New Year temple visit at Meiji Jingu

Meiji Jingu with 3 million visiting on the first days of the New Year (Hatsumode), is the most visited temple in Japan.


Hatsumode is the Japanese tradition to visit the temple the first week of the year. Brave souls visit the temple at the first hours of the New Year. I visited a few days later, when it wasn’t so crowded.


Meiji Jingu is located in the Shibuya area, next to the Yoyogi park, main entrance is next to harajuku station, which has an access gate for these dates only.


After a short walk through the Meiji jingo forest, which may take a couple of hours on New Year day, visitors purify themselves at the temizuya next to the front gate. The front gate is a magnificent structure at the entrance to the main yard.


After passing the front gate, visitors can access the main hall, on New Year day, there is a large crowd in front of the hall, and police controls the access to the offertory “box”.


The crowds are so large that a huge plastic mat is spread in front of the hall as an offering box, visitors throw coins as offerings.


After leaving the main hall, there is amulet office where amulets and lucky charms can be purchased.


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New Year preparation on Hachimangu

New Year visit to the temple (Hatsumode) is one of busiest time for temples in Japan.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura is one of the most popular destinations in Japan with over two million visitors.


The temple is normally full of visitors on weekends, but it was incredibly not busy in the eve of the New Year.


The temple is normally accessed by the Dankazura approach, the path is lined with cherry trees that can be fully enjoyed in spring.


The approach before the main shrine is lined with vendors that sell food and souvenirs to temple visitors.


The Main shrine is on top of a terrace accessed by a wide stairway. The shrine is considered an important cultural property by the Japanese government.

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Lightopia at Marunouchi

Marunouchi, yurakucho and the imperial palace garden has further increased its illumination festival with the introduction of “Flower Fantasia” and “Ambient Candle Park” from the lightopia.


“Flower Fantasia” is the new addition to the illumination in Naka dori avenue, extending until the Yurakucho area..


The new additions are arrangements of flowers and lights combined in a beautiful harmony of light and color.


In the imperial palace garden the “Ambient Garden Park”, with 600 candles framed by the park fountains provide an almost religious experience.


Each candle is decorated with a “earth, environment and peace” themed handwritten image, draw by the kids of the Chiyoda ward area.

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Christmas Illumination is back to Omotesando

After an 11 years hiatus Christmas illumination is back to Omotesando.


The Omotesando avenue between Harajuku and Aoyama is one the trendiest area of Tokyo, for this it is sometimes called Tokyo's Champs-Élysées, the streets are filled with cafes, famous internation brands stores, and the multi stores building Omotesando hills.


In 1998 due to the large number of visitors to the illumination event, the area residents cancelled the event. Fortunately the residents have decided to give it another go. considering the large number of visitors they may reconsider again.


The illumination event will last until Jan 10 2010, every day from 17:00 to 20:00

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The last of autumn colors at Hibiya Park

Hibiya Park in Chiyoda Ku in Tokyo is shedding the autumn colors, as the winter starts in Tokyo.


The park is located next to the east gardens of the imperial palace and the Kasumigaseki and Shinbashi areas. In sunny days workers of the surrounding areas gather at lunch time, to enjoy a break at the park.


The Shinkei pond with his bronze crane fountain at the center is a favorite spot for watercolor painters, polishing their skills.


The famous brick building Shinsei Kaikan is now under renovation, but it can be partially appreciated.

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Winter illumination at Tokyo Dome City

Tokyo Dome City is decorating for the season with a futuristic themed winter illumination.
This year illumination’s titled ‘winter illumination 01’ consisting of 1, 200,000 LED lights, representing the passage from the present to the future.
The illumination will decorate the area until Feb 14th, from 17:00 to 25:00.


Cristal city lights up beautifully with lights, representing the universe and a ship named Elpis (hope in Greek mythology) navigating from the present to the future.


The LaQua area is illuminated with several objects representing the universe and the pass of time, this object is called Stella.


The hikari madala dome, lights up to the rhythm of music for 15 minutes every hour, you can sit inside the dome to appreciate the show.

Undoubtedly the object attracting more attention is the Gaia, a 12m object representing the earth, this blue planet like object can be enjoyed also from the desk of Laqua.

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Garden lighting for autumn colors in Rikugien

Rikugien is lighting up the gardens for night viewing of the autumn colors. The garden lights up until December 12th, from sunset until 21:00 to provide a dramatic viewing of the red, and golden autumn leaves on the garden. The night illumination also creates spectacular reflections on the central pond.


Rikugien gardens were built in 1702 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu for the shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, and it has been designated as a special site of exceptional beauty and an important cultural asset by the Government. The gardens are one of the most beautiful gardens in Tokyo.


The small creek in the park is also illuminated to create a flowing river of lights.


The naka no shima or inner island is beautifully illuminated and provided different scenes as you walk through the gardens paths.


This is one of the few gardens where the view is not dominated by Tokyo’s skyscrapers.

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