Asakusa Shrine
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25)
Wed 2007/01/10 21:07
Just wanted to say a few things about Otakurls before I started. Some really cool links are being submitted - some of which I'd never normaly come across. Thanks to those who have already started to share them.
I notice many of you are using the marklet - feel free to change the title to something that is eye catchy as some of the Japanese titles dont mean much. Another thing is, if you are submitting a page that is paginated, you dont need to submit page1, page2 etc of the same topic as there are already links on that site for that.
The thing on the top of my list is your profile page which will have your blogs RSS feed, comment count, Otakurl count and customizable bits n pieces.
Anyway, on with the topic which is Asakusa Shrine. This post is a bit late due to much time being spent on Otakurls and the mascot character (which is coming along swimmingly).
Hatsu Moude is where the folks over here gather at a shrine of their liking to make their new year prayers. Last year we went to Meiji Jingu and you can see the shenanigans here. Dont usually get round to going to Asakusa so we decided to pop along to see how the area has changed.
I notice many of you are using the marklet - feel free to change the title to something that is eye catchy as some of the Japanese titles dont mean much. Another thing is, if you are submitting a page that is paginated, you dont need to submit page1, page2 etc of the same topic as there are already links on that site for that.
The thing on the top of my list is your profile page which will have your blogs RSS feed, comment count, Otakurl count and customizable bits n pieces.
Anyway, on with the topic which is Asakusa Shrine. This post is a bit late due to much time being spent on Otakurls and the mascot character (which is coming along swimmingly).
Hatsu Moude is where the folks over here gather at a shrine of their liking to make their new year prayers. Last year we went to Meiji Jingu and you can see the shenanigans here. Dont usually get round to going to Asakusa so we decided to pop along to see how the area has changed.
This is the main entrance to Asakusa shrine - also known as Sensouji. You may have seen that huge lantern in many tourist guides for Tokyo. The characters Kaminari(雷)and Mon(門) literally meaning Thunder Door! Walk through it and get zapped by 2.5million volts of lightning.
Once through the door, you will see a passage lined with shops selling a ton of crap. I mean souvenirs ^^;
This stall is selling some sweet hot rice wine otherwise known as AmaZake. I think this is to get you drunk so that you dont know how much money you are going to give away later...
If one cant afford to dish out on cosplay costumes, one can always go for these 500 yen masks...
Purin(プリン) is a popular pudding in Japan. These Purin happen to be in the shape of eyes for some reason. Japanese lesson time - you are bound to find out sooner or later anyway and if you watch anime then you may have heard of this term before.
Oppai(おっぱい)is the word for "eyes". And when I say "eyes" I am sure you know what I am talking about.
Oppai(おっぱい)is the word for "eyes". And when I say "eyes" I am sure you know what I am talking about.
Figures in Japan date back centuries(?) and this is what figures used to look like then - very different from the ones we are used to eh?
Another shop selling a ton of stuff that you would buy to stick in a drawer.
Wandering off on one of the side roads will take to you streets full of nostalgia.
Lining up to pay pilgrimage. At the end of the passage is the shrine that everybody is heading for.
We went on the third of Jan which was the last day for Hatsu Moude.
A look back and I see a ton of people...
Another look back and they have spawned another copy of themselves! I was thinking to myself - I have seen people line up for money before (like at a welfare office) but its interesting to see people queuing up desperate to give money away!
Once they reach the end of the line, they throw money into a pit, clap their hands once, scratch their head and make a prayer.
Once they reach the end of the line, they throw money into a pit, clap their hands once, scratch their head and make a prayer.
After all the queing-up shenanigans, its time to get some grub at the food stalls set up within the shrine.
How about some Octopus balls?
Shrines are a nice place to be in the new year and if you are in Japan at this time then I recommend you go along. You really get a sense of how peaceful it is in Japan (when compared to Hackney London for example ^^;)
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Mon 12/25 21:05 comments (42)
Great post Danny. these shrines in japan are impressive i'd like to visit one someday, i find it great that you post photos about japanese culture amd not only otaku stuff. !Keep up the good work!
(ID #42879) Posted on 2007/01/10 22:28
High School Graduate... Now what?
lol, 2.5 million volts? That'd be truly the gateway to heaven (or hell). I've seen pictures of the shrine, and never expected to see a galleria in there. And I thought shrines would be calming at this time...
(ID #42880) Posted on 2007/01/10 23:16
Roy in Tokyo
Don't want to be nit-picky but those are photos of Sensoji which is a temple and not a shrine. Asakusa Shrine is beside Sensoji I believe.
(ID #42881) Posted on 2007/01/10 23:21
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Hmm, a lot more people than at Tajihayahime Shrine. ^^; One year soon, I really want to make the trip to Tokyo during the New Year's week. Thanks for the nice pictures Danny.
(ID #42882) Posted on 2007/01/10 23:39
Link Cosplayer, Video Gamer, Amatuer Programmer, and Artist
This really shows how peaceful Japan can really be; it makes me want to go there badly.
(ID #42883) Posted on 2007/01/11 00:13
Interactive Media Design and Graphic Design
ahhh i love Japaneses temples. they are so pretty and each have such a great name. :-) Hmmmm I wish you a happy new year.
(ID #42884) Posted on 2007/01/11 00:35
XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States
2007 is going to be a good year! Always looking forward at the year ahead as a new, better, and successful year is the way to go.
(ID #42885) Posted on 2007/01/11 00:45
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/24 23:42)
seeing your post reminded me about something. A little bit more than a year ago, I went to Asakusa and tried out one of those fortune telling sticks that one would have to shake out of a metal can. It said that I was going to get married soon. ^^ It was probably just a coincidence, but it's definitely one of the places I have to go back to the next time I visit Japan. ^^
(ID #42886) Posted on 2007/01/11 00:58
Retired zion colonel and part-time beach volley ball player
Nice Post! Mmmmm...Lovely Eyes' Puddings... Hey Danny, I am planning a trip to Japan in the summer, any suggestion where to visit? Meanwhile, I will drool over more of these pictures...
(ID #42887) Posted on 2007/01/11 01:02
ColdFusion Developer
Wow, now I know where to go to for Hatsu Mode in Tokyo. Hopefully I'll get to go again one day.
(ID #42888) Posted on 2007/01/11 01:21
Student
Japan's festivals are so much more beautiful than the ones in L.A. It actually looks like the people there are enjoying it, not just doing it for show. =) I love Japan's traditions!
(ID #42890) Posted on 2007/01/11 03:26
Why can't US festivals looks like this? We always have the overated nightclub stuff.. we have conventions but they're already japanese is nature.
(ID #42897) Posted on 2007/01/11 07:22
Awww! Takoyaki! I had them once when i was there, and i want moooore! They were suprisingly delicious. Nice pics - good to see some of the more traditional stuff. Its bloody packed! Somewhere around the Asakusa cinema district, there is a giant ultraman figure outside by an arcade. Couldnt find it last time i went. Shame!
(ID #42898) Posted on 2007/01/11 07:55
Otaku Webmaster
Nice pictures :D I've been there during my trip, it is a really nice tourist place ! And I tasted the "Eye Pudding", but I prefered the Octopus
(ID #42901) Posted on 2007/01/11 08:17
Been here too. 2007 will be awesome and will be owned by Nintendo's Wii. I've never went to the shrine during night tho. Looks pretty at night too.
(ID #42902) Posted on 2007/01/11 08:30
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
Nice pics of Japan as usual Danny, I hope this year is a good one for you and your family too!! I HOPE TO MOVE IN WITH MY GF THIS YEAR!! I HOPE IT WORKS OUT AND THAT SHE DUZNT DESTROY ANY OF MY FIGURES!! HEHEHE......=P
(ID #42903) Posted on 2007/01/11 10:33
Go５五
Hi Danny, nice site! Just wanted to let you know that the pic you have posted are not "Asakusa Shrine" . It's true name is Sensoji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple). Keep up the good work!
(ID #42906) Posted on 2007/01/11 17:52
FinalFusion in Chicago, Illinois
WAAAAY too many people for me! I'd freak out cause I hate crowds. Won't even go to bars anymore because of crowds. Is that freaky?
(ID #42908) Posted on 2007/01/11 21:47
Director/代表取締役
Go５五, Roy, Thanks for the correction. Though I chose the name of this title for those folks who would search for "asakusa shrine" - many wont know its called Sensouji - including me! Sbebiwan, How did the pudding taste?^^ AndyH, Heard about that ultraman - never seen it though. Char, When are you coming?
(ID #42910) Posted on 2007/01/11 22:51
Japan always looks so beautiful
(ID #42917) Posted on 2007/01/12 00:43
NoName in No Location
Hey!! I've had one of those pudding breasts. Well, i bought one for my father and he and his friend got a straw, stuck it through the nipples and sucked out all the pudding. >_
(ID #42920) Posted on 2007/01/12 01:18
Otaku Webmaster
It didn't had so much taste LOL I would have prefer real "eyes" :p
(ID #42939) Posted on 2007/01/12 13:30
IT Developer
asakusa shrine is alot more beautiful at night :O went there in the morning when I was on my Japan trip, next time I will go there at night for sure :D
(ID #69279) Posted on 2008/01/10 23:14
Software Engineer
Asakusa is a great area for a lot of genuine Japanese experiences.
(ID #69287) Posted on 2008/01/11 00:42
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LOL.. purin...
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