Most viewed - Asakusa Sanja Boat Procession 浅草三社祭斎行700年祭 舟渡御 |
To mark the 700th anniversary of Asakusa Sanja Matsuri Festival in 2012, a boat procession was held on Sumida River on March 18, 2012. The last time they did this was in 1958. 282 views
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New building for Asakusa Tourist Information Center.209 views
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The last time they did this was in 1958. The original Sanja Matsuri was actually a boat procession on Sumida River held in March 1312 (Kamakura Period).170 views
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White Heron Dancers on a boat.168 views
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160 views
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To mark the 700th anniversary of Asakusa Sanja Matsuri Festival in 2012, a boat procession was held on Sumida River on March 18, 2012. 158 views
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Boat carrying Golden Dragon. They didn't dance on the boat.158 views
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Gods of Good Fortune on a boat.158 views
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Boat carrying gods of good fortune and White Heron Dancers.156 views
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Flat barge with the three mikoshi cruising on the Sumida River. It has been 54 years since the last time this boat procession was held in 1958.153 views
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150 views
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Large crowd wait for the mikoshi to be carried back to Asakusa Shrine via Nakamise arcade at 6 pm.134 views
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Sannomiya95 views
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This boat carried the White Heron Dancers too.74 views
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The three portable shrines were first carried from Asakusa Shrine to neighboring Sensoji temple on March 17 where it stayed overnight. On the 18th, they were carried outside and a procession around Asakusa was held. 71 views
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And the mikoshi are off on its first boat procession in 54 years. 71 views
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The bird feeder.69 views
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Ninomiya mikoshi65 views
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Ninomiya65 views
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63 views
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Musicians at Kaminarimon Gate.62 views
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Ichinomiya mikoshi in front of Kaminarimon Gate.61 views
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Golden Dragon makes its way down Nakamise arcade.60 views
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60 views
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I went to see the procession on March 18, 2012. Golden Dragon standing by to join the procession.59 views
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The Golden Dragon takes after the "Golden Dragon Mountain" mountain name of Sensoji temple. 金龍山59 views
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Paper lantern out of the way at Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門59 views
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The third portable shrine is moved into position at Hozomon Gate (宝蔵門) for the procession to start at 10:10 am.59 views
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59 views
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Chigo children standing by in front of Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門58 views
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Sensoji's Golden Dragon standing by.58 views
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The procession on land went completely around Asakusa from 10:10 am to 12:30 pm.58 views
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Making room for the third portable shrine.57 views
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The procession was led by the White Heron Dancers (Shirasagi-no-Mai).57 views
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57 views
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Asakusa geisha56 views
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Festival musicians56 views
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Kiyari workmen singers.56 views
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Sannomiya mikoshi. "Three Shrines," dedicated to the two fishermen brothers who found the Kannon buddha statue in Sumida River which became the object of worship that founded Sensoji Temple.56 views
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This is the baton twirler (bo-furi 棒ふり) in orange pants followed by the bird feeder.56 views
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White Heron Dancers. 56 views
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56 views
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All three mikoshi (portable shrines) ready to go at Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門55 views
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Asakusa geisha on a cart.55 views
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Year 628: Two fishermen brothers find a golden Kannon buddha statue in Sumida River. The two fishermen were Hinokuma no Hamanari and Takenari. A wealthy landowner named Hajinomatsuchi heard about the statue and told the brothers about its religious value.55 views
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Sannomiya or No. 3 mikoshi. The third mikoshi is dedicated to the wealthy landowner who converted the fishermen brothers to Buddhism and helped to establish Sensoji.55 views
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55 views
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55 views
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55 views
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Musicians55 views
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Ichinomiya portable shrine, followed by the two other mikoshi.55 views
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55 views
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Sannomiya mikoshi55 views
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55 views
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Yakata-bune boat55 views
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Police55 views
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Boats reach Komagata Bridge, the end of the boat procession.55 views
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After the mikoshi arrived back from the cruise, they held a service at this small worship hall called the Komagata-do. This marks the spot where the original Kannon statue was first worshipped before it was moved to Sensoji.55 views
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In front of Sensoji temple at Hozomon Gate, two portable shrines stand by.54 views
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Festival musicians on a cart at Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門54 views
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Asakusa geisha54 views
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54 views
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Sanja banners.54 views
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Sarutahiko-no-Okami54 views
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Asakusa Shrine priest.54 views
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Ninomiya mikoshi or portable shrine No. 2.54 views
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The bird feeder.54 views
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54 views
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54 views
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Tekomai geisha weren't in sync.54 views
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Ichinomiya portable shrine arrives and carefully makes it way down the narrow stairway.54 views
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This boat carried Asakusa geisha.54 views
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Guide boat. They sailed to Ryogoku and back.54 views
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To reenact the boat procession, they had to work with very few records of the last time it was held in 1958. Only a few photos remained. In 1958, each mikoshi was carried by a separate boat.54 views
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Police boat54 views
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Ichinomiya mikoshi or portable shrine No. 1. The biggest of the three.53 views
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White Heron Dancers. They didn't dance during the procession.53 views
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53 views
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Sarutahiko53 views
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Samurai53 views
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Another samurai.53 views
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Patrol boats stand by. There was a lot of security on the river for this procession.53 views
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53 views
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This boat carried the Sensoji temple priest and Asakusa Shrine priest. Nice to see Buddhists and Shintoists together.53 views
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First they headed north to Sakura-bashi Bridge, then went south all the way to Ryogoku.53 views
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Tobu train line and Tokyo Sky Tree.53 views
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Geisha boat.53 views
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53 views
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Where the mikoshi go, the crowds follow.53 views
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The mikoshi is placed in front of Komagata-do, a small temple for a Buddhist prayer ceremony.53 views
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Inside Komagata-do.53 views
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53 views
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The three mikoshi were then carried to Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa at 5:40 pm.53 views
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52 views
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Sarutahiko's footwear.52 views
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52 views
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52 views
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Tekomai geisha dragged a metal cane.52 views
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Tokyo Sky Tree is clearly visible from Asakusa.52 views
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The dock on Sumida River where the portable shrines will be loaded onto a boat.52 views
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A flattop barge arrives, decorated for the festival.52 views
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Barge docking at Higashi Sando Sanbashi Pier. 東参道桟橋52 views
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A large crowd turned out to see this rare event in Asakusa. Sacred boat processions are not unusual in Japan though. Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka is a large boat procession.52 views
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They cruised all the way to Ryogoku Bridge.52 views
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52 views
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Where the mikoshi went, the crowd followed. They headed for Komagata Bridge where the boats would return.52 views
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Waiting on Komagata Bridge where the three mikoshi would return from the river.52 views
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Carts for the three mikoshi on Komagata Bridge, not far from Asakusa.52 views
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Going under Komagata Bridge.52 views
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Intersection near Komagata Bridge.52 views
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52 views
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Carrying Ichinomiya to the boat.51 views
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Carrying Ichinomiya to the boat.51 views
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This escort boat carried the gods of good fortune.51 views
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Sensoji temple priest and Asakusa Shrine priest on a boat.51 views
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Departing the dock with this tug pushing and another pulling.51 views
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Large crowds lined the Sumida River banks.51 views
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51 views
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Spectator boats.51 views
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The mikoshi barge docks near Komagata Bridge.51 views
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The mikoshi are carried back.51 views
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On the street in front of Komagata-do.51 views
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50 views
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The barge carrying the three portable shrines were to have a few escort boats.50 views
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50 views
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A tugboat hauls a flat barge to the dock.49 views
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Priests on the lead boat.49 views
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Chigo children48 views
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