Categories
Traditional

Noren

Noren are the short curtains that you can usually find at the entrance of restaurants and shops in Japan. They are used to avoid dust from entering the place and as a means of protection from sun and wind. Sometimes they’re divided into different parts so people can enter more easily.

Noren
That’s a noren. They are also usually used to advertise the name of the restaurant.

Categories
Traditional

Sanja Matsuri

Two weekends ago we were in Sanja Matsuri (三社祭: festival of the three temples), one of the most important Shinto festivals in Tokyo which takes place in Asakusa every year. The main attraction of most of Japanese festivals are mikoshis, some kind of “small temple” that are carried by men and are taken out “for a walk” in the festivals. However for me the best thing about the festivals is not the mikoshis, nor the dances, nor the traditional clothes; what I enjoy the most is the general atmosphere that you can breathe during the celebration of each event. Here you have some of the pictures I took:

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Matsuri
Just married, congratulations!

Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri
Starbucks just outside the exit of the temple in Asakusa.

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

Posts about other Japanese festivals:

Categories
Traditional

Japanese style bath

If you have never taken a bath in a Japanese onsen (public baths) you will find the following videos interesting. The water used in onsens is of volcanic origin and depending on the location of the onsen the water has different proprieties; in general having a bath in an onsen is good for the skin. If you travel to Japan in winter don’t forget to visit an onsen to have a relaxing bath, and don’t forget the onsen etiquette! The onsen shown in the videos is this one.