Tokyo, Japan - Bus to Ship in Yokohama

Tour Guide Sue started our return trip to the ship with a snack in an origami folded box.  I received several origami cranes in Tokyo as a “gift with purchase” Thank-you-for-buying-your-souvenirs-here and need to look up instructions on how to do this myself.  My new trip friend Laura put hers on the tray so that we could show the variation. 

Tokyo, Japan - Locals

Here are some photos that I was able to take of local children and adults, doing normal and every day things.  There are also a few shops and the ever present chestnut roasters.

Tokyo, Japan – Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Alley

It was now time to take my wallet full of yen and see what treasures I could find on the shopping street, Nakamise Alley. 

I saw this interesting pagoda-like sculpture but was more interested in the girl on the cell phone.  

Tokyo, Japan – Sensoji Temple Memorial Garden

A garden was set off to the side.  Interesting sculpture and memorial.  I was able to capture a Japanese boy in action and a few women with kimonos.  There is a small temple in this area with its own Holy Smoke cauldron.

Tokyo, Japan – Sensoji Temple Shopping Street Entrance

A large gate stood guard between the Temple and the shopping streets. It was beautiful and had three HUGE lanterns hanging inside the gate.  Rope knotted and weaved hangings were on the outside and it was painted in the same smooth red paint as the main Temple. 

Tokyo, Japan – Sensoji Temple Fortune Telling

I have to admit, this practice intrigues me. I had read about it in my research, but didn’t get the impact until I saw it live.  It has the Pennsylvania lottery and numbers outdone because there doesn’t appear to be a financial payback required from the system that collects money.  From watching, a person pays 100 Yen (about $1 USD), and pulls a stick from a box.  Then the number written on the stick is matched to the numbers on the little drawers.  A piece of paper is removed from the drawer and on it is written the fortune.  If the person likes the fortune, the paper is kept. If it is not a good fortune, the paper is tied to a rack.  I always saw crowds around these kiosks, and some kept picking fortune after fortune.  Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right, I guess.   Note the two women in the straw hats.  I saw them several times during the day…at the fortune telling kiosks. 

The booths are on both sides of the plaza, our left and right.  Look at the crowds.

 This box holds the numbered sticks.

 A close-up detail of the boxes with the fortunes.

UPDATE from additional research: These papers are "Omikuji".  The word stands for "fortune telling strips".  The Japanese characters (kanji) have the word "lottery" in them.  It literally means "sacred lot".   The first section has a general fortune ranging from very good to not so good.  Here are some examples:

After the general statement there is a comment on finding a new job, love, future health, business outcomes and more in greater detail.  Here are some examples:

The part highlighted in yellow is the general fortune.  Source: http://zoomingjapan.com/wiki/omikuji-fortune-telling-paper-strips/

Tokyo, Japan – Sensoji Temple Holy Smoke

I was drawn to this large pot with smoke slowly rising. I watched the people (through my lens so that you could watch too) and they would lean in to the smoke and “splash” it back on themselves.  I waited for the crowd to disburse, and peeked in to the cauldron to see the smoking incense.  I took a few quick smoke splashes for good measure, and left happy and washed in “Holy Smoke”.

Tokyo, Japan - Sensoji Temple Interior (Part 2)

The door handles were polished and golden, the ceiling was painted with scenes.  Beautiful lanterns hung inside.  The “altar” was encased in glass.  I watched the crowd to get the jist of the customs then tossed a coin in to a grated box and said “Love and Peace” wishes for all family and friends.  Again, we are covered.

Tokyo, Japan – Sensoji Temple (Part 1)

Tour Guide Sue distributed notes with the following written in Japanese: “Please take me to the Diamond Princess at Yokohama Port.”  It was also written in English for our benefit.  She said that her boss told her to give this to us in case we were lost at the next stop and missed the bus back to the ship.

Warning taken and understood.  And as we looked at the lower street gate, I was not surprised to see huge crowds. She pointed out that this was the shopping area and that there were many enticing side streets, which made it very easy to get lost…and miss the bus back to the ship.  Again, warning taken and understood.  Stay on the main drag, pay attention to the time and don’t miss the bus!

The bus dropped the group off about a block from one of the side entrances to the Temple grounds.  The entrance was a brilliant red gate and I was instantly in love with a place that had so much red.

Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Streets (Part 2)

Back on the bus to view the city through the windows.  Here is my glimpse of fleeting images.  I’ll note anything particular, but take some time and check out the regular “life in the city” picture.  Oh, and it wasn’t raining. The umbrellas are sun shields.  The area is a high end shopping district.

Tokyo, Japan - Lunch

We stopped at a hotel on an island to have lunch.  Here are the photos. I will need to get hotel details later.
The lunch is a Western Style, so no authentic Japanese cuisine.  I then walked to the back of the building along the water.  I was ready to come in when someone mentioned the Statue of Liberty, so off I went, camera in hand.  I returned through the hotel to get to the bus.

Tokyo, Japan – Imperial Palace

The bus stopped at the end of a shady park.  We walked past a statue of a warrior on horseback. Imagine a whole army of these guys attacking your village. Scary.

Tokyo, Japan - Meiji Shrine and Temple (Part 3)

The roof construction is very interesting, almost like a Jinga game.  I liked how the ends of the beams were painted white.  It made it easy to see the detail.

The door detail is a carved symbol of the ruler. We had to step over the threshold. I glanced to the side and saw the interesting carved door hardware.

The central Shrine area was symmetrical and visually balanced.  The Temple was in the center. To the right there was a prayer station and to the left an open area. I saw something draped from the tree just to the right of the other tour group.  (Nice of the guides to gather the group in the shade!)  You can see a few white papers, cut like lightening bolts. These are for purification.

I walked closer to the right side to see how the prayer area was laid out. There are tables where you can write your prayer, then hang them on the wall.  There is probably a cost for this but I only took pictures and said mental prayers for family and friends.  I see that someone already took “Love and Peace”, so I am just going to go with that one. (Are you allowed to latch on to someone else’s wishes?)

UPDATE: These are "Ema" - wooden wishing plaques found at Japanese shrines.  This is a Shinto custom.  People write their wishes on the small boards and then hang them.  Source: http://zoomingjapan.com/wiki/ema/

I walked to the Shrine and took one photo.  Sue told us that no photos were allowed on the top step, so I will follow the rules. I walked up these stairs, tossed in a coin, repeated the actions taught by Sue (prayer hands, bowing and clapping) and again left “Love and Peace” messages for family and friends.  We are covered!

Time to leave this site and return to the bus.  I saw a grounds attendant with a sparse and very efficient broom keeping the area neat and tidy.  One more final look at the huge torii and the group is ready to see the next sight.

Tokyo, Japan - Moiji Shrine and Temple (Part 2)

Many school groups were visiting and were happy to pose for photographers.  They all wore uniforms but expressed their individuality with backpacks, shoes, and other personal items.

The entrance to the main Temple area was designated by another torii.

We followed Tour Guide Sue to the left where a crowd was gathered under the wooden covering.

She explained the second phase of the cleansing process and offered to demonstrate.  Dip the ladle in to the water and pour the water over one hand and then the other.  Pour some water in to your left hand and use it to rinse your mouth. Spit in the trough below.  Then dip again and hold the ladle upright to allow the water to rinse the handle. Cleansing complete and off to the main Shrine!

Tokyo, Japan - Meiji Shrine and Temple (Part 1)

Our first stop of the day was at the Meiji Shrine.  Our tour guide’s name was Hetsue, and she went by Sue to make things easy for us. The driver’s name was Mr. Kowabutta (I am spelling phonetically!).

Yokohama and Tokyo - Tour Overview

Here are some of the sights from the Yokohama and Tokyo day tour.

This is a view of the city from the bus window.