Isejingu, Geku

IseJingu in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture is the holiest and most important Shinto shrine complex dedicated to the goddess Amateras-Omikami, the supreme deity, who is also ancestor of the imperial family according to the Japanese mythology.


Isejingu main shrines are the Geku or Outer shrine, and the Naiku or Inner shrine.Protocol requires that worshipers pay respects to Geku before visiting Naiku.


Naiku shrine is dedicated to the Toyouke Omikami or the god of food, clothing and shelter. The entrance is a short walk from the Ise city station.


The stall for the horse offered by the imperial family was empty as the offering horse arrived a week after my visit.


The Shrine architecture of Ise shrines cannot be used in the construction of any other shrine.


Unfortunately the shrine is walled and visitors are not allowed inside, morover photos are not allowed, visitors pay respects from the entrance of the main shrine.

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Nagoya’s sister cities at Hisaya Odori park

Hisaya Odori park at sakae is a 100 meters wide park along Hisaya Odori street, that consist of a series of plazas dedicated to Nagoya’s sister and friendship cities.


The Los Angeles Plaza displays several pieces donated by the sister city of LA.
The Los Angeles rocks are from Alabama hills in central California and it is said to be 180 million years old.


There is also a replica of the walk of fame with 25 stars embedded in the path.



Additionally there is a beautiful statue of a bald-eagle with a replica of some of the plates of the Chinese theatre.


North of the LA plaza there is the Mexico plaza, with pieces donated by the sister city of Mexico City, the main piece being a reproduction of the Aztec calendar.


A replica of the stone monument of the moon goddess Coyolxauhqi is also in this plaza.


In addition, one replica of the Tula warrior rest on one of the sides of the plaza.




North of the Mexican plaza is the Nanjin Plaza with Hua Bia Obelisks donated by the Chinese city in 1980.
At the Northermost part of the park there is the Sidney plaza with a replica of the anchor of the H.M.S Sirus.

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City of Nagoya

Nagoya city in the Aichi prefecture is Japan’s third city. Many of the Japanese Automotive companies are based in greater Nagoya.




The Nagoya castle is one of the main attractions of the city. Completed in 1612 to be the residence of the Tokugawa clan, it was lost to fire during the war. The current dojon was rebuilt in 1959. The city is currently planning to restore the Nagoya Castle Hommaru Palace.



Nagoya TV tower in the Sakae area, with 180 m of height is the oldest TV tower in Japan completed in 1954, with two observation decks and a restaurant and gallery. The tower has been designated a national tangible cultural property.




Recently added in 2002 in the sakae area is Oasis 21, a park and open air-underground complex, where various events are held.

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Confucian temple Yushima seido

Yushima seido in yushima, neighborhood of Bunkyo Tokyo is a Confucian temple founded in 1960 by the Tokunaga shogunate, later became a center of Confucian learning, as noted in one of the signs in the grove, it was one of the first educational institutions in Japan. The sign reads “The birthplace of the education in Japan”, the site is designated as an historic place.


The temple is locate on one of the sides of the Hijiri bashi or saints bridge, as it has Nicholai cathedral on one side and Yushima seido on the opposite.



Entering by going down the steps on the hijiri bashi a small grove can be appreciated at the gate. Passing through the nyutokumon gate is not allowed now, so it is required to go through a side entrance, and then enter the temple trough the Kyodamon gate.




The main building daisendan is impressive for its simplicity, all black, with almost no decorations. Its simplicity is more dramatic, when compared with the color excesses of the temple Kanda Myojin just across the street.

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Spring is almost here

Spring is just around the corner, although it did snow a couple of days ago, the good weather is back now.




The plum trees at shinobazu pond in Ueno park are at the end of their blooming, a sure sign of the soon arrival of the sakura cherry blossom .





Some of the sakura trees on the entrance and at the park are starting to bloom, and the park has starting the preparations for the hanami or cherry blossom viewing.

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Doll’s festival hinamatsuri

Japan celebrated the “Hinamaturi” Doll’s day or girl’s day on March 3rd. Most of the Japanese houses with girls, display the dolls to pray for the girls happiness.


Dolls representing the emperor and empress, and court ladies musicians, ministers, ad servants are displayed on several layers covered with a red carpet.


The girls families purchase the doll when the girls are very young and display them every year until the girls get married and take them with them.



As families are living in smaller houses now, only the top layer with the Emperor and the empress are becoming more popular.

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New lunar year parade at Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama celebrated the new lunar year with a colorful parade. Members of Chinese schools in Japan performing Lion, and dragon dances, also community members’ in imperial customs, paraded through the streets of the Chinatown.







The first groups of dragon and lion dancers were formed by kids of local elementary school. It was probably not the scariest dragon/lions that I ever seen, but surely the cutest.






The kid’s lions were followed by a group of members of the community dressed as period’s imperial royalty, and Chinese theatre costumes.




The crowd favorites were the kids from Chinese secondary schools in groups of lions and dragons.



At the end of the parade a 10m long dragon closed the event.

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