road race on Jan. 3 and would like to show you some photos and films.

 

 

Aoyama Gakuin Universuty won the race for the first time.

Komazawa University got the second place.

Toyo University was the third place team.

Juntendo University students are cheering their mates from the sidewalk.

 

The last runner follows the relay mobile of a radio station.

 

I took a picture of Kabuki Theater from my car on the way home. 

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Yokohama

 I went to Sankei-en Garden in Yokohama. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Sankei-en is the most famous and beautiful garden in Yokohama. I took several photos, so I post them here for my readers' enjoyment.

These photos are taken by Mitsutoshi Masunari on April 1, 2014.

 

Jade Buddha at Soji-ji Temple in Yokohama

I went to Soji-ji Temple in the vicinity of Tsurumi Station of the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line on purpose. Soji-ji Temple is a prestigious temple which is one of the two main temples of Soto-sect Buddhism. The other is Eihei-ji Temple in Fukui Prefecture.
It is also known as a temple where Yuujiro Ishihara - a very popular actor - was buried.
The purpose is not to visit the actor's grave but to see this graceful statue of Buddha. The statue of Buddha is on his way of a world tour and stopped by Yokohama for a ten-day-stay.
I will write how this statue was made after this show is closed on July 21.