Meiji Grand Shrine

Meiji Jingu Goshuin

– Meiji Grand Shrine – 明治神宮 – Tokyo(東京) – August 3 2018 Meiji Grand Shrine is, shockingly, just outside Harajuku Station. When you exit the station into this bustling, fashionable area, a large, peaceful, woodsy area and a huge shrine are the last things that come to mind. But it’s there. After crossing a small bridge, you are greeted by a large, plain wooden torii surrounded by tall trees. The instant you walk through this gate, it’s as if you’ve left the city behind. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit twice, once 2013 and once in 2018; both in summer.…

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Imado Shrine

Imado Shrine

– Imado Shrine – 今戸神社 – Tokyo(東京) – July 31, 2018 Like cats? Then you should definitely check out this shrine. Imado Shrine is famous for two things: matchmaking and the money beckoning cat known as maneki neko. Located near Asakusa Station, I highly recommend checking it out. The reason for the shrine’s famed matchmaking powers are the enshrined gods Izanagi and Izanami, the first couple to marry according to the Japanese records. It’s a good place to pray for love. This is also the origin of the famed maneki neko. According to legend, the first maneki neko statue was…

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Senso-ji: Sacred Bodhisattva (Asakusa)

– Senso-ji – 浅草寺 – Tokyo (東京) – July 31, 2018 The Asakusa area has a lot of iconic Japanese things in one area. The striking Kaminari-mon (Thunder Gate) with its huge paper lantern, a 200 meter shopping street where you can buy souvenirs and more, and a good view of the nearby Tokyo Skytree. Then, at the end of the walk, the oldest temple in Tokyo: Senso-ji. History According to the homepage, in 628, about 1000 years before Tokyo became the capitol, two brothers were fishing in the Sumida River. When they hauled in their net to check their…

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