Yushima Tenjin Shrine Matsuri
Last year in February, we attended an Ume Matsuri (Japanese Apricot Blossom Festival) at the Yushima Tenjin Shrine in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
This year, we attended the Annual Festival of Yushima Tenjin Shrine or Yushima Tenjin Shrine Matsuri held on May 22-23, 2010.
The portable shrine (mikoshi) floats were parked just outside the shrine before the start of the procession.
The highlight of this festival was called a Shinkosai or a procession of horen (floats) and mikoshi (portable shrines), drawn by townspeople, parading the neighborhood streets around the shrine.
Different modes of transportation for the dignitaries, such as rickshaws and …
… horses (under an umbrella).
The mikoshi was blessed by a Shinto priest along the parade route.
The procession returned to the shrine passing through one of the stone torii gates – this made for a nice picture I think.
A short video of the procession.
My wife used to live in this neighborhood. I miss going there.
Actually, It’s about 1 mile from my office in Akihabara. I used to be able to go there when I had 1 hour for lunch (now it’s been broken up into 2 30-minute breaks). Yushima is also about 1 mile from two museums that I still visit occasionally (the Hyogo cultural museum that’s closer to Tokyo Dome) and Yayoi Yumeji (at the backside of Tokyo University). The next anime-related exhibit at the Yayoi is going to be in one month (The Saga of Guin) and I haven’t decided if I’ll go or not.
Thanks guys for the comments – looks like this is a popular place
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