 Most viewed - Asakusa 浅草 |
Sometimes on the way to Sensoji temple in Asakusa, you might see stalls selling seasonal gifts like the Hozuki Ground Cherry Pod Fair held on July 9th–10th.138 views
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Traditional footwear137 views
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Battledores were originally used to play a game called hanetsuki, similar to badminton with a shuttlecock. The battledores are now mainly used to dispel bad luck and for decoration.137 views
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Incense burner136 views
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This is on the main road in front of Kaminarimon Gate (giant red paper lantern). The procession occupied one lane of road as they headed for Kaminarimon Gate.135 views
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Yuka-chan, A.B.S.UNIDOS DO URBANA based in Nagoya at Asakusa Samba 2016.135 views
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Prayers in front of the altar and offertory box.134 views
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The shirasagi white heron dancers. There are eight of them. They were to perform the dance at 2:30 pm in front of Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon) temple.134 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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134 views
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Hozuki Ground Cherry Pod Fair held on July 9th–10th in Asakusa.134 views
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Kimono shop133 views
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133 views
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The mikoshi is brought in front of Sensoji temple one after another from all directions.133 views
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White Heron Dance (Shirasagi-no-Mai) was performed three times in Asakusa on April 13, 2014. Their second performance was held here on the roof of Matsuya Dept. Store at 2:30 pm.133 views
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Hondo worship hall 本堂131 views
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Place to buy a omikuji fortune paper.129 views
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129 views
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Mikoshi bearers129 views
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Kaminarimon-dori road is closed to traffic during the festival. Unlike other Asakusa festival processions, there is no parade route. The whole area is teeming with portable shrines. Kaminarimon-dori, Nakamise arcade, and Sensoji temple are main areas.128 views
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Hozomon Gate127 views
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Hondo worship hall 本堂127 views
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Hondo worship hall side view 本堂127 views
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The mikoshi come from over 40 neighborhoods of Asakusa. 氏子各町神輿連合渡御、発進127 views
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At the end of the year and New Year's, auspicious red and white and New Year's decorations are put up.126 views
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126 views
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Every April 8, if it's a nice day, I try to visit a different temple in Japan to see Hanamatsuri. This year I decided to see it in Asakusa.126 views
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Asakusa Samba Carnival126 views
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Asakusa Samba Carnival124 views
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Right after hitting the first target, the archer starts to pull out another arrow for the next target.123 views
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Paper umbrellas123 views
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Drunkard on street123 views
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Giant straw sandal.121 views
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They are deified by Asakusa Shrine next to Sensoji Temple. The festival's formal name is Asakusa Jinja Reitaisai. The festival's formal name is Asakusa Jinja Reitaisai.121 views
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Asakusa Shrine also has a stage for various entertainment such as an Asakusa geisha dance.121 views
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The baton twirler does his thing as the crowd gathers around.121 views
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Asakusa Samba 2016 onsen-theme float 121 views
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120 views
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Hozomon Gate ahead. 宝蔵門119 views
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Prices and sizes of battledores vary widely. They can be small and as cheap as 1,000 yen. This one is about 18,000 yen.119 views
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Shirasagi dancers along Nakamise after passing through Hozomon Gate.119 views
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Archer118 views
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This is the first target which is near the starting point. Love it when the target shatters like that.118 views
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Don't climb up any trees or step into the azalea bushes please. この叔父、つつじに入っちゃダメですよ。118 views
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Hozomon Gate's giant paper lantern.118 views
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118 views
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Shirasagi dancers proceeding back to Nakamise.118 views
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The Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance is performed in Asakusa on the second Sunday of April, mid-May for the Sanja Matsuri, and on Nov. 3.118 views
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Asakusa Samba Carnival118 views
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The horseback archer raises his bow and arrow high in the air as he nears the target.117 views
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This is what it looks like at the ground level in "the pit."117 views
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Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance at Asakusa.117 views
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When the Buddha was born, he walked seven steps and said, "I am my own Lord through Heaven and Earth," and pointed one hand to Heaven and the other to Earth.117 views
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Steps going up to the Hondo main worship hall.116 views
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The Sanja Festival is known to have many yakuza gangsters participating. However, I hardly saw any this year. Perhaps because the three Sanja mikoshi were not paraded this year and they could not ride on it half naked. Or they were all covered up.116 views
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The bird feeder (esa-maki 餌まき) holds a nice box containing pieces of colored paper.116 views
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If you look at their white heron costume, you can see that it's quite ingenius, the way it functions and the way it looks.116 views
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Approaching another gate called Hozomon Gate. 宝蔵門115 views
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Incense burner always attracts a crowd.115 views
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115 views
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There are various characters in the White Heron Dance contingent. This is the baton twirler (bo-furi 棒ふり) in orange pants followed by the bird feeder.115 views
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Asakusa Sanja Festival114 views
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Close-up of the heron head.114 views
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White heron dancer on a mural at Asakusa Station.114 views
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Nakamise sells all kinds of Japanese things. Originally, they catered to religious pilgrims. Now it's mostly tourists.113 views
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113 views
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The procession, headed by chigo children, pass through Kaminarimon Gate.113 views
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113 views
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The local Asakusa tourist association resurrected the dance in 1968. A picture scroll showed that it was performed in 1652 at Sensoji.113 views
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Deer skin112 views
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Paintings on ceiling inside Hondo worship hall.112 views
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112 views
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Tekomai hairstyle112 views
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The contingent pass through Hozomon Gate which is right in front of Sensoji temple.112 views
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Fingers fastened to the wings control the wings.112 views
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Asakusa Samba Carnival112 views
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Being the main gate, Hozomon Gate is much bigger than Kaminarimon Gate, and it also had a giant paper lantern.111 views
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I'm not sure how they keep the tall bird head and neck on their heads.111 views
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Another shirasagi shadow.111 views
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110 views
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This mikoshi is heading to the front of Sensoji temple. I followed them.110 views
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Quite a few women carried the mikoshi too.110 views
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109 views
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This is the umbrella holder (ogasa 大傘). He doesn't really shade anyone.109 views
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Shirasagi dancers spreading their wings.109 views
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Nitemon Gate after renovations. Fresh paint makes it bright red. 二天門109 views
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Wooden targets108 views
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Panoramic shot of a mikoshi n front of Kaminarimon Gate. I was in a tight squeeze during this shot, mixed in with the mikoshi bearers.108 views
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Children from the local kindergarten walk toward Kaminarimon Gate from where they will pull the white elephant.108 views
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Bird feeder on the left sprinkled some colorful pieces of paper as bird feed. They dance to music played by 19 musicians.108 views
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For their third and last performance at 3:30 pm on April 13, 2014, they they walked/danced through the Nakamise mall leading to Sensoji temple in Asakusa. The man is the baton twirler, followed by the bird feeder and the dancers.108 views
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The dancers leave Sensoji.108 views
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Woman archer107 views
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A sea of people.107 views
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Heading to the front of Sensoji temple.107 views
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107 views
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There are eight white heron dancers. The dance originated at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto about 1,000 years ago to ward off epidemics and pray for good harvests.107 views
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106 views
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There are also three warriors who never did anything. 武人106 views
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At around 2:30 pm, they started dancing.106 views
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Maiko105 views
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Festival music (drums and flute).105 views
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Musicians float. They are playing music all the while.105 views
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These guardian children lead the way. They come from Sensoji Kindergarten. 守護童子105 views
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In front of Sensoji temple, they held a Hana Matsuri ceremony with the kindergarten kids.105 views
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104 views
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The three Sanja mikoshi portable shrines dedicated to the three fishermen who founded the Kannon statue. Unfortunately, the parading of these mikoshi was canceled this year (2008) because people always stood on the beams to ride on it.104 views
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Bird feeder and umbrella holder. 餌まき,104 views
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104 views
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Be sure to see my video of the White Heron Dance held on April 13, 2014.104 views
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104 views
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Yuka-chan, A.B.S.UNIDOS DO URBANA based in Nagoya at Asakusa Samba 2016.104 views
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Local high school girl proudly rides back to the starting point amid applause.103 views
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Phoenix atop the mikoshi roof.103 views
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Headband103 views
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Nakamise shopping arcade.103 views
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Some foreigners also carry the mikoshi.103 views
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The bird feeder sprinkles more food for the birds.103 views
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Ama-cha sweet tea for everyone. 甘茶103 views
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The bird feeder then sprinkled small pieces of colored paper above the white heron dancers.102 views
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During a brief break, people gawk at the dancers. This was when I talked to one of them.102 views
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Woman archer misses her target.101 views
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Nitemon Gate in the east undergoing renovations. One of the few original buildings still intact. 二天門101 views
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The Battledore Fair is held at night as well.101 views
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Float for festival music.101 views
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Toward the end of the procession is a group of musicians, 19 of them (楽人). Some of them walk while the others ride a float.101 views
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Once in a while, the shirasagi dancers spread their wings and do a few dance steps along the narrow Nakamise shopping arcade.101 views
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It looks like they are feeding.101 views
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Tourist posing with a dancer after the dance.101 views
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These guardian children headed the procession. They come from Sensoji Kindergarten. 守護童子101 views
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Incense burner100 views
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Battledore stalls and 5-story pagoda100 views
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They receive their blessings, then leave.100 views
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What it looks like from the left side of Sensoji temple.100 views
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One funny old man took his bicycle right through the crowd. He was soon escorted out.100 views
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Mikoshi passing through Asakusa Shrine, right next to Sensoji temple.100 views
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Immediately, I noticed the great shadows the dancers were casting. Proof of how good the costumes are made and how well they are posed.100 views
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The dance started with the baton twirler running around the dancers.100 views
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This is what the "bird feed" was. Colored pieces of paper with the kanji characters for "good fortune" and "long life." No wonder people were rushing to pick these up. Well, I guess I'll live a long and prosperous life..100 views
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Hanamatsuri at Sensoji temple in Asakusa.100 views
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White herons are a common sight in Japan. They do like to feed on rice fields.100 views
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Hondo worship hall 本堂99 views
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Left side of Sensoji temple, in "the pit."99 views
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The mikoshi rests too.99 views
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Heading for Kaminarimon Gate.99 views
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They walked to the area in front of the 5-story pagoda. 99 views
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I was told that they practice the dance only a few days before the performance. Apparently, it's not that difficult to master. It also seems that different dancers do it each time.99 views
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At the end of the dance, they bowed.99 views
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A gasp of amazement from spectators could be heard when the dancers spread their wings.99 views
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So elegant.99 views
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White heron dance in front of Sensoji temple. 99 views
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A short break after the dance.99 views
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The white heron dancers bow before Sensoji temple before leaving.99 views
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Dead on!98 views
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Mikoshi also depart the left side of Sensoji temple.98 views
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After passing through Hozomon Gate, they enter Nakamise shopping arcade.98 views
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Mikoshi for the kids too.98 views
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And taiko drumming.98 views
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Storehouse for the three Sanja mikoshi portable shrines.98 views
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People are not supposed to stand on the mikoshi.98 views
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Ladies with flower hats98 views
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On the left, the mikoshi navigator refers to his festival map and schedule.98 views
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They head toward Sensoji temple as the crowd make way for them along Nakamise.98 views
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Parallel to Sumida River, the archery course is straight and narrow, stretching from the Tobu Line bridge to Kototoi Bridge.97 views
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This is what it looks like in front of Sensoji temple.97 views
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The mikoshi also leave Sensoji temple and head to the Nakamise shopping arcade.97 views
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Nakamise shopping arcade97 views
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"OK mom, I'll pick up the bread, milk, cereal, and natto after this festival is over."97 views
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OK, break time is over and they pick up the mikoshi.97 views
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Tourists make way for the white heron dancers along Nakamise mall in Asakusa.97 views
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The famous Kaminarimon lantern was replaced with a new one in Nov. 2013. This is the back.97 views
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Heading down Nakamise shopping arcade.96 views
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Worshippers line up to pray at Asakusa Shrine.96 views
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What it looks like when you carry the mikoshi.96 views
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The Sanja Matsuri also includes a small but photogenic procession of geisha. Tekomai geisha lead a small group of geisha and other characters.96 views
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The White Heron Dance originated in Kyoto over 1,100 years ago to purge the city of an epidemic.96 views
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The shirasagi dancers then spread their wings and started to dance.96 views
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Most of the dancers seemed to be high school age, although I noticed a few older women as well.96 views
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Each shirasagi dancer bowed to Sensoji (being renovated) before heading back to Nakamise.96 views
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People crowd around the flower-decorated Hanami-do, the little hall with the baby Buddha.96 views
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The little Hanamatsuri parade went through Nakamise and arrived at Sensoji with the white elephant in tow.96 views
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The flowers were made in Thailand.96 views
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Passing under Hozomon Gate in front of Sensoji temple. Gotta watch their head.96 views
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Asakusa Shrine torii.95 views
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