 Last additions - Koto-ku 江東区 |
Usokae stall. The uosokae dolls come in various sizes, look pretty much the same.May 02, 2005
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Usokae stallMay 02, 2005
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Usokae stallMay 02, 2005
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A pair of giant usokae dolls flank the entrance to the main worship hall.May 02, 2005
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The Usokae Festival is held every January at the Kameido Tenmangu (Tenjin) Shrine. "Uso" means bullfinch, and "kae" means to change. The bullfinch is a symbol of good luck, and uso can also mean "lie." People replace their wooden uso dolls believing that the previous year's bad luck was a lie, to be exchanged for good luck in the new year with the new uso doll.May 02, 2005
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Bullfinch exchange. The person puts her old bullfinch on the rack and prays.May 02, 2005
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May 02, 2005
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People then go to the bullfinch stall on the left of the main worship hall.May 02, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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This is an old, hand-tinted postcard of Kameido Tenmangu Shrine from the early 20th century. It mimics the woodblock print.May 01, 2005
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Road to the shrine from Kameido Station. This main road from Kameido Station is closed on weekends. The shrine is accessible from Kameido Station the the JR Sobu Line.May 01, 2005
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Shot in 2003.May 01, 2005
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Azaleas also bloom around the same time as wisteria at Kameido Tenjin Shrine. Both flowers symbolize Golden Week which is a string of holidays in late April and early May, serving as spring vacation for many workers.May 01, 2005
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Old taiko-bashi bridge. This is the first arch bridge you cross. Shot in 1997. The bridges had steps made of wood. Now both bridges are made of concrete with concrete steps. The paint color is also more red.May 01, 2005
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Old taiko-bashi bridge. You can see how crowded the bridge can get.May 01, 2005
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First bridge and azaleasMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Wisteria at Kameido Tenjin ShrineMay 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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May 01, 2005
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine wisteria and taiko-bashi bridge. Taiko-bashi is an arch bridge.May 01, 2005
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Second taiko-bashi bridge in 2003. Notice how there are much less flowers along the edge of the pond. Also notice that the bridge has been rebuilt. It is now concrete painted fire-engine red.The old bridge was wooden with faded vermillion paint. I don't like this new bridge paint color.May 01, 2005
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine's main worship hall.May 01, 2005
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Second taiko-bashi bridge in 1997. You can see the second arch bridge which is right before the shrine hall. Compare this picture with the next one.May 01, 2005
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Path to the shrine. After you cross the bridge, there's a narrow path to the shrine, decorated by wisteria on both sides. Very crowded, but not unbearable.May 01, 2005
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Another view from the top of the bridge years ago.May 01, 2005
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Another shot taken in the good old days. Doesn't bloom like this anymore. The next photo shows what it looks like today.May 01, 2005
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Another view from the top of the bridge years ago. Sadly, it doesn't bloom like this anymore.May 01, 2005
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Another view from the top of the bridge in the good old days. They don't bloom like this anymore...May 01, 2005
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View from top of bridge in 2005. After 1997 or so, the flowers do not bloom as thickly as before.May 01, 2005
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When the wisteria is in bloom, the shrine gets very crowded, especially on weekends. The alley leading to the shrine is also quite narrow.May 01, 2005
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View from top of bridge years ago. The shrine has two "taiko-bashi" arch bridges. This is the view from the top of the first one soon after you pass under the torii.May 01, 2005
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