Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri (Sanja festival) is a annual festival of Asakusa shrine located in the precincts of Senso-ji temple.
This festival is held three days in May.

 On the second day of the festival, around 100 Mikoshi (portable shrine) from 44 neighborhood associations parade through streets of Asakusa.

 I took these photos in Senso-ji temple.
 I felt passion of the people.

 (Note)
These photos were taken on May 19 , 2012.

Denpoin Garden

Denpoin garden of Semso-ji temple is not usually open to the public.
But it is open from March 22 to May 7 in this year as a charity event for the Great East Japan Earthquake.
When I visited there, cherry blossoms in the garden were almost full bloom.










(Note)
These photos were taken on April 7 , 2012.

Nakamise Arcade and Cherry Blossoms

That passage was so crowded.
I could took this photo with difficulty.

(Note)
This photo was taken April 7 , 2012.

Festival at Kappabashi

Kappabashi is a neighborhood in Asakusa.
This festival is held on Kappabashi-hon-dori (street).
You can see "Tokyo Sky Tree" in the photo above (around the center of the photo).




(Note)
These photos were taken on July 10 , 2011.

Hozuki and Japanese wind chime

I took these photos at Senso-ji temple last Sunday.
It was a day of an annual event of the temple called "Shimanrokusen-nichi".
(Please check my previous post from here )
During the event, hozuki(Chinese lantern plant) fair is held at the temple.

It was very hot when I visited there, but sounds of those wind chimes cooled me.

(Note)
These photos were taken on July 10 , 2011.

Senso-ji Temple on July 10

You can see so many people in these photos.
"Shimanrokusen-nichi Festival" is an annual event of the temple.
"Shimanrokusen-nichi" literally means 46000 days.
They say that one visit and worship to the temple on the festival has value same as 46000 visits on ordinary days.
This festival is held on every July 9 and 10.

(Note)
These photos were taken on July 10 , 2011.

Edo Shitamachi Traditional Craft Museum

I have already introduced you photos of Ueno and Asakusa district in this blog.
Those districts are included in Taito-ku (Taito-ward).
Taito-ward is a typical old down town of Tokyo.
It prospered by commerce and excellent craftwork industry in Edo era.

And many craftsmen still inherit technologies of traditional craftwork.

Edo Shitamachi Traditinal Museum was established by Taito- ward to support traditinal technology, and to introduce those fine works.
This small museum stands on Hisago-dori(street) in Asakusa.










(Note)
These photos were taken on May 19 , 2010.

Asakusa Hisago-dori

Hisago-dori is a shopping street lies in Asakusa.
You can find atractive shops on the street, if you like Japanese culture.



(Note)
These photos were taken on May 19 , 2010.

Hozuki-ichi at Senso-ji Temple

Hozuki-ichi (chinese lantern plant fair) at Senso-ji (浅草寺) temple is a most famous Hozuki-ichi in Tokyo ( or Japan).
The fair is held at the temple every year on July 9 and 10 since Edo era.







(Note)
These photos were taken on July 10 , 2010.

Hydrangea in Senso-ji Temple

When I visited Senso-ji temple the other day, I found hydrangea beside a stone tablet inscribed with haiku by Masaoka Shiki.

And that hydrangea gave me a chance to take a photo of the five storied pagoda in the temple.


(Note)
These photos were taken on Jun 15 , 2010.

Garage Shutter of Asakusa Public Hall

I took these photo on denpoin-dori ( street ) in asakusa.
You can see a kabuki stage in Edo era on the garage shutter.

(Note)
These photos were taken on Jun 15 , 2010.

Shutter Art in Asakusa

I took this photo on denpoin-street.
That is a udon (Japanese thick noodle) restaurant.
If you visit asakusa in morning, you can see many nice shutter art.

(Note)
This photo was taken on May 19 , 2010.

Kibi-dango shop at Nakamise

Kibi-dango is a Japanese dumpling made from millet flour and mochi rice flour.
Usually it is coated with kinako (soy been flour).

I took these photos on Nakamise (street) in asakusa.
You can buy freshly made Kibi-dango at the shop.

(Note)
These photos were taken on May 19 , 2010.

Omikuji (Written Fortune)

I took these photos at Senso-ji temple in asakusa.
Omikuji is a piece of small paper telling one's fortune.
You can see a girl smiling in the photo above.
I think she drew great blessing.


Those papers on bar are Omikuji which had been read.

(Note)
These photos were taken on May 19 , 2010.

Under Renovation

Main hall of senso-ji temple is under construction to repair now.
But picture of dragon on those construction sheets might encourage visitors....

(Visitors can enter inside of the hall.)

(Note)
This photo was taken on May 19 , 2010.