Photo Update: Tokyo, Japan
Hello again. To Japan, now: Tokyo.
Asakusa Temple complex, Jomon Gate, it was an excuse for festival time when we visited because it was ‘Golden Week’:
Wafting the incense (that’s the smoke) in your face is all part of the fun:
More of the temple grounds, there was one large and two smaller temple groups on the one site, complete with festival stalls. I got to try Takoyaki (Octopus Dumplings) – they were good.
The old-fashion monks’ quarters at Asakusa, complete with seedy-looking pigeon:
Intersection at Shibuya. This is the same crossing that always appears to represent Tokyo whenever its on telly in some way or other, as it’s busy as anything:
This was the second time we’d seen these guys around town:
They were a militaristic bunch with a loudhailer preaching about something or other, the language barrier kept us from finding out. Just as well, as it was probably something about claiming the heads of foreign barbarians…
Tokyo by night:
The outer wall of the Imperial Palace in the centre of Tokyo. This is no Buckingham Palace style lark, this is there to keep you away and out:
Pop fact: the Imperial family only renounced being descending from Gods when they were under the heel of the Americans after WWII. We were interested to discover that the date on some things in Japan (like our Japan Rail Passes) is done by the Imperial calendar. It’s currently the year Heisei 17.
Scenery around Ueno park:
Beautiful garden and house at the back of the National Museum:
Inside, some impressive Samurai Armour:
And one of the many swords, a Tachi, for wearing at ceremonial occasions:
Oh, and here’s a shot from the Shitamachi history museum, which was concerned with Tokyo life before modernisation - from the turn of the century up until WWII – this facade is the entrance to an onsen bath house:
Next: Bandai-san and Kyoto!
- Lee.
Asakusa Temple complex, Jomon Gate, it was an excuse for festival time when we visited because it was ‘Golden Week’:
Wafting the incense (that’s the smoke) in your face is all part of the fun:
More of the temple grounds, there was one large and two smaller temple groups on the one site, complete with festival stalls. I got to try Takoyaki (Octopus Dumplings) – they were good.
The old-fashion monks’ quarters at Asakusa, complete with seedy-looking pigeon:
Intersection at Shibuya. This is the same crossing that always appears to represent Tokyo whenever its on telly in some way or other, as it’s busy as anything:
This was the second time we’d seen these guys around town:
They were a militaristic bunch with a loudhailer preaching about something or other, the language barrier kept us from finding out. Just as well, as it was probably something about claiming the heads of foreign barbarians…
Tokyo by night:
The outer wall of the Imperial Palace in the centre of Tokyo. This is no Buckingham Palace style lark, this is there to keep you away and out:
Pop fact: the Imperial family only renounced being descending from Gods when they were under the heel of the Americans after WWII. We were interested to discover that the date on some things in Japan (like our Japan Rail Passes) is done by the Imperial calendar. It’s currently the year Heisei 17.
Scenery around Ueno park:
Beautiful garden and house at the back of the National Museum:
Inside, some impressive Samurai Armour:
And one of the many swords, a Tachi, for wearing at ceremonial occasions:
Oh, and here’s a shot from the Shitamachi history museum, which was concerned with Tokyo life before modernisation - from the turn of the century up until WWII – this facade is the entrance to an onsen bath house:
Next: Bandai-san and Kyoto!
- Lee.
posted by Lee at
10:08 am
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