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View Full Version : Just Back from Japan: Part I

jeff lapoint
May-31-2007, 10:55 PM
My wife and I just returned from an all too short trip to Japan. I was considering posting everything in one thread, but I think the at a very minimum the dial-up folks would kill me :dunno.

We arrived in Tokyo the night before the Sanja Matsuri festival at the Asakusa Shrine. Its one of Tokyo's biggest celebrations and it involved the carrying of around 100 portable shrines through the local streets.

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/158330236-L.jpg



http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157337102-L.jpg

We showed up at the Shrine around 6:00am local time and it was already packed with people hoping to get a glimpse of the action.



http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157727803-L.jpg


http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157337626-L.jpg


http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/158295246-L.jpg


http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157678028-L.jpg

Food seems sacred in Japan. You'll almost never see people wolfing down food while walking or waiting for the subway. Even at 6am there was plenty of food ready to be eaten.

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157337222-L.jpg


http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157337563-L.jpg


http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157677852-L.jpg


Nice lady selling the tentacle sticks

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157677656-L.jpg


Even the good stuff was available early:wink
http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157727578-L.jpg

Of course that means someone will end up having too much of it (not me this time)...not the best quality as I was shooting guerrilla style here:rolleyes
http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/158330118-L-1.jpg

Many of the men are dressed in very tradition garb.
http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157679021-L-1.jpg


http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157679338-L.jpg

And here's what everyone is here to see.

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157678344-L.jpg
These shrines are supposed to be temporary homes of the gods and it is a huge honor to get to carry them. Last year people climbing on them was a problem (and from what I'm told quite disrespectful). This year there was a signed agreement stating riding on the shrines would not be allowed, but later that day I saw a bit on the new stating it was still an issue.

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157678690-L.jpg


http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/158329997-L.jpg
Locals tell me in the old days these shrines that are carried through the streets would just happen to crash into houses and stores of those that had wronged the community during the past year. :D


Like I said, I'm wary of having a 30 pic post so tomorrow I'll continue with part II: Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine

Thanks for stopping by!

-j
Elaine
May-31-2007, 11:59 PM
I look forward to more! My husband and I loved our trip to Japan in 2000...would love to go back someday. It is fun to "revisit" through your pics.
David_S85
Jun-01-2007, 01:05 AM
Excellent! :clap
More, more, more!
VisualXpressions
Jun-01-2007, 04:30 AM
Super shooting, can't wait to see more! My family and I live in Yokohama Japan from 2000 to 2004... I regret not getting more shots of that beutiful country than I did while living there...

Winston
k2butter
Jun-01-2007, 05:45 AM
Excellent!! I went to this same festival about 10 years ago!!! Your pictures are much better than mine! Thank you for sharing!
jwear
Jun-01-2007, 08:00 AM
ah Jeff did you forget to tell Ben and I we waited for you at bolsa :D nice work hope all is well :thumb
jaimela
Jun-01-2007, 09:00 AM
hello. new to the site but am blown away by all the great shots. keep up the good work! looking forward to seeing more shots.
jeff lapoint
Jun-01-2007, 03:17 PM
I look forward to more! My husband and I loved our trip to Japan in 2000...would love to go back someday. It is fun to "revisit" through your pics.

Thanks so much! I had such a wonderful time, I only wish there was more of it!

More shots are definitely on the way...hope ya dont get tired of these:dunno
jeff lapoint
Jun-01-2007, 03:18 PM
Excellent! :clap
More, more, more!
Thanks:thumb...and yes sir!
jeff lapoint
Jun-01-2007, 03:19 PM
Super shooting, can't wait to see more! My family and I live in Yokohama Japan from 2000 to 2004... I regret not getting more shots of that beutiful country than I did while living there...

Winston

Thanks! I think even if I lived there for 4 years and shot a few hundred clicks per day I'd still feel that way. There's just so much to see and do.
jeff lapoint
Jun-01-2007, 03:21 PM
Excellent!! I went to this same festival about 10 years ago!!! Your pictures are much better than mine! Thank you for sharing!

Thanks so much. Did you see anyone riding on the shrines?
jeff lapoint
Jun-01-2007, 03:24 PM
ah Jeff did you forget to tell Ben and I we waited for you at bolsa :D nice work hope all is well :thumb


you mean this wasn't a really tan Ben? Crap, I bought that guy 3 beers by mistake then:roflhttp://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/158295246-L.jpg
jeff lapoint
Jun-01-2007, 03:26 PM
hello. new to the site but am blown away by all the great shots. keep up the good work! looking forward to seeing more shots.

Welcome to Dgrin! Thanks so much for the kind comments!
k2butter
Jun-01-2007, 04:31 PM
Thanks so much. Did you see anyone riding on the shrines?

Yes, I remember that, I think I have a photo somewhere... oh, I just looked, I don't have one with someone on it while they were carrying it, it was a great experiance, I went two years in a row while my parents lived there.... I would love to go back again someday... just to soak it all in a bit more, I think I would appreciate it more now...
Angelo
Jun-01-2007, 07:18 PM
great shots Jeff. Thanks for part 1 of the tour. I'm looking forward to more.
jwear
Jun-01-2007, 09:53 PM
you mean this wasn't a really tan Ben? Crap, I bought that guy 3 beers by mistake then:roflhttp://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/158295246-L.jpgso Ben really did go dam and i missed a free bear:huh yu live in a town That i can not pronounce its name :rofl back to oc doc
bfjr
Jun-02-2007, 05:56 AM
Good Stuff Doc :thumb
That good be me, but only 3 beers ?? :huh :freaky

Looking forward to Part 2 !
Promise not to show the one of Jeff in a Sumo Wrestling Outfit!
:rofl :puke :lol
jeff lapoint
Jun-02-2007, 06:01 AM
Good Stuff Doc :thumb
That good be me, but only 3 beers ?? :huh :freaky

Looking forward to Part 2 !
Promise not to show the one of Jeff in a Sumo Wrestling Outfit!
:rofl :puke :lol

We switch to sake after the brews, dontcha remember?:huh The pics of Jeff in the sumo diaper melted my CF card:dunno:rofl
wxwax
Jun-02-2007, 07:14 AM
Nice!

I love these two.

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157679021-S-1.jpg

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157679338-S.jpg
jeff lapoint
Jun-02-2007, 07:59 AM
Nice!

I love these two.

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157679021-S-1.jpg

http://lapiz007.smugmug.com/photos/157679338-S.jpg

Thanks for stopping by Sid!
Little T
Jun-03-2007, 01:24 PM
Neat pics, makes me even more impatient! Im going to Japan in october and i CANT WAIT!