omikuji in Tokyo’s Chokokuji (長谷寺)

Halfway between the Shibuya and Roppongi Stations (but closer to the Omotesando Station than any other) you can find the Chokoku Buddhist Temple. Far less famous than its counterpart in Kamakura that bears the same characters but is pronounced very differently, Chokokuji was an interesting place to visit. We were the only ones there (except for a turtle that crept along freely as if he/she owned the place), the temple houses an impressive giant Kannon statue, with a peaceful face, made out of wood.

If you want to look for this place online, you’ll end up at the Kamakura temple if you put in 長谷寺 so be sure to include 西麻布 in your search.

Rousoku (蝋燭 or ろうそく or ロウソク) means candle. Smalls were 30 yen and larges were 100 yen.

In today’s photo it looks like someone may have stolen from the omikuji box once upon a time. I’m guessing doing so is bad luck.

Posted on January 6th, 2015 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, japanese language, omikuji, Tokyo. Comments Off on Omikuji

菊見煎餅総本店

This cracker shop has been in business since the 19th Century. You can find it across the street from the famous Isetatsu paper shop in Yanaka (Sendagi actually).

Kikumi Senbei Sohonten, 3-37-16 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku. 03-3821-1215. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Mondays. One minute walk from Sendagi subway station.

Posted on October 28th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: food, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Tokyo, yanaka. Comments Off on おせんべい屋さん

Nishikubo Hachiman Jinja Summer Festival (西久保八幡神社例大祭[夏祭り2013])

Continuing our October/Halloween related posts, today’s photo (beyond the title) really has nothing to do with October or Halloween as the Japanese do their dancing (盆踊り) to honor their dead ancestors in the middle of summer.

Posted on October 14th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: bon odori, festivals, lanterns, matsuri, night photography, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Tokyo, 西久保八幡神社例大祭 夏祭り2013. Comments Off on Dance of the dead

Tokyo from Ebisu Garden Place Tower

My favorite place to view Tokyo is Ebisu Garden Place Tower. There are other free locations in Tokyo, but they are frequently crowded, you can’t get right next to the windows, or the glass is so old that the view is no longer very clear. Some of the restaurants on the top two floors of this building aren’t very expensive either.

Posted on September 30th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: aerial photography, ebisu, Tokyo. Comments Off on Free aerial view of Tokyo

Hinomaru Driving School (日の丸自動車学校) from Ebisu Garden Place Tower

Driving schools in Japan are big business. Unlike the USA, where most drivers pay little or nothing to learn how to drive and get a drivers license, Japanese drivers typically pay $3,000 – $5,000 to go to driving school and obtain a license. That’s assuming they pass on their first attempt. It costs even more if they don’t pass and then go back to driving school, etc. So it should come as no surprise that the schools can be fairly elaborate affairs in fancy buildings with color-coded cars, driving courses, etc.

The driving school in today’s photo is walking distance from the Ebisu and Meguro Stations in Tokyo.

Posted on September 24th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: aerial photography, ebisu, Tokyo. Comments Off on Hinomaru Driving School