Asia Images / John Lander Photography

  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Books
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
Next
102 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • Japanese Kids in Kimono at the local horseback archery festival held in Zushi, Kanagawa-ken.  Apart from the archery itself, the preceding parade is full of local color, with citizens dressed in traditional costumes, kimono and even samurai.
    kids-kimono.jpg
  • Little Japanese girls out on Shichi-Go-San, literally 7-5-3, a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for children the age of seven, five or three, held annually on November 15.  As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is normally observed on the nearest weekend.  Children are still dressed in kimono, many for the first time, for visits to shrines though western-style formal wear is also worn by some children.
    shichi-go-san-6.jpg
  • Shichi-Go-San literally seven-five-three, is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.  Boys who are aged three or five and girls who are aged three or seven are still dressed in kimono, many for the first time, for visits to shrines.  Western-style formal wear is also worn by some children.
    shichi-go-san-7.jpg
  • Chakkirako is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople for the new year.  The chakkirako festival in Misaki is a traditional event held in Miura City. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks "chakkirako" and fans. There is no established theory for the origin of Chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for good catches of fish since the Edo period.  In 2010 Chakkirako was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO..
    chakkirako-1.jpg
  • Chakkirako is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople for the new year.  The chakkirako festival in Misaki is a traditional event held in Miura City. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks "chakkirako" and fans. There is no established theory for the origin of Chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for good catches of fish since the Edo period.  In 2010 Chakkirako was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO..
    chakkirako-2.jpg
  • Chakkirako is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople for the new year.  The chakkirako festival in Misaki is a traditional event held in Miura City. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks "chakkirako" and fans. There is no established theory for the origin of Chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for good catches of fish since the Edo period.  In 2010 Chakkirako was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO..
    chakkirako-4.jpg
  • Chakkirako is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople for the new year.  The chakkirako festival in Misaki is a traditional event held in Miura City. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks "chakkirako" and fans. There is no established theory for the origin of Chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for good catches of fish since the Edo period.  In 2010 Chakkirako was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO..
    chakkirako-6.jpg
  • Chakkirako is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople for the new year.  The chakkirako festival in Misaki is a traditional event held in Miura City. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks "chakkirako" and fans. There is no established theory for the origin of Chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for good catches of fish since the Edo period.  In 2010 Chakkirako was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO..
    chakkirako-8.jpg
  • 41. Chakkirako チャッキラコ is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople of Misaki, at the tip of the Miura Peninsula, for the new year. The chakkirako ritual is a traditional event held in this fishing port famous for its tuna markets. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks called chakkirako and fans. There is no established theory behind the origin of chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for a good catch of fish since the Edo period.
    41.INTANGIBLE-CHAKKIRAKO-03.jpg
  • 41. Chakkirako チャッキラコ is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople of Misaki, at the tip of the Miura Peninsula, for the new year. The chakkirako ritual is a traditional event held in this fishing port famous for its tuna markets. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks called chakkirako and fans. There is no established theory behind the origin of chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for a good catch of fish since the Edo period.
    41.INTANGIBLE-CHAKKIRAKO-02.jpg
  • Chakkirako is a folk dance that blesses the harvest and prosperity of the townspeople for the new year.  The chakkirako festival in Misaki is a traditional event held in Miura City. Girls aged 5 to 12 perform dances to music holding bamboo sticks "chakkirako" and fans. There is no established theory for the origin of Chakkirako, but it has been performed as a prayer for good catches of fish since the Edo period.  In 2010 Chakkirako was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO..
    chakkirako-3.jpg
  • Shichi-Go-San literally seven-five-three, is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.  Boys who are aged three or five and girls who are aged three or seven are still dressed in kimono, many for the first time, for visits to shrines.  Western-style formal wear is also worn by some children.
    shichi-go-san-10.jpg
  • Miko Shinto Priest Assistants - Miko is a Japanese term that in ancient times meant female shaman or shamaness or even prophet or priestess.  In more recent times, the term has come to mean "shrine maiden" that is a girl who serves as an assistant at Shinto shrines.
    miko.jpg
  • Shosei-en Garden is a traditional Japanese formal garden thought to have been built in the ninth century on the site of Prince Minamoto Notoru's mansion. Fires in 1858 and 1864 burnt the walls and interior structures to the ground. They were thereafter restored, and in 1938 designated a National Historic Site. Within the grounds, there are several tea houses, a large pond, a small waterfall, many stone lanterns, and bridges - all a mere 10 minute walk from the main Kyoto Station and the bullet trains.
    shosei-en-3.jpg
  • Yusentei was built as a vacation house by a feudal lord of Fukuoka in 1754 and was reopened by the city of Fukuoka in 1981 as a historical park.  This  garden is constructed in the chisen kaiyu-shiki  style, that is a strolling garden centered on a scenic pond. The paths of the garden wind through thick trees and mossy rocks, up miniature hills and along the shore of the koi pond, immersing visitors in a uniquely Japanese landscape garden atmosphere. At the large teahouse overlooking the pond, visitors can enjoy matcha tea at the teahouse overlooking the pond.  The garden is named after a poem by Kuze Michinatsu, which expresses the coolness of the spring water in the summer and the feeling of retreat at the Jyosuian and Shozanan teahouses.
    yusentei-garden-1.jpg
  • Yusentei was built as a vacation house by a feudal lord of Fukuoka in 1754 and was reopened by the city of Fukuoka in 1981 as a historical park.  This  garden is constructed in the chisen kaiyu-shiki  style, that is a strolling garden centered on a scenic pond. The paths of the garden wind through thick trees and mossy rocks, up miniature hills and along the shore of the koi pond, immersing visitors in a uniquely Japanese landscape garden atmosphere. At the large teahouse overlooking the pond, visitors can enjoy matcha tea at the teahouse overlooking the pond.  The garden is named after a poem by Kuze Michinatsu, which expresses the coolness of the spring water in the summer and the feeling of retreat at the Jyosuian and Shozanan teahouses.
    yusentei-garden-8.jpg
  • Yusentei was built as a vacation house by a feudal lord of Fukuoka in 1754 and was reopened by the city of Fukuoka in 1981 as a historical park.  This  garden is constructed in the chisen kaiyu-shiki  style, that is a strolling garden centered on a scenic pond. The paths of the garden wind through thick trees and mossy rocks, up miniature hills and along the shore of the koi pond, immersing visitors in a uniquely Japanese landscape garden atmosphere. At the large teahouse overlooking the pond, visitors can enjoy matcha tea at the teahouse overlooking the pond.  The garden is named after a poem by Kuze Michinatsu, which expresses the coolness of the spring water in the summer and the feeling of retreat at the Jyosuian and Shozanan teahouses.
    yusentei-garden-9.jpg
  • Geisha on the streets of Arashiyama - geiko as they are called in Kyoto, are traditionally entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance. Apprentice geisha are called maiko literally "dance child".
    geisha-3.jpg
  • Fabric banners play an important part in the life of Japan. They are used as signs for stores, they welcome people, they celebrate the "coming of age" of boys and girls. They brighten festivals and decorate the entrances of stores and restaurants, they beckon you to buy or sell. They have a warm and dramatic affect, and with their "kanji", or Japanese characters, they lend an exotic flavor and become a work of art .
    japanese-banner.jpg
  • Japanese girls in Kimono at Entoku-in Garden, originally part of Fushimijo Castle and also a sub-temple of Kodaiji Temple. The northern dry garden shows the essence of Momoyama style and is a registered National Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. It was built in 1605 and dedicated as a Rinzai sect temple in 1633.
    entoku-in-2.jpg
  • Kimono differ in style and color depending on the occasion on which it is worn and the age and marital status of the person wearing it. To put on a kimono needs some practice. Especially tying the belt alone is difficult so that many people require assistance. Wearing a kimono properly includes the proper hair style, shoes, socks, and even underwear.  Nowadays it is popular to "dress up in kimono for a day" even for foreign visitors.
    wearing-kimono-1.jpg
  • Dressing up in Kimono - Kimono differ in style and color depending on the occasion on which it is worn and the age and marital status of the person wearing it. To put on a kimono needs some practice. Especially tying the belt alone is difficult so that many people require assistance. Wearing a kimono properly includes the proper hair style, shoes, socks, and even underwear.  Nowadays it is popular to "dress up in kimono for a day" even for foreign visitors.
    wearing-kimono-2.jpg
  • Drinking Tea - Japanese green tea, or ocha is the most common drink in Japan.  Not only is it loaded with vitamin C and caffeine but its antioxidant and healthy properties are making this drink a hit all around the world.
    japanese-tea-drinkers.jpg
  • Drinking Tea - Japanese green tea, or ocha is the most common drink in Japan.  Not only is it loaded with vitamin C and caffeine but its antioxidant and healthy properties are making this drink a hit all around the world.
    japanese-tea-drinkers.jpg
  • Shichi-Go-San literally seven-five-three, is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.  Boys who are aged three or five and girls who are aged three or seven are still dressed in kimono, many for the first time, for visits to shrines.  Western-style formal wear is also worn by some children.
    shichi-go-san-1.jpg
  • Shichi-Go-San literally seven-five-three, is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.  Boys who are aged three or five and girls who are aged three or seven are still dressed in kimono, many for the first time, for visits to shrines.  Western-style formal wear is also worn by some children.
    shichi-go-san-8.jpg
  • Shichi-Go-San literally seven-five-three, is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.  Boys who are aged three or five and girls who are aged three or seven are still dressed in kimono, many for the first time, for visits to shrines.  Western-style formal wear is also worn by some children.
    shichi-go-san-5.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-10.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-9.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-2.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-3.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-16.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-14.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-13.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-11.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-7.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-6.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-1.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-15.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-12.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-8.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-5.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    adult-day-4.jpg
  • Tanuki at washima Shrine - Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-10.jpg
  • Maneki Neko at Awashima Shrine - Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-2.jpg
  • Japanese boy at Shichi-Go-San, literally seven-five-three, a traditional rite of passage in Japan held annually on November 15.  The event is not a national holiday, so it is often observed on the nearest weekend and these days througout November.  Boys who are aged three or five and girls who are aged three or seven are dressed in kimono, usually for the first time, for visits to shrines.
    shichi-go-san-3.jpg
  • The Kusatsu tradition of yumomi or "water massage" is used to cool off the area's scalding waters, rather than dilute it with cold, the hot water is stirred with wooden paddles and cooled by the mountain air.  To pass the time during the water massaging, the girls sing Kusatsu Bushi an old folk song famous throughout Japan.
    yumomi-2.jpg
  • Costume Play Punks Harajuku - A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes every Sunday. One wonders what they wear on Monday morning...
    costume-play-13.jpg
  • Harajuku Goths.  A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes every Sunday. One wonders what they wear on Monday morning...
    costume-play-goths-4.jpg
  • Costume Play Bloody Nurses. A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes every Sunday. One wonders what they wear on Monday morning...
    costume-play-11.jpg
  • Costume Play Bloody Brunette Nurse - A wide variety of "costume play" getups from nurses, bloddy nurses,  goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga and anime...Every Sunday cosplayers meet up in Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter and show their latest creations. Casual observers think that cos-play is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls Tokyo's high fashion district HQ for Hanae Mori, Fendi and Issey Miyake, some pundits observe that it is rather a reaction to high fashion.  You can't help but imagine what they could possibly wear on Monday mornings though.
    costume-play-3.jpg
  • Kusatsu is the largest natural hot springs in Japan with more than a hundred springs gushing from the Earth which produce, altogether, more than 36,000 litres per minute.  This abundance can be seen in the Yubatake the hot spring fields in the centre of town.  Kusatsu's long history as a flourishing spa town is a well-known resort for recovering from illness or surgery. The Kusatsu tradition, yumomi or water massage, is used to cool off the area's scalding waters, rather than dilute it with cold, the hot water is stirred with wooden paddles and cooled by the mountain air.  To pass the time during the water massaging, the girls sing Kusatsu Bushi an old folk song famous throughout Japan.
    yumomi-1.jpg
  • Costume Play Maids - A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes every Sunday. One wonders what they wear on Monday morning...
    costume-play-maid-2.jpg
  • Costume Play Animation Characters - A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes every Sunday. One wonders what they wear on Monday morning...
    costume-play-8.jpg
  • Costume Play Diver with Accessories - A wide variety of "costume play" getups: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime, the sweet & innocent frilly look of "maids" or combinations in between.  Every Sunday these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion district to strut their stuff. Most casual observers imagine that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of high fashion designers, some consider this to be a some kind of reaction to orthodox fashion. Whatever the cause cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes, making the phenomenon a hit all around the world.
    costume-play-1.jpg
  • A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a lot of effort into their clothing and makeup.
    costume-play-7.jpg
  • Costume Play Goths - A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes every Sunday. One wonders what they wear on Monday morning...
    costume-play-goths-3.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-9.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-6.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-12.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-11.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-5.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-7.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-4.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-1.jpg
  • Samurai Warrior Dolls at Awashima Shrine - Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-19.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-13.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-14.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-8.jpg
  • Takeshita Street Samurai - A wide variety of "costume play" getups are shown here: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime,  the sweet-and-innocent frilly look or combinations in between (goth lolly)  Every Sunday, these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Most casual observers say that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Harajuku and Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider it is a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes every Sunday. One wonders what they wear on Monday morning...
    takeshita-street.jpg
  • Tokyo Street Fashion - A wide variety of costume play getups can be seen every Sunday in Harajuku - Tokyo's fashion quarter.  Since so many cos-plaers congregate near Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, some consider this phenomenon to be a reaction to high fashion. Others, such as these girls, appear to be making a statement on fashion itself.
    costume-play-2.jpg
  • Japanese service quality is light years ahead of the rest of the world. Almost everybody who visits Japan raves about it.  The Japanese style of service quality comes very much from their culture and upbringing. From young, kids in Japan were taught religiously - at home or in school - to observe being respectful to their elders and to think of others before themselves.  Delightful service encounters in Japan are fairly universal. You can get it not only in five star hotels, but also in the little family restaurants tucked away in the allies.
    japanese-server-02.jpg
  • Japanese service quality is light years ahead of the rest of the world. Almost everybody who visits Japan raves about it.  The Japanese style of service quality comes very much from their culture and upbringing. From young, kids in Japan were taught religiously - at home or in school - to observe being respectful to their elders and to think of others before themselves.  Delightful service encounters in Japan are fairly universal. You can get it not only in five star hotels, but also in the little family restaurants tucked away in the allies.
    japanese-server-01.jpg
  • Japanese woman arranging an Ikebana Flower Arrangment - Ikebana, meaning "arranged flower" is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, also known as kado - the "way of flowers".  More than simply putting flowers in a container, ikebana is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Contrary to the idea of floral arrangement as a multicolored arrangement of blooms, ikebana emphasizes other areas of the plant, such as its stems and leaves, and draws emphasis towards shape, line and form. Though ikebana is a creative expression it has certain rules governing its form.
    ikebana.jpg
  • Little Japanese girl running through the Red Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto; Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Kyoto's landmarks and has been featured in countless movies as backdrop.  A torii is a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at the entry to a Shinto shrine.  The basic structure of a torii is two columns that are topped with a horizontal rail. Slightly below the top rail is a second horizontal rail. Torii are traditionally made from wood and are usually painted vermilion red.
    fushimi-inari-6.jpg
  • Shinto Shrine Festival
    obon-1.jpg
  • Nara Deer Park is a large park in central Nara and the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum.  The park is home to hundreds of freely roaming wild deer. Considered messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion of Japan, Nara's deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated a National Treasure.
    nara-deer-park-1.jpg
  • Design Festa is a biannually held event that began in 1994 in Tokyo for artists from all over the world. With over 2600 Booths, Performances and Live Music areas, Restaurants Cafes and Bars. The Design Festa in Tokyo is an extravaganza filled with art, energy, conceptual art, junk, costume players, kitsch, fun and excitement.
    design-festa-1.jpg
  • Sadako Sasaki, January 7, 1943 - October 25, 1955, was a girl who was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, near her home in Hiroshima, Japan..She was diagnosed with leukemia and hospitalized and given, at the most, a year to live. Sadako's best friend Chizuko Hamamoto came to the hospital to visit and cut a golden piece of paper into a square and folded it into a paper crane. Chizuko retold the story about the paper cranes. Inspired by the crane, she started folding them herself, spurred on by the Japanese saying that one who folded 1,000 cranes was granted a wish.  Sadako had achieved her goal and continued to fold more cranes. Though she had plenty of free time during her days in the hospital to fold the cranes, she lacked paper. She would use medicine wrappings and whatever else she could scrounge up. Sadako died on the morning of October 25, 1955 at the age of 12. Since then origami paper cranes have come to symbolize the atomic bombs in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
    origami-cranes-2.jpg
  • Miko Shinto Priest Assistants - Miko is a Japanese term that in ancient times meant female shaman or shamaness or even prophet or priestess.  In more recent times, the term has come to mean "shrine maiden" that is a girl who serves as an assistant at Shinto shrines.
    meiji-jingu-shrine-3.jpg
  • Sanrio Puroland is an indoor theme park located in Tama Center, Tokyo, that attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year and hosts various musicals, restaurants, attractions, and theme rides using popular characters such as Hello Kitty, Pochacco, Keroppi, and many more. While many of the shows are only in Japanese, Puroland nevertheless attracts many visitors from overseas because of the worldwide popularity of these characters. Puroland has become one of Japan's most popular attractions.
    sanrio-puroland-4.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-06.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-05.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-01.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-03.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-04.jpg
  • Seijin-no-hi or Adults Day is a Japanese public holiday held on the second Monday of January.  When young people reach the age of twenty they officially become adults in Japan.  This gives them the legal ability to drink, vote and smoke.  Coming of Age Day is celebrated across Japan each January though some spots are more festive than others, such as this event that took place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. Girls usually wear kimono, while boys usually wear a regular suit and tie though some wear traditional Japanese mens kimono.  The ceremony seisin shiki takes place at the local city office before moving onto the shinto shrine. The day starts early for these new adults, especially girls who have to spend hours doing their makeup and hair and the long period of time it takes to put on a kimono.
    coming-of-age-02.jpg
  • Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-18.jpg
  • Sakura at Awashima Shrine - Awashima Jinja is a shrine for women, famous for its huge collection of dolls. Japanese are superstitions about dolls, many people find them mysterious or frightening, believing that they have souls or the power to influence human lives. There are a number of shrines and festivals where people dispose of their old dolls - they feel that if they just threw them in the garbage, the dolls’ souls might come back to haunt them like ghosts. Awashima jinja is especially devoted to dispose of hina ningyo, which are dolls that are given to young girls on Girl’s Day March 3rd. There are thousands of dolls here, as well as sculptures, figurines, carvings, and statues. You’ll find tanuki, maneki neko, daruma, frogs and many more.
    awashima-shrine-16.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-03.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-11.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-12.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-09.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-08.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-07.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-05.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-02.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-10.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-06.jpg
  • Chigo Gyoretsu is a colourful children’s procession that promotes wishes for kids' happiness and health.  In Japanese, chigo means small child’and gyoretsu means procession - And so chigo-gyoretsu means exactly that – a procession of small children. At this festival, kids aged three to five dress up in orange and purple to wish for growth and health. Wearing matching costumes, the boys wear a stiff hat of lacquered gauze called an eboshi, while the girls wear a crown with a phoenix bird and bright metal pendants called a tenkan.  Although this ceremony is typically performed at shinto shrines, it is increasing praticied at Buddhist temples in Japan.  It is similar to 7-5-3 or Shichi Go San where kids of those ages are trotted out in their finest at the local shinto shrine on November 16.  Since Chigo Gyorentsu usually is performed in September or October, it would be repetitative to perform  similar rites at a shrine, which is probably why it is being celebrated at Buddhist temples.
    chigo-gyoretsu-04.jpg
Next