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Love Stones at Jishu Shrine in Kyoto images

Love Stones at Jishu Shrine in Kyoto

Jishu Shrine is located near (or I would say within) Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple. Dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking, the love shrine is always crowded with many couples and especially young girls praying for luck in love. There are two love stones in front of the shrine, placed 18m apa…(223 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Kyoto Jinjya (Shrine) Tera (Temple) Park Visit Amusement park
Azalea: Tsutsuji - Spring Flowers in Japan images

Azalea: Tsutsuji - Spring Flowers in Japan

Sakura is famous in the spring, but after the cherry blossom time in Japan another flower takes over. In April azaleas colour Tokyo with their bright flowers.When I read Chiara's post "Local Secret: YaNeSen" here I realised that she was describing places that I had just visited. "The stroll fro…(195 words)

David image

David

Spring Flower Park Garden Jinjya (Shrine) April Tokyo Nezu Walk May
Kameido Tenjin's birds for good fortune images

Kameido Tenjin's birds for good fortune

Kameido Tenjin Shrine (亀戸天神社) is known as a shrine for people who wish for success in their studies, like passing exams. On January 24 and 25, the shrine has a special event, the usokae-shinji (鷽替神事). Similar festivals are held at a few shrines in Japan, in Tokyo also at Yushima Tenjin, Ja…(241 words)

David image

David

Kameido Jinjya (Shrine) good luck Event Japanese festivals January Omamori Tokyo
Omikuji - Take Only Good Luck With You images

Omikuji - Take Only Good Luck With You

Omikuji - おみくじ - are fortune papers from temples and shrines that offer advice for your health, career, and good luck in general. There are positive ones - marked kichi 吉 - and negative ones - marked kyou 凶. The most positive one is the daikichi 大吉, the big fortune.You can find omikuji …(310 words)

David image

David

good luck Jinjya (Shrine) Tera (Temple) Omikuji Senso-ji Temple Kameido Asakusa
Let a Lion Bite Your Head (for Good Luck) images

Let a Lion Bite Your Head (for Good Luck)

If you could use a little more good luck, let a lion help you. Lions protect many shrines and temples in Japan. The dance of the lion dispels evil and calls in good luck. For an extra dose of good luck put your head in the lion's mouth and let it bite you.This is the lion dance, shishi-mai, at Kame…(250 words)

David image

David

good luck Lion Jinjya (Shrine) Japanese festivals yushima dance Kameido Tokyo
Dolls Day - March 3rd images

Dolls Day - March 3rd

March 3rd, is Girls' Day in Japan. It's also called Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival).Those who have sets of Hina Dolls display them in their homes on a platform - in tiers- and the tiers are covered with a red cloth. The dolls are called hina-ningyoh. They represent the Emperor, the Empress, and …(515 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Dolls Tokyo Jinjya (Shrine) Chiba Sashimi (Raw fish) Hinamatsuri
The Symmetry In Japanese Architecture images

The Symmetry In Japanese Architecture

I step over the deep, brown aged gate step into the temple's welcome garden. To my left is a preparation space for visitors to this tiny, ancient temple and cemetery tucked far into the hills near Kanazawa Bunko station on the Keikyu train line. After gathering up a broom, some shears for the chrys…(415 words)

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Japanese Architecture Chrysanthemum Japan Travel Japanese temple visit Jinjya (Shrine) Kanazawa Bunko Keikyu Train Line Temple garden Tera (Temple) Yokohama
Yatai Foods: Savory Treats on a Stick images

Yatai Foods: Savory Treats on a Stick

Japan has many different festivals - matsuri - throughout the year and no festival is complete without food from yatai food stalls (屋台). Yatai sell sweet and savory foods and a lot of that is food on a stick.Ayu - あゆ: This small fish is very popular in Japan and is served both grilled on a …(232 words)

David image

David

yatai Japanese festivals Fish sausage Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Mochi (Rice cake) squid
Experience Your Own “Japanese Style Wedding” in Tokyo! images

Experience Your Own “Japanese Style Wedding” in Tokyo!

What’s the most romantic place in the world? Paris? Hawaii? Rome? Those may be some of the obvious contenders, but there seems to be an increasing number of people who would name Tokyo as the most romantic travel destination.This idea of Tokyo as a modern day romance capital, combined with the …(238 words)

Japanista image

Japanista

Tokyo style Japanese Restaurant English Asakusa Jinjya (Shrine) Ginza wedding hakama
The Three Wise Monkeys images

The Three Wise Monkeys

Ever since I was little, storybooks, cartoons, and popular culture, have depicted the story of The Three Wise Monkeys. You know the image, three monkeys sitting there; one covering his ears, another covering his mouth, and the third covering his eyes. In the western world, we often relate this to t…(356 words)

Alex image

Alex

World Heritage Site Nikko Tera (Temple) Park Visit Jinjya (Shrine) Art Souvenir Monkey Three Wise Monkeys
Saitama, Short Trip to North of Tokyo images

Saitama, Short Trip to North of Tokyo

Kawagoe City, SaitamaLittle Kawagoe, a short one-hour train ride away from Shinjuku Station on the Seibu Line, is a wonderful spot to get away from the big city and feast your eyes on buildings from the Edo and Meiji era. The main street is lined on both sides by gorgeous old wooden merchant ho…(475 words)

DeepJapan image

DeepJapan

Saitama Kawagoe Matome Museum Train craftmanship Airplane Jinjya (Shrine) Tera (Temple)
Claps and bows in silence images

Claps and bows in silence

Every New Year's holiday, I go to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura. There, you first throw money, bow twice, clap your hands twice, pray and then bow once (you can follow this process at any shrine). It may sound like a complicated process, but all you have to do is follow the person before you (t…(160 words)

RieS image

RieS

Tera (Temple) Kamakura Jinjya (Shrine) Beauty New year
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto and Local Inari Shrines images

Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto and Local Inari Shrines

The famous Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Kyoto really is a fantastic place to visit. There are the colorful main buildings to see and even more impressive is the walk through the shrine's land. In the case of Fushimi Inari, this means taking a long walk up and around the hill that belongs to the s…(316 words)

David image

David

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Kyoto Jinjya (Shrine) Asakusa Walk
Hell of gatekeeper, "Enma the Great" Legend of Japan. images

Hell of gatekeeper, "Enma the Great" Legend of Japan.

There is a big baseball stadium in Tokyo.It is called the "BIG EGG", it has been popular.Because very visible to a large egg.The town side of the big egg,Hell of gatekeeper, "Enma the Great" There are in the shrine."Enma the Great" is God.It is God, dead people meet for the first…(157 words)

asteka image

asteka

Japan Tokyo Jinjya (Shrine) City Etiquette Japanese Shop Guide Baseball
"Chinowa" - a Very special ring at shrine! images

"Chinowa" - a Very special ring at shrine!

"Chinowa" is a large ring made of grass and erected on the pathway leading to a shrine on the days of purification (harae). Photos are taken at Shinagawa Shrine.At the shrine, you can pass through the ring as an act of purification from misdeeds (tsumi), impurities (kegare), or bad luck. Shinag…(170 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Jinjya (Shrine) Tokyo Visit Mountain Shinagawa Station Mount Fuji Shinagawa
Shibuya' Traditional Festival - Portable Shrines (Mikoshi) go along Omotesando Street images

Shibuya' Traditional Festival - Portable Shrines (Mikoshi) go along Omotesando Street

Shibuya is one of the most popular places to visit in Tokyo.What are the things to do in Shibuya?TripAdvisor recommends you to do (http://goo.gl/e1hJHq)x Meiji Jingux Yoyogi Parkx Shibuya Center Townx Shibuya Pedestrian Scramblex Omotesandox Ota Memorial Museum of Artx National Ch…(452 words)

Cecilia Reiko image

Cecilia Reiko

Shibuya festival Omotesando Tokyo Park Visit Beer Art Museum Jinjya (Shrine)
Enoshima Island is a Legendary Power Spot images

Enoshima Island is a Legendary Power Spot

I work on Enoshima, a small island with a legendary past that is known as a power spot. Enoshima has the myth of a five-headed dragon. The dragon was responsible for the hardships in the surrounding area, and the benevolent goddess Benzaiten eventually came from above to soothe the dragon’s rag…(782 words)

Sayaka image

Sayaka

Enoshima Island Jinjya (Shrine) Shop Sea Nature Beauty good luck design
Minami Boso Penninsula, Chiba images

Minami Boso Penninsula, Chiba

The other day I took a trip to the Minami Boso area of Chiba which is a great place to visit for a day trip from Tokyo. Jump on the bus from Tokyo Station for the scenic 90 minute ride through the city, over the famous Rainbow Bridge, and the unique Aqua Line expressway to the south of the Chiba Pe…(414 words)

Adstev73 image

Adstev73

Chiba Visit Trip Tokyo City Spring Walk Jinjya (Shrine) Bus Cherry blossom
Imado Shrine - Manekineko Lucky-in-Love Cats images

Imado Shrine - Manekineko Lucky-in-Love Cats

Imado Shrine is one of the main places for Japan's manekineko lucky cats. Here they come in pairs and bring you good luck in love. Although the shrine itself is small, it is home to a huge number of manekineko statues and fortune goods.Buy one of the round ema 絵馬 tablets and write your love w…(349 words)

David image

David

Imado manekineko Asakusa Jinjya (Shrine) good luck love Omikuji Tokyo
Japanese style wedding, what it is like? images

Japanese style wedding, what it is like?

According to national statistics in Japan, a bit more than 600,000 couples got married in 2017. Another private survey for such newly married couples showed that two-thirds of them had a wedding ceremony and that only 17% of them chose Japanese traditional style, Shinto wedding ceremony, while 65% …(453 words)

TomokoI image

TomokoI

wedding Tokyo Event Jinjya (Shrine) Kimono experience Kimono fashion for men Kimono Chiba Tokyo Bay Sake (Rice wine)
Yatai - Festival Food Stalls images

Yatai - Festival Food Stalls

There are a lot of matsuri - festivals - all over Japan especially in the summer. At the matsuri you can always find many kinds of yatai - food stalls. Even small local events have yatai, because the food is part of the festival. Yatai offer all sorts of fun yummy foods, both sweet and savoury. Ple…(126 words)

David image

David

yatai Japanese festivals Sweets Food Summer Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) chocolate banana
Easy hike through Kamakura images

Easy hike through Kamakura

Seeking to combine some sight-seeing with a bit of hiking, I found a short hiking course in Kamakura, starting at Kita Kamakura Station and ending up near the Daibutsu, from where the walk can be extended until the sea shore.The trail starts right next to Jochiji temple, and winds into the hill…(427 words)

Chiara image

Chiara

Kamakura Tera (Temple) Sea Jinjya (Shrine) Nature Hiking Buddha
Beautiful Kyoto images

Beautiful Kyoto

Kyoto is a beautiful city where you discover small temples and shrines around the corner. One step inside and you are in another world, free from the noise of the city, stressless, peaceful. All it takes is a walk along Kamo river, and some curiosity to look around the corners... So, if you ha…(391 words)

Claire image

Claire

Kyoto Visit Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) River
Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto: Walking the stairs to heaven.... images

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto: Walking the stairs to heaven....

There are many beautiful things to visit in Kyoto and for very good reasons. If you fancy a little bit of fresh air and a walk in the forest, Inari Shrine of Fushimi is the place to go.Inari Shrine is one of the many UNESCO world heritages in Kyoto and it attracts many tourists. But if yo…(553 words)

Claire image

Claire

Jinjya (Shrine) Kyoto Visit Trip Walk
Three Sacred Treasures and Imperial Palace images

Three Sacred Treasures and Imperial Palace

The three treasures: mirror, sword, and jewels are believed to be passed down in the Imperial Family through generations. It is said that no one, even including the Emperor himself, has seen the objects. The treasures are considered not only as tangible entities but also as Japanese spirits: honest…(149 words)

Hatha Yoga Lover image

Hatha Yoga Lover

Imperial Palace Emperor Visit Birthday History New year The Emperor's Birthday Ise Grand Shrine Jinjya (Shrine)
5 recommendations to take your pictures wearing KIMONO in Asakusa images

5 recommendations to take your pictures wearing KIMONO in Asakusa

There are many good places to take pictures when you wear Kimono in Asakusa. Three gates to Sensoji, Kaminarimon, Hozomon and Nitenmon, are the best of course as well as Gojunotou (five-storied pagoda). However, I would like to recommend the places where is not in your guidebook.Izumiya is a sh…(236 words)

Keiko, OTT image

Keiko, OTT

Asakusa Kimono Restaurant Building Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Shop Tempura Business Photography
Ume (plum) blossoms in Sumida-ku images

Ume (plum) blossoms in Sumida-ku

Can not wait Sakura? February is the time for Ume (plum) blossoms. In Sumida-ku, there are some places famous for Ume blossoms. Though Kameido Tenjin is also famous for wisteria, there are over 300 Ume trees. 15 minutes walk from JR Kameido Station.Omurai-Katori Shrine is a small shrine, which …(118 words)

Keiko, OTT image

Keiko, OTT

Japanese plum Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Visit Jinjya (Shrine) Garden Kameido flowers
A Summer Day Tour in Misaki Port and Jogashima images

A Summer Day Tour in Misaki Port and Jogashima

If you have a day to get out and adventure, I suggest you make your way to Miura's Misaki Port and neighbouring island, Jogashima. Only one hour away from Yokohama, it makes for a perfect day trip.Misakiko, now a thriving tuna port (the locals call it the "City of Tuna), it boasts a fish market…(424 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Visit Yokohama Trip Summer port Tokyo City Shopping Jinjya (Shrine) Bus
Untouched, Friendly and Awaiting your Arrival; Shizukuishi, Iwate Japan. images

Untouched, Friendly and Awaiting your Arrival; Shizukuishi, Iwate Japan.

I planned to arrive in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture while the sun was still shining, but a speech in Chiba City delayed my arrival until long after the moon rose on this village of just over 17,000 residents in Northeast Japan. It was a sweltering day with temperatures around 36 degrees Celsiu…(1112 words)

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Japan Iwate Jinjya (Shrine) Walk Shinkansen Bullet Train Japanese Culture and Style Tokyo Tanuki
Visit to a Shinto Shrine, steps to follow and their explanations images

Visit to a Shinto Shrine, steps to follow and their explanations

Working for one of the main Shinto Shrine in Japan, there are a few things that I've been able to study, experiment and understand through my work. Here are a few advice if you wish to make a proper visit of a Shinto place, with the usual respect signs to show to the Gods... that even Japanese …(900 words)

Sam image

Sam

Visit Jinjya (Shrine) Shinto Tokyo Japan Japanese Meiji Shrine English
The Best Views of Fuji images

The Best Views of Fuji

Kintoki Mountain is a hiking route starting in Hakone or Ashigara. The trail is steeped in legend and named after the legendary Japanese children`s tale, Kintaro. Kintaro is the story of a boy raised in the mountains with animals as friends. There are tales of him wrestling bears, running with deer…(261 words)

Kintaro-man image

Kintaro-man

Hakone Hiking Mount Fuji Japanese Jinjya (Shrine) Nature Children Mountain
Hakuhinkan ginza shop, vstone robot shop are good places to collect souvenirs for kids images

Hakuhinkan ginza shop, vstone robot shop are good places to collect souvenirs for kids

Hakuhinkan Ginza - http://www.hakuhinkan.co.jp/guide_en.html is a place to visit for sure. Here you can find lots of toys, puzzles, gadgets from Japan that will surely be liked by kids from any country. Its an awesome place. Vstone - kids robots building place - http://www.vstone.co.jp/english/…(121 words)

suku image

suku

Building Ginza Asakusa Souvenir Jinjya (Shrine) Kimono Samurai Yukata (Light kimono) Summer
Amazing Japanese Festivals in August images

Amazing Japanese Festivals in August

Many neighborhood associations take great effort to prepare for the yearly Matsuri (festival) in their area. This photo is taken in August as a group in the Noge area of Yokohama transports their O-mikoshi (portable shrine). The taxi driver proudly told me that one of these shrines can cost more th…(166 words)

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Japanese festivals Tokyo Yokohama Jinjya (Shrine) Taxicab Summer
Not Quiet Temples and Shrines images

Not Quiet Temples and Shrines

Some Japanese temples are beautifully quiet places with peaceful gardens. Before I came to Japan I mistakenly imagined all temples and shrines would be like that. I was thinking of ponds with koi carp and turtles, perfectly maintained leaf-free stone gardens, and areas sculpted with moss and plants…(255 words)

David image

David

Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Japanese style shopping arcade Enoshima Island Kanagawa Trip Asakusa Senso-ji Temple Nakamise-dori
Bedazzled by Buds and Blooms images

Bedazzled by Buds and Blooms

Japanese, and many foreigners who have lived here for a time, have a particular love for sakura season. Of course, the blooming of the sakura trees does herald the arrival of spring and - hopefully - the end of a cold winter. The sakura maps that are popular on TV news, newspapers, Facebook, and ot…(575 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Tokyo Park Cherry blossom Jinjya (Shrine) River Cherry Suginami Wadabori Yaezakura
View the Most Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Japan images

View the Most Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Japan

A somewhat drab introduction in the metro underground of Kudanshita will quell your palate for something exciting outside. You have probably heard about the beauty of Cherry Blossom season in Japan, but NOTHING will prepare you for the jubilance and grace of huge Cherry trees stretching branch tips…(289 words)

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Cherry blossom Chidorigafuchi Spring Jinjya (Shrine) Japan Travel Cherry Blossom Day Tour Tokyo Hanami Kudanshita Tokyo
In Basho's Footsteps images

In Basho's Footsteps

In May 1689 the great Haiku poet Matsuo Basho sold his house and began travelling north through Japan. His written impressions of the journey, over 1200 miles later, became The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a compilation of travel sketches in prose and verse which is a famous reminder of Basho’s o…(379 words)

InBasho'sFootsteps image

InBasho'sFootsteps

Basho Tokyo Art Jinjya (Shrine) Nature Camping view Walk Haiku Outdoor recreation
Ginkgo Biloba, Get Ready for a Gold Tokyo! images

Ginkgo Biloba, Get Ready for a Gold Tokyo!

I live in the city of Shinagawa and on my way to Shinagawa JR train station, I walk along the properly spaced and placed trees along the main road along the JR train tracks. The tree I am describing is titled Ginkgo Biloba or at times it is known by maidenhair tree. According to Wikipedia, “Gin…(541 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Tokyo Train City Summer Art Tera (Temple) Food Spring Jinjya (Shrine) History
A Temple Less Crowded yet Equally Divine images

A Temple Less Crowded yet Equally Divine

Say the word Kyoto and immediately images of temples and shrines and all things traditionally Japanese spring to mind. It's Kyoto's inseparable association with the most beautiful and noble that Japan has to offer that makes it a choice destination for over 50,000,000 tourists that visit "The City …(399 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Kyoto Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) City Visit Travel Park
Japanese Chrysanthemums, A Wonderful Sight To See During Your Visit in Japan images

Japanese Chrysanthemums, A Wonderful Sight To See During Your Visit in Japan

"Kiku" is the Japanese word for Chrysanthemum. After residing in Japan for some 28 years, I understand that the Japanese relationship with this beautiful flower is deep, intricate and somewhat mysterious especially when you are a newbie visitor.I happen to live next to Japan’s second larges…(798 words)

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Chrysanthemum Yokohama Summer Convenience store Art Jinjya (Shrine) Tea Yahiko Niigata Niigata Kiku Matsuri