Most viewed - Chiyoda-ku 千代田区 |
Garden 神池庭園127 views
|
|
A bon dance around the base of the statue.127 views
|
|
127 views
|
|
127 views
|
|
Sakuradamon Gate, rear view127 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
Signboard for nobles126 views
|
|
Guarded entrance to National Diet126 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
126 views
|
|
Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Entrance dome in 2007.126 views
|
|
125 views
|
|
Ninomaru Garden 二の丸庭園125 views
|
|
Hie Jinja Shrine125 views
|
|
Sumo at the Budokan.125 views
|
|
Sumo. Even little girls participated in Budo Hajime at Budokan.125 views
|
|
参集殿124 views
|
|
Side view of castle tower foundation.124 views
|
|
124 views
|
|
124 views
|
|
桔梗門124 views
|
|
Prefectural trees from all prefectures 都道府県の木124 views
|
|
Inari Sando torii gates 稲荷参道124 views
|
|
This looks more like something you would find in a tropical ocean.124 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
Sakashita-mon Gate 坂下門123 views
|
|
123 views
|
|
122 views
|
|
Tanabata streamers festoon the gate.122 views
|
|
121 views
|
|
121 views
|
|
121 views
|
|
Houkago Princess121 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
Rest house120 views
|
|
After the mikoshi, the Nebuta float and haneto dancers make an appearance.120 views
|
|
Food stall120 views
|
|
House of Councillors Visitors' Lobby. Various exhibits are here. 参観ロビー120 views
|
|
120 views
|
|
Miyazaki Prefecture's official tree 都道府県の木(宮崎県の木)120 views
|
|
Shinmon Gate 神門120 views
|
|
On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.120 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
Moat near Sakashita-mon Gate118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
Tokyo Station unveiled its fully-restored Marunouchi building on Oct. 1, 2012 after taking several years. To appreciate the extent of this splendid restoration, I've included photos of what it looked like before.118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
118 views
|
|
117 views
|
|
Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Entrance dome has paint peeling off. A net catches the paint.117 views
|
|
Spotlights hit the torii.116 views
|
|
116 views
|
|
Sanno torii gate leading to the Omotesando path to the shrine. 山王鳥居115 views
|
|
Inari Sando torii gates 稲荷参道114 views
|
|
112 views
|
|
111 views
|
|
At night, 30,000 lanterns light up. A real summer spectacle.110 views
|
|
Shinmon Gate 神門110 views
|
|
Nippon Budokan is Japan's most famous and prestigious martial arts hall in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. It was built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.110 viewsThe Budokan was where the Beatles played in 1966, the first band to play there. The acoustics are not that good for concerts though. Playing at the Budokan is a hallmark of a bonafide rock star in Japan.
|
|
Rassera-rassera!109 views
|
|
The National Diet building (Kokkai Gijido in Japanese) was built in Nov. 1936 after 17 years of construction. 国会議事堂109 views
|
|
On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.109 views
|
|
At 6:30 pm, a mikoshi portable shrine was paraded along the promenade.108 views
|
|
108 views
|
|
105 views
|
|
|
The Central Tower is 9 stories high. Below it is the Central Entrance whose bronze doors are opened only for the Emperor of Japan, State Guests, and new Diet members on the first day of a Diet session.104 views
|
|
There was also singer providing music in the background.104 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
Awa Odori dancers also performed.103 views
|
|
The Jinko-sai Procession passes in front of the Imperial Palace.103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
103 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
One of the giant spotlights used to accent the mikoshi, torii, and night sky.101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
101 views
|
|
Shishimai Lion heads100 views
|
|
98 views
|
|
For a procession this large and grand, the crowd of spectators was extremely sparse. Good for photographers like me, but it was strange.98 views
|
|
One of the three portable shrines.98 views
|
|
Inside Hie Jinja Shrine's Shaden Worship Hall. 社殿98 views
|
|
遊助98 views
|
|
Ballot box and ballot slips. 投票箱・木札97 views
|
|
97 views
|
|
Portable shrines97 views
|
|
97 views
|
|
96 views
|
|
96 views
|
|
Kentosai Sacred Dance95 views
|
|
They march up to the end of the line of worshippers lined up to pray at the shrine. Then they turn around and head back.95 views
|
|
Inside Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Entrance in Oct. 2012. Hordes of people gawking and taking photos. 東京駅丸の内南口95 views
|
|
94 views
|
|
94 views
|
|
Storehouse for Sanno Festival floats94 views
|
|
93 views
|
|
Omiko Shrine maidens93 views
|
|
93 views
|
|
On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.93 views
|
|
93 views
|
|
I shall miss the old Daimaru Dept. Store.93 views
|
|
So I stuck around for about 15 min. and sure enough, at around 4 pm, her horse-drawn carriage appeared after she had shown her credentials to the emperor. I whipped out my camcorder and still camera and started shooting.93 views
|
|
There were two horse-drawn carriages and I correctly assumed she was riding in the first one. No one waved Japanese and American flags though.92 views
|
|
92 views
|
|
Rear of Nijubashi Bridge.92 views
|
|
During this break period, the shrine priest and other representatives enter the Imperial Palace to pray for the peace, happiness, and prosperity of the Imperial family. Hie Shrine is the only shrine in Japan bestowed with this privilege.91 views
|
|
By Sept. 2009, over half of the old Daimaru building was well removed.91 views
|
|
Hanzo Moat91 views
|
|
Fortunately, she was sitting on the right side of the carriage facing my side of the street. You can see her in this photo. Wish she waved to us. As soon as she passed, the crowd dissipated.91 viewsWe haven’t had such a star ambassador to Japan in a long time, not perhaps since Edwin Reischauer in 1960s or the beloved Mike Mansfield in the 1980s. Welcome to Japan, Sweet Caroline!
|
|
Second Nijubashi Bridge.91 views
|
|
Police were on guard for crowd control. Although we could enter the palace until 3 pm, the crowds proved to be too much so they stopped entry by 1:30 pm.91 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
Shrine maidens dance in front of the three portable shrines near Sakashita-mon Gate.90 views
|
|
Quite a spectacle.90 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
Remains of Ushigomi Mitsuke Gate along Sotobori Moat near Iidabashi Station.90 views
|
|
90 views
|
|
89 views
|
|
89 views
|
|
89 views
|
|
Near Hie Shrine is (or was) Capital Tokyu Hotel where the Beatles stayed in 1966.89 views
|
|
In fall 2008, they started to build scaffolding around the old Daimaru Dept Store building on the Yaesu side. By this time, the building was empty.89 views
|
|
89 views
|
|
Mexican monument89 views
|
|
Weeping cherry blossoms near Otemon gate.89 views
|
|
After the Nebuta made its way in front of the shrine, a short prayer was held.88 views
|
|
Nice to see a bit of Aomori in Tokyo.88 views
|
|
The National Diet is Japan's political and legislative center. The capital of Japan. Free 60-min. tours (in Japanese only) are conducted every hour every day when the Diet is not in session.88 viewsYou can see the House of Councillors (Sangiin), the central tower, and the Emperor's Room.
|
|
Some entertainment.88 views
|
|
88 views
|
|
88 views
|
|
Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.88 views
|
|
By March 2009, the old Daimaru building was being demolished while totally hidden from view. We could still walk below the structure to enter the station.88 views
|
|
Sakurada Moat88 views
|
|
88 views
|
|
They plan to open Inui-dori to the public again in autumn for the fall leaves.88 views
|
|
Nebuta close-up87 views
|
|
The shrine87 views
|
|
Sample of various stones used in the building. As much as possible, domestic materials were used in the construction.87 views
|
|
87 views
|
|
Rest stop near Sakashita-mon Gate at the Imperial Palace.87 views
|
|
87 views
|
|
On July 13, 2009, I went to see the floating lantern festival held on the Chidorigafuchi moat.87 views
|
|
87 views
|
|
87 views
|
|
Hanzo Moat with Hanzomon Gate in the distance.87 views
|
|
On Nov. 19, 2013, I took a friend around Tokyo and when we headed for the Imperial Palace, we saw this large crowd on the streets. Most were middle-aged and older people. The palace was closed off to tourists as well. 87 viewsCouldn’t see the famous Nijubashi Bridge.
|
|
Insane crowds at Imperial Palace on April 4, 2014.87 views
|
|
Lanterns86 views
|
|
Stage entertainment is also provided during the festival.86 views
|
|
86 views
|
|
People on rowboats in the moat await darkness.86 views
|
|
86 views
|
|
I was told that most breeders are older folk, in their 60s and 70s. Young people are not taking it up.86 views
|
|
Remains of Ushigomi Mitsuke Gate along Sotobori Moat near Iidabashi Station.86 views
|
|
Hanzomon Gate, Imperial Palace, Tokyo86 views
|
|
Sakurada Moat86 views
|
|
I asked a bystander what was going on. She said they were waiting for “Caroline.” No mention of the last name. “Caroline” in Japan automatically means “Kennedy.”86 viewsAlthough I always think of Neil Diamond’s song which coincidentally is about the Caroline they were waiting to see.
|
|
View of Marunouchi office buildings from Imperial Palace.86 views
|
|
86 views
|
|
What happened was, tens of thousands of people showed up. On the first day April 4, 2014, over 55,000 people came to see the Inui-dori sakura.86 views
|
|
In Japanese, the festival is called Chiyoda-ku Noryo no Yuube. 千代田区納涼の夕べ85 views
|
|
Hanzo Moat, near Hanzomon Gate.85 views
|
|
85 views
|
|
Hanzo Moat, near Hanzomon Gate.85 views
|
|
85 views
|
|
85 views
|
|
85 views
|
|
People waited 2-3 hours to get in and underwent body searches. I arrived at 2 pm and it was too late to get in.85 views
|
|
85 views
|
|
The original procession included many high floats. However, due to overhead power lines and overpasses, such floats cannot be included.84 views
|
|
Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.84 views
|
|
Finally, it got dark enough to start releasing the candlelit floating lanterns into the moat.84 views
|
|
84 views
|
|
84 views
|
|
84 views
|
|
Hanzomon Gate is guarded. This is the closest gate to the Emperor's residence. This is where they normally enter and leave the palace.84 views
|
|
For the first time, they allowed the public to enter the Imperial Palace to view cherry blossoms along a short path called Inui-dori during April 4-8, 2014.84 views
|
|
It was worse during the weekend.84 views
|
|
A total of 360,000 people visited Inui-dori during the period it was open to the public.84 views
|
|
84 views
|
|
Inside the Central Tower. Stained glass and murals depicting the four seasons.83 views
|
|
Map of Jinko-sai Route.83 views
|
|
Rising Sun flag83 views
|
|
83 views
|
|
83 views
|
|
83 views
|
|
Marker for an old high school.83 views
|
|
83 views
|
|
On the next day on June 12, 2004, was Miya-iri or portable shrines entering Hie Shrine. Led by this cart of festival musicians. 山王まつり宮入り82 views
|
|
82 views
|
|
82 views
|
|
Hanzomon Gate82 views
|
|
Hanzomon Gate82 views
|
|
Hanzomon Gate82 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms in front of British Embassy near Hanzomon.82 views
|
|
On this fine day on March 31, 2016, 66,950 people visited Inui-dori. During March 25–April 3, 2016, a total of 508,010 visited Inui-dori.82 views
|
|
Next to the museum was a display of different lanterns, including a Neputa (left) and Nebuta (right).81 views
|
|
The Nebuta then went back to the promenade.81 views
|
|
The lanterns are written with the names of the donors.81 views
|
|
Side view of the House of Councillors (Sangi-in).81 views
|
|
81 views
|
|
In front of the shrine, the priest blesses the mikoshi portable shrine.81 views
|
|
From Kudanshita Station to the first torii, the path is jammed with political activists not even related to the war or shrine.81 views
|
|
On Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender and the end of World War II, Yasukuni Shrine is a busy with worshippers and police. These are police buses.81 views
|
|
Yukata girls in a rowboat.81 views
|
|
Maihime cherry blossoms 舞姫81 views
|
|
Cherry blossoms along Hanzo Moat.81 views
|
|
80 views
|
|
Rowing a boat while dressed in yukata.80 views
|
|
80 views
|
|
80 views
|
|
Inui-dori is a somewhat narrow paved path along a moat. It has small cherry trees and autumn foliage.80 views
|
|
80 views
|
|
The exit at Inui Gate80 views
|
|
Yushukan war museum79 views
|
|
Neputa is from Hirosaki, Aomori Pref.79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
The building is perfectly symmetrical on the left and right. On the left is the House of Representatives (Shugiin). 衆議院79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
Parish members reach the shrine.79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.79 views
|
|
Praying at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.79 views
|
|
Photo exhibition space which nobody sees.79 views
|
|
Hello Kitty also with Yuusuke. 遊助79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
Fujimi Tamon, defense house. 富士見多聞79 views
|
|
Long house79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
79 views
|
|
78 views
|
|
The bigger lanterns have artwork. Some of them were done by celebrities.78 views
|
|
78 views
|
|
On the right is the House of Councillors (Sangi-in). 参議院78 views
|
|
78 views
|
|
Yuusuke, a singer.78 views
|
|
1556 files on 7 page(s) |
|
3 | |
|
|
|