MangoVine
Adventures in East Asia

Entries in Events

 16 May, 2009
Saturday Asakusa Mikoshi Shrines Carrying - Sights to behold!
On the second day of the three day Sanja Matsuri festival, Linh and I returned to Asakusa specifically to witness the mikoshi carrying. About one hundred mikoshi (portable shinto shrines) from forty four districts of Asakusa were taken on an energetic tour of the town! The shrines don't appear to be particularly light, so on that basis, the spectacle was bound to not disappoint.

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We were engrossed in more of the Nakamise-dori shopping arcade, when the chanting sounds of the first mikoshi carriers made their way to us. Teams of carriers, both male and female were stationed under the support beams of the mikoshi as they bumped and bellowed their way down Nakamise-dori, from around the side of the Senso Temple.

Read more... 15 May, 2009
Friday Mikoshi preparations for the Sanja Matsuri Festival
Towards mid-afternoon of the first day of the Sanja Matsuri, we began to see Mikoshi being prepared around the streets of Asakusa. These portable Shinto shrines were mounted on several beams of wood and men were tying them down to keep them secure.

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We knew that these Mikoshi were going to experience a bumpy ride the next day as they were to be paraded in and around the neighbourhoods that worship at the Asakusa-jinja (Asakusa Temple).

Read more... 15 May, 2009
Friday The Imposing Senso-ji and Fortune Dispensing at Asakusa
Senso-ji (Senso Temple) is an ancient Buddhist temple in Asakusa, located at the northern end of the Nakamise-dori shopping arcade. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant.

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It's easily the most imposing structure (apart from the taller five-storey pagoda close by) in the area we saw.

Read more... 15 May, 2009
Friday Goldfish Catching and Rickshaws at Nakamise-dori
Nakamise-dori had plenty of stalls selling meals and snacks but also a few other things to do. One "game" that we saw involved participants using a paper net to catch goldfish as these school kids are doing below.

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The net is completely flat, unlike a nylon net, so it didn't seem easy, particularly as the paper seem to fall apart quickly because of the moisture.

Read more... 15 May, 2009
Friday Videos : Traditional Japanese Sanja Matsuri Parade and Musicians
Here are some videos featuring the traditional Sanja Matsuri Festival in Asakusa. The first is of the traditional costume parade that took place on the first day of the three day festival:



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