Vibrant and colorful attire, graceful performers ,jolly faces .... Every good things were present during the 38th Samba festival of Asakusa.

Took a trip out to Nikko, Tochigi over the three day weekend and had an incredible time.
The purpose of the trip was to celebrate my girlfriend's sister's college graduation so we wanted to make it as memorable as possible.
I don't have enough room to fit this into one post so I'll post the rest throughout the week.

We started out from Tokyo and had lunch somewhere Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
I'm not sure if Yuba is a local specialty but it seemed like literally every single restaurant in the area was selling it so I'm assuming that was the case.
It was my first time trying it and it was pretty interesting I guess you could say.
It tasted alright with the soy sauce and radish but I think I prefer normal tofu instead. Either way it was a nice experience.

After eating we headed out to Nikko Toshogu Shrine nearby and man was it amazing.
Everything was so lavishly decorated that I couldn't stop taking photos.
The pagoda was incredibly beautiful as well and the snow covering the Nikko area made everything even more beautiful.

I was lucky enough to get a really nice shot of the corridor full of lanterns while no one was walking through the area as well.
I also took a photo of the torii gate at the top of the steps as it had a very strong presence and signaled the end of the long journey up the steps to reach the inner shrine.

Unfortunately the main gate was undergoing repairs so it was completely covered in tarp and surrounded by staging so I wasn't able to get a photo of it, but I did get some really cool shots of the main shrine.

I tried as hard as I could to get some good photos of the grave of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and while I think the photo of the gate isn't bad, I think I'd need a better camera to get a good shot of the crane and his tomb.
That being said it was still really awesome to see.

After checking out the shrine we headed out to Kegon Falls and I managed to get some really nice videos and some decent photos as well.
I can't post the videos or I would.
It was really awesome seeing the icicles surrounding the waterfall and all of the frozen scenery as well.
Even just taking the lift down to the waterfall was an experience.
After we left the waterfall observation deck and went back up the elevator we got some suiton (水団, flour dumplings in soup) and shared it between the three of us as a light snack before dinner later that evening.
We also visited Lake Chuzenji and admired the scenery there for a bit as well.
We didn't spend a ton of time here so this photo was the best I could do.
I like that I was able to get the sign in the shot though so I can't complain.

After enjoying the view of the lake we headed to our hotel and ate dinner and had some wine.
The place we stayed at was called "Lamb Chop" (ペンション・ラムチャップ日光).
The food was great and service provided by the the owners was top notch, so I definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for a place to stay in the area.

After dinner we headed back to our room and I was so exhausted I fell asleep almost instantly.

And that was the end of day 1! I'll post day two tomorrow since this post is getting quite long now!

Although the samba dance is from Brazil but I saw it 1st time in Tokyo at Asakusa area. It was from 38th Asakusa Samba carnival in 2019. I was really very excited and happy to see it. Unfortunately from 2020 because of corona the event is not happening but I wish this 2022 I could see it again.

河津桜が開花しました

Snow Bear

On the occasion of Chinese new year the Yokohama China town was well decorated during pre corona situation (in 2019). It was my first chance to enjoy Chinese new year in China Town. It was really a great fun. Wish after corona it will be back in full form.

[English／日本語]
Snow is predicted to fall in Tokyo this week. In Japan, there are many tourist destinations where winter sports are popular, such as Hokkaido, but in Tokyo, snowfall is not that common and the city is not prepared to handle it. As a result, even a 5 cm accumulation of snow can cause many problems. In this article, I will tell you how to deal with snow in Tokyo.

1) Transportation
When it snows, train schedules are often disrupted. Trains may be cancelled or the number of trains may be reduced, so you may be late for work. Try to leave your house early on snowy days. Roads can also be crowded, and few people buy snow tires for the rare snowfall in a year. As a result, many people drive with regular tires on snowy days, which can cause slip accidents. Try not to walk near cars on snowy days.

2) The day after it snows
Unlike Hokkaido, the snow that falls in Tokyo has a high moisture content. Therefore, the day after a snowfall, the roads are often icy. Since there are many buildings in Tokyo, there is no sunlight and the snow may not melt even after a week. Some people slip on the icy roads and get seriously injured because of it. On the day after a snowfall, try to walk in the sunshine.

3)What to wear
What you wear the next day is more important than what you wear when it is snowing. The roads are very slippery, so it is best to wear long boots or other non-slip shoes. You should also wear gloves because the ice can cut your hands if you slip and fall on them. A hat is also necessary to protect your head. A backpack or other bag that allows you to keep both hands free is also a good idea. If you don't have boots, there is a life hack to prevent slipping by putting an adhesive bandage on the back of your sneakers. Please give it a try.

Many of the students at our school come from warm countries. Some of them have caught colds from playing in the snow because it was their first time to see snow. Please play in the snow in moderation. This time, we are planning to spread snow-melting agent in front of the dormitory. If your neighbors are having a hard time shoveling snow, let's help them out. It's also a chance to make friends with Japanese people. Also, it's best not to go outside too much on snowy days, so get your shopping done as soon as possible!

今週、東京では雪が降る予報になっています。日本では北海道などウインタースポーツが人気の観光地も多くありますが、東京では雪が降ることはそこまで多くないので、東京の街は雪に対応できるようになっていません。そのため、雪が5㎝積もっただけでも色々な問題が発生します。今回は東京での雪対策についてお伝えします。

①交通
雪が降ると電車のダイヤが乱れることがよくあります。電車が運休してしまったり、本数が減らされてしまうので、会社に遅刻をしてしまう可能性があります。雪の日は早めに家を出るようにしましょう。また、道路も混むことがあります。1年に降るか降らないかの雪のために、雪用のタイヤを買っている人はほとんどいません。そのため、雪の日は普通のタイヤで運転している人も多く、スリップ事故を起こす人もいます。雪の日はなるべく車の近くを歩かないようにしましょう。

②雪が降った次の日
東京に降る雪は北海道などと違って、水分が多いです。そのため、雪の降った翌日は道路が凍っていることが多くあります。東京は建物が多いので、日の光があたらず、1週間たっても雪が解けない場合があります。凍ってしまった道路で滑ってしまい、それが原因で大けがする人もいます。雪が降った翌日はなるべく日があたる道を選んで歩きましょう。

③服装
雪が降っているときよりも翌日の服装が大切です。道路がとても滑るので、長ぐつなど滑りにくい靴を履きましょう。また、滑って手をついたときに氷で手が切れることがあるので、手袋をしましょう。頭を守るための帽子も必要です。また、鞄はリュックなど両手があくものがいいです。長靴がない人はスニーカーの裏に絆創膏を貼るとすべりにくいというライフハックがあります。ぜひ試してみてください。

本校ではあたたかい国から来る学生が多いです。雪を見るのが初めてだとはめをはずして雪遊びをしてしまい、風邪をひいてしまった人もいます。雪遊びはほどほどにしましょうね。今回は寮の前に融雪剤をまく予定です。近所の人が雪かきで大変そうなら協力しましょう。日本人と仲良くなれるチャンスでもあります。また、雪の日はあまり外に出ないほうがいいので、買い物は早めに済ませましょうね！

那珂川町馬頭

秩父神社の「鬼やらい」
毎年2月3日に行われている秩父神社の「節分追儺（ついな）祭」のことです。
鬼がいっぱい登場し、年男・年女による「鬼やらい」や「豆撒き」が行われます。
年男・年女が「鬼は外～」といいながら豆をまくと、鬼は退散。

群馬県長野原町河原湯温泉で厳冬の早朝に行われる奇祭「湯かけ祭り」
源頼朝が温泉を発見してから約400年が過ぎたある日のこと、突然温泉が出なくなってしまいました。村人たちは困り果てましたが、そのうちのひとりが温泉の匂いをかいだところ、ニワトリの卵をゆでた匂いがします。そこでニワトリを生贄にしてお祈りしたところ、お湯が再び出てきたので、みんなでお祝いする事になりました。
はじめは「お湯わいた、お湯わいた」といって喜んでいましたが、そのうち「お祝いだ、お祝いだ」と言ってみんなでお湯をかけあうようになったのが始まりです。
生きたニワトリが入った紅白のくす玉をお湯をかけて割っているところです！

「特別巡回ラジオ体操・みんなの体操会」（1978年開始）は、全国10会場程度で開催されています。この写真は、小金井市にある江戸東京たてもの園前広場で夏に開催された時の物です。

渡良瀬遊水地の春の風物詩である「ヨシ焼き」は、およそ1500ヘクタールもの面積が真っ赤な炎で焼き払われます。ヨシに寄生する害虫駆除や野火の防止、湿地環境の保全の為に毎年行われています。

お台場の花火大会。レインボーブリッジと屋形船と花火が調和して真夏の夜を彩っていました！

初詣の辞書的な意味は、「年が明けてから初めての神社やお寺へのお参り」ですが、初詣は、地元の地域を守ってくれている神様に新しい年になって初めてお参りし、旧年中の感謝を伝え、新年の祈願をするためのものです。
ただお願いだけにならないよう、感謝の気持ちを伝えることも、忘れないでおきたいですね。

Was passing through Komagome the other day and stumbled across this quaint little shrine in front of the station.

Apparently it was established in the Edo Period but didn't actually look like a shrine until the Meiji Period.

It's also dedicated to Okuninushi who has a lot of different mythology surrounding him, but according to what I could find, he was the head of the gods on earth.
There are also a lot of legends and folklore about him in the Kojiki as well it seems, the most interesting sounding one being 'The White Hare of Inaba" (因幡の白兎) where he apparently wins over a princess that his brothers wanted to married and then is subsequently killed by them with the use of a flaming boulder and he is then brought back to life by the gods after his mother goes up to heaven to ask another deity to bring him back, after which he is brought back to life as a handsome man.

And that's why I like reading about Japanese mythology lol. So much interesting stuff to read about

東京スカイツリー駅の、こいのぼりの写真を撮りました！シーズンの時のものです。
日本の行事にぴったりのものです！さわかやかな風と癒しの季節が香ります。

This Kasaboko (flower parasol) used in 300 years old Japanese festival in Chichibu which actually looks stunning. This chichibu night festival is also known as 'chichibu yomatsuri'. I was really very excited to see it.

初詣は日本の年の初めに行う大切な行事。
みんながこぞって参拝します。
コロナ禍で今は初詣分散参拝が主流となりつつあります。
どうにかしてみんなが初詣を行おうと工夫をこらして参拝しています。
それだけ大事な行事です。

場所は東京靖国神社 大晦日の早朝です。

Was walking through Shimokitazawa the other day and found some really cool street art on the shutter of some shop or something (not really sure what the building was).

Just thought it was cool to see this.
Don't see much street art in Japan, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as usually it involves vandalism, but this doesn't look to be vandalism, although I could be wrong.
Either way I think it's a nice improvement to the empty shutters and definitely adds a little spice to the area.

Aesthetically I'm a huge fan since I enjoy learning about Japanese history, especially samurai, swords, etc., even if this is a fantastical rendition of the likes you'd find in some anime or manga.

Shimokitazawa is a pretty cool place though.
It seems like a lot of younger people go shopping in the area and there's a lot of restaurants as well.

If you're into coffee, cafes, and unique shops with trinkets, etc. it's an enjoyable place to visit. Really trendy

Decided to donate some clothes I wasn't wearing anymore over the weekend so I decided to go to the Second Street in Minami-Senju.

Managed to find some cool stuff along the way.
I was walking from Minowabashi and saw this nice looking temple, apparently called Koshunin (公春院).
It was a really lovely spot and I would have liked to take more photos but I had some luggage with me and also wanted to avoid taking any photos of the tombstones as I thought it might be rude.
It seems the temple focus on memorial services though and looked like a nice place.

The next spot I came across was just a really small shrine that seemed so randomly placed that I wanted to take a picture of it.
There wasn't much space inside the shrine are so it was quite difficult to get a decent photo, but I did the best that I could and tried to take a photo from the side street next to it which was also incredibly narrow lol.

The last thing I ended up finding was a statue of Matsuo Basho!
I'd not been to Minami-Senju as I've never really had a reason to go there, but I saw the statue from the corner of my eye and thought "Hmm I wonder if that's Basho" and sure enough it was.
It even has "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" (奥の細道) written below it.
Also, apparently there is debate about which "Senju" he started at (Adachi or Arakawa), so this is one of the statues depicting the place where he started his journey!

It ended up being a pretty interesting walk.
I'd like to visit the area again as there was a ton of cool stuff.

初詣⛄
荻窪にある井草八幡宮、広くて居心地の良い神社でした⛩?

Meiji Jingu shrine during snowfall

Was walking past a park in Arakawa the other day and came across this interesting statue.

I think the name is read as Honda Takatomo (本田 貴侶) but it was difficult to find any information. I kept finding stuff showing the same statue but instead of "聖なるもののリピドー" they all show "聖なるもののリビドー"

I'm not sure what the differences are though.
Perhaps there are multiple statues in different locations?
All the ones I saw referred to this statue in Arakawa though so maybe there's a misprint or something?

Also I'm not sure what "リピドー" or "リビドー" means, but if anyone has any idea about what the statue's meaning is I'd love to hear it!

Either way it's a nice looking statue. I always enjoy finding things like this around different parts of Japan, they really add to the atmosphere of the city.

船橋大神宮

日本の行事 初詣・船橋大神宮

日本の行事 浅草寺

I didn't have enough space to write it the other day, but after visiting Fukuda Inari Shrine the other day in Nishi-Omiya, Saitama we stopped by a café called Mango Tree Cafe, a small Thai restaurant on the way back to the station.

We'd already eaten, so we just wanted to sit down and relax from all the walking and to catch a break from the cold. We ordered some frozen drinks and a mango ice cream which all tasted quite good. I think the ice cream was the best but I didn't get a picture of it.

I ordered the watermelon frozen juice and it was pretty nice, but they had something called "manaonade" (アンチャンマナオネード) which I guess means "blue tea" or "butterfly pea flower tea-ade" (lol).
It's a type of herbal tea I guess but it seemed interesting. I was considering getting it, but I'd never heard of it before so decided to stay on the safe side and just get the watermelon.

I'll probably try it next time as I know this place is a chain restaurant with other locations in Tokyo. Plus I never really eat Thai food, so it'd be something nice to try for a change

Doesn't matter how old you are, you'll always stop to watch the fireworks.

Taken at the Hachioji Fireworks Festival in 2017.

色褪せて尚
凛とした花姿

日本の行事 成田山新勝寺