Yushima Tenjin Shrine Chrysanthemum Festival 湯島天神 菊まつり
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Steps going up to Yushima Tenjin (Tenmangu) Shrine. This is the gate closest to Yushima Station on the Chiyoda subway line. The steps are accented by pots of chrysanthemums.
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In 2010, Yushima Tenjin Shrine's 32nd Chrysanthemum Festival (Kiku Matsuri) was held from Nov. 1 to 23. Free admission from 6 am until dark.
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At the top of the steps are structures housing elaborate chrysanthemum displays.
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The path to the shrine's Honden main hall is lined with more chrysanthemums.
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In the background is the roof of the Honden main hall.
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Adjacent to the Honden is this building with more chrysanthemums.
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The design of the Imperial Family crest is based on this type of chrysanthemum.
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Yushima Tenjin Shrine was one of Hiroshige's "100 Views of Edo" ukiyoe primt series. Honden main hall during the Chrysanthemum Festival in Nov. Bunkyo- Ward, Tokyo.
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The Honden is flanked by chrysanthemums displayed in the kengai-zukuri style. 懸崖作り
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Praying at Yushima Tenjin Shrine's Honden.
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At the Honden, chrysanthemums displayed in the kengai-zukuri style where smaller flowers slope downward. 懸崖作り
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Small red chrysanthemums displayed in the kengai-zukuri style. 懸崖作り
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Facing the Honden is this massive collection of wooden prayer tablets written with the donor's prayers. Most of them are bought/written by students praying to pass school entrance exams.
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High school girls tie on a wooden tablet (called ema).
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This wooden ema votive tablet wishes for entrance to Harvard University.
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Yushima Tenjin Shrine ema tablet.
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Near the Honden is the shrine office where you can apply to have a private prayer in the shrine hall.
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Next to the shrine office are more chrysanthemums. They are exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. 大作り
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Yushima Tenjin Shrine also has life-size chrysanthemum dolls.
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These chrysanthemum dolls are based on the current NHK Taiga Drama TV series called "Ryoma-den," about Sakamoto Ryoma.
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Sakamoto Ryoma and wife Oryo as chrysanthemum dolls called kiku ningyo. Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo 菊人形
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Sakamoto Ryoma chrysanthemum doll at Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo.
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Wife Oryo chrysanthemum doll.
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Very well done, and it makes this chrysanthemum festival unique. Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo.
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Another scene from Ryoma-den.
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Ryoma bears a resemblance to Fukuyama Masaharu who portrays Ryoma in the TV series.
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Notice the Black Ships (Kurofune) in the background. Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo.
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Chrysanthemums exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. 大作り
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Closeup of chrysanthemums exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. 大作り
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Heart-shaped chrysanthemums.
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Beyond the dolls is this building with bonsai chrysanthemums.
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Bonsai chrysanthemums.
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Bonsai chrysanthemums.
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Yushima Tenjin Shrine's Omote Torii, made of bronze, was built in 1667.
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Path from Omote Torii to the Honden.
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Yushima Tenjin Shrine and torii monuments.
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Path from Omote Torii to the Honden. On the right is the Yushima Tenjin Museum. 宝物殿
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The path is also lined with more chrysanthemums.
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Chrysanthemums shaped like Mt. Fuji. Capped by white flowers for snow. Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo.
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Peacock chrysanthemum displays in a bontei display. 盆庭
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Peacock chrysanthemum display.
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Lion dog on a pedestal with a plum blossom design.
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Bull statue at Yushima Tenjin Shrine.
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Receive advice here for growing chrysanthemums.
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Plum trees. These will bloom in Feb.
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Plum tree monument.
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Notice the huge wooden prayer tablets.
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Chrysanthemums displayed in the kengai-zukuri style. 懸崖作り
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Chrysanthemums displayed in the kengai-zukuri style. 懸崖作り
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Chrysanthemums displayed in the kengai-zukuri style. The wooden plaque has the name of the sponsoring company. 懸崖作り
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Behind the Honden is this building also full of chrysanthemums.
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A small shrine called Togakushi Shrine.
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Togakushi Shrine.
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Chrysanthemum tiger at Togakushi Shrine.
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A trio of chrysanthemum plants in a single pot is called bon'yo. 盆養
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This species, called Tomoe Nishiki (巴錦), is especially regal-looking with petals deep-red on the inside and gold on the outside.
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Chrysanthemums exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. The semi-globe usually has six circular rows. 大作り
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Chrysanthemums exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. The flowers are already withering. 大作り
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Signs explaining the species are also provided. Nothing in English though.
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Behind the Honden.
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Chrysanthemums exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. 大作り
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Chrysanthemums exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. 大作り
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Tomoe-nishiki chrysanthemums exhibited in a half-globe shape called Oozukuri. 大作り
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Yushima Tenjin Chrysanthemum Festival poster
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Steps called Otoko-zaka or Male Slope. This was where many geisha went back and forth between their geisha quarters during the Edo Period.
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These longer steps are called Onna-zaka or Female Slope.
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Onna-zaka is lined with plum blossoms which bloom in Feb.
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Yushima Tenjin Shrine has numerous monuments.
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Map of Yushima Tenjin Shrine grounds.
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