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Saturday, January 28, 2006

Tokyo- Meji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku - Day One

Woke up later than planned today. had intended to wake at 8.30am but ended up waking at 9.30am coz i forgot japan is one hour ahead of Singapore. by the time i got sorted out what i needed to do today, i was 1 hour behind schedule that i planned.

Hopped over to Roppongi for breafast at this place called Garbagnati next to hyatt. (@Metro Hat/ Hollywood Plaza B2F) Had this ciocolat bread and was really yummy! Decided to cut the time and took the cab to Meiji Shrine instead of the train. The boarding fee was 660yen (100yen =S$1.5) and cost about 1300yen to reach destination and luckily it was near the hotel coz each time the cab fee flapped, u can get a mini heart attack:) Was prob too tired last nite to notice when i board the taxi from Tokyo station coming from the airport.

Tokyo's Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji. In the Meiji period, Shinto was made Japan's state religion. Shinto priests became state officials, important shrines started to received governmental funding, Japan's creation myths were used to foster an emperor cult, and efforts were made to separate and emancipate Shinto from Buddhism. After WWII, Shinto and the state were separated.

The walk to Meiji shrine was gravel covered and i like the nice cool weather.

Shinto shrines are places of worship and the dwellings of the Kami, the Shinto "gods". Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the innermost chamber of the shrine where they cannot be seen by anybody.

The sign on the left was talkin about he wooden "gate" entrance into the shrine area known as Torii. One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine. In this case, Meji has 2 before i hot the main building. They come in various colors and are made of various materials. Most torii, however are made of wood. The torii at Meji had golden crysa' crest at the top. Quite pretty.

Along the way, visitors will also see the stacked up sake containers. Unfortunately my Jap language isnt that great to translate but i suppose it is used as part of their ritual offerings? I didnt check it out but i took a pix of the sign description so anyone is welcome to translate and leave a message for me. :)

Before entering the shrine, visitors can "purify" themselves with the water. Found near the entrance, the water of these fountains is used for purification. You are supposed to clean your hands and mouth before approaching the main hall. What you do is you rinse your left hand then your right, an scoop water into your palm and rinse your mouth. Disgustingly, a lot of Hk and Chinese visitors rinse their mouth using the dipper! (despite the instructions on the wall). Guess some people just dun read signs...

Am still quite lucky today coz the weather is relatively mild to me. Only need my shirt and jumper over. Brought too much warm gear to Japan now i think..am only using the lighter ones but i think i will need my heavy duty on in Nikko...

Anycase back to Meji Shrine. Was vey lucky coz i caught a wedding procession! The groom is quite cute really:)













Depending on the shrine's architecture style, the main hall (honden) and offering hall (haiden) are two separate buildings or combined into one building. The main hall's innermost chamber contains the shrine's sacred object, while visitors make their prayers and offerings at the offering hall.

At the offering hall, throw a coin into the offering box, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray for a few seconds. If there is some type of gong, use it before praying in order to get the kami's attention. In Meji shrine it differs a little. I didnt see any gong just offering box. The box isnt like those you see in SIngapore local temples. The wooden tray with gaps you see in the picture are the ones that people throw their coins into.


While i appreciate the culture and their deeply rooted belief, I didnt pray to any gods though i abide by some of the rituals like the water purification ritual despite the freezing water! For one, I'm not into spiritual gods though i love to read about the stories, believing in one is another. Secondly, I'm Chinese. The last thing I would do is to bow to any enshrined past Japanese Emperors. Not that i hold it against the current Japanses, but my history textbook isnt whitewashed and so its hard to bow to a country's reigning sovereign dead or alive, esp when the war criminals are still being enshrined and respected by the current govtment and the history textbook refuses to come out to the open about their past. While I may love Japan for its rich culture food and all, I didnt forget WWII and the thousands who died trying to protect or while living in Singapore. Which is the same reason why i avoided the controversial shrine that houses the War Criminals.

Shrine visitors write their wishes on these wooden plates and then leave them at the shrine in the hope that their wishes come true. Most people wish for good health, success in business, passing entrance exams, love or wealth. The wooden plates are called Ema.

Then Headed off to Shibuya area and before I left, the harajuku kids were out! All dressed up! Now the full force prob due to winters but check them out!!!!

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