China Town in Yokahama

 Today is the beginning of Chinese New Year under the lunar calendar. Here in Yokahama China Town lion dance was performed It was enjoyable.

Diamond Fuji

Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. Its height is 3,776 meters. However, it is hard to see Mt. Fuji from the ground level in the center of Tokyo because of many tall buildings. Still, there is a spot where people can enjoy the majestic view temporarily in the Meiji-Jingu Gaien area until Dec. this year; Tokyo National Stadium was dismantled in order to build a new stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Oplympics.
On Feb. 4, 2016, one of my friends of my high school days took pictures of Mt. Fuji and sent them to us. I got his permission to post them on my blogsite. Those are something special, so please enjoy them.

 In front of Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery many amateur photographers are preparing for the shutter chance.

  The sun set behind Mt. Fuji this day. We call this 'Diamond Fuji'.
[Posted by the courtesy of Mr. Takao Hatanaka, my friend]

 

Mt. Fuji- World Heritage Site and The Symbol of Japan

It was a fine and clear day today and I could see Mt. Fuji from my house. I couldn't stop taking a picture of Japan's symbol. It was around 10:30 AM of  November 27 (Japan time).

 

The Yokohama Bay Area

Yokohama is the second populous city with 3.7 millions of people after Tokyo. The population of Tokyo Metropolis is 13.1 millions and that of 23 special wards of Tokyo is about 9 millions.

The tall building in the center is 'Yokohama Landmark Tower'. Construction of this building was completed in July 1993.It had been the tallest building(296.33m) in Japan until it was surpassed by another building 'Abeno Harukas' of Osaka(300m) in 2014.

This is the old ocean liner 'Hikawa-maru' that has been anchoring here for the purpose of exhibition only.'Hikawa-maru' was built in 1930 and mainly used to carry passengers between Yokohama and Seattle until it was decommissioned in 1960.

Yokohama Bay Bridge is a suspension bridge which connects Naka and Tsurumi wards within Yokohama City. Its length is 860 meters.Construction of this bridge was completed in September 1989.

This picture shows Red Brick Warehouses which were built in 1911 and 1913 for the use of Customs and had been used for that purpose until 1989. Since then they had not been used for a long while until they were renovated to use as cultural and commercial facilities in 2002.
Another sightseeing spot in this picture is a breakwater nicknamed 'Elephant's Trunk' which you will be able to recognise by its shape. 

In the center of this photo there is Yokohama Customs with a tower which has a blue cap. This was nicknamed as Queen's Tower'. The Customs was built in 1934.

 

 

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