My Tokyo Dream

Meiji Shrine 90th Anniversary (Super Image Heavy) - Part 2

Here is part 2!

I ventured deeper into the trail leading to the main shrine and there was a beautiful display of chrysanthemums.

七五三 (Shichi-Go-San, Seven-Five-Three) is around the corner and many parents brought their children to Meiji Shrine to receive blessings.

七五三 is a traditional practice where parents celebrate the passage of their children into ages 3 (for girls), 5 (for boys) and 7 (for girls). The Japanese believe that odd numbers 3, 5 and 7 are lucky numbers.

Parents spend loads of money buying or renting the intricate traditional costumes for their children. The boys wear the hakama and the girls wear the kimono. I love to look at their beautiful costumes!

Pretty little girl with a lovely smile! One of her brothers didn't look too pleased that he was not the star.

This family has a girl turning 7 and a boy turning 5.

My favourite photo.

Cute girl!

Look at the proud looks on Dad and Mum's faces!

Beautiful details at the back of the kimono.

Running with candy in hand.

Handsome little boy posing for me!

More random photos!

An offering to the shrine - a ship made entirely out of vegetables!

Festival performers with Forever 21 shopping bags. The girl behind was giving me such a fierce look!

I hope I will get to wear a kimono like this soon!

Foreigners dressed in Harry Potter-themed costumes and posing unknowingly outside the lavatory.

絵馬 (Ema) - Small wooden plagues where people write their wishes and prayers on. They are then placed at the shrine so the gods can receive them. In the case of Meiji Shrine, the emas are left under a sacred tree.

Emas written in different languages.

This one written in Chinese made me LOL-ed!

'Dear God, please make me taller. (In small print) If that can't be done, please make me richer.'

I somehow felt like crying after reading this. I miss my family so much.

Last photo...

Even though I lost my way in the beginning, but I was brought to the Meiji Shrine for a good reason - to take interesting photos! I hope you have enjoyed looking at them!

Meiji Shrine 90th Anniversary (Super Image Heavy) - Part 1

On Sunday, I was at Yoyogi Park and on my way to a festival that my friends were performing in. But after walking around in the park for over an hour, I could not find the festival! I somehow ended up near Meiji Shrine eventually and there was another festival going on there. Curious, I headed over for a look.

It turns out that Meiji Shrine was celebrating its 90th anniversary!

Meiji Shrine 90th Enshrinement Anniversary.

明治神宮 (Meiji Jingu - Meiji Shrine) is one of the most famous shrines in Japan and definitely a must-visit for tourists in Tokyo. It is situated at the heart of the city, near Harajuku and Shibuya.

鳥居 (Torii - Sacred entrance to a shinto shrine) to Meiji Shrine.

I am touched by the history of how Meiji Shrine was founded when I read all about it at the exhibition square. I am no history expert and below is a summary from what I read and gathered. Please pardon me if it is not very well-written!

The shrine is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji (1852 - 1912) and his wife. The location was chosen among other places as this was an area with a garden where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shouken enjoyed taking walks.

Awesome photo of the shrine in the midst of luscious greenery with the city as background.

Under Emperor Meiji's reign of 45 years, Japan rose from a nation of feudalism to a new economic height. His ruling brought along many good changes, and Japan's economy and technology improved greatly.

When Emperor Meiji passed away, the people wished to commemorate his virtues and the building of Meiji Shrine became a national project.

Some 110,000 youth volunteers from all across Japan came together to plant trees and get the grounds ready for the building of the shrine. The woods around the shrine were made up of trees from all regions of Japan and some were even contributed from overseas.

The people's love and gratitude towards Emperor Meiji laid the foundations of Meiji Shrine and 2010 marks the 90th year since it was founded. Performances and festivals are held within these few days to celebrate its glory and the photos I am about to share is just a prelude of the celebrations. There was an even bigger celebration with lanterns and light-ups yesterday, which I missed!

Anyhoo, here are photos of the festival!

Was trying to get a photo of this boy but he kept moving around. His senior told him to keep still for my photo and he obligingly did so! You can see how long his eyelashes are from the side!