I heard tehre have been some additions to manhole covers in Fujieda City and I decided to investigate!
If you get down the south exit of Fujieda JR Station you will notice a new one on your right abot 50 meters away on the pavement!
Here it is !
Fujieda City is arguably the City where the first game of football/soccer was played in Japan, hence the soccer ball!
The gentleman is a famous TV talent and the lady a local TV announcer!
The wisteria (fuji/藤 in Japanese) is the emblem flower of Fujieda City which incidentally means “wisteria branch”!
This manhole cover was obviously sponsored by a TV Company!
Here and there you will find this cover representing both Mount Fuji (“Fuji” is being used as pictorial pun as it both means Mount Fuji and wisteria). This kind i getting a bit old and it has become difficult to distinguish the slight differences in color of the two original ones. the bird featured there is the city emblem bird, the “mejiro/Japanese White-eye!
Now if you go to the beautiful Rengeiji Flower Park you will find a new cover ust before the entrance!
Different materials used!
Of course you willfind the same design without he colors and in two different sizes in many locations!
This is a far older type with the Fujieda City logo in the middle!
Another old one with the same central logo!
And still another one with the same logo but in rectangular shape!
And to finish one with a cute mejiro among flowers!
Ashitsuki Shrine lost in the trees in Ashikubo, Shizuoka City!
With the New Year and its festivities approaching, the Japanese are getting ready for their traditional visit of their local Shinto Shrines.
It also turns into a very special time for photographers keen on capturing truly Japanese scenes.
To help the latter here is a simple but sufficient introduction to a fruitful visit of any shrine of any size or importance near your location!
Torii gate
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A very unusual triple torii gate on the way to Atago Shrine in Shizuoka City!
Entering the shrine compounds through one of the “torii”/sacred gates.
Whereas Shinto Shrines and Buddhist temples share quite a few traits in common, such portals are to be found at Shinto Shrines only. Likewise, sake under the form of large casks will be found only at Shinto Shrines while cemeteries are the sole responsibility of Buddhist temples.
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A tiny wooden torii with top curved beam made out of a real tree trunk!
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Torii with a straight top beam at Yaata Shrine, in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!
The torii gate can be made either of wood (generally painted in red), stone, concrete or even metal.
The top beam might be straight or curved.
Sake offerings
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Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City!
Large Shinto shrines will often exhibit the sake casks donated for the New Year by rich worshipers.
Sake/rice wine is considered the drink/nectar of the gods.
Hand washing
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Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City!
The Japanese usually wash their hands at a stone wash basin (although it can also been done with salt, sand, or sake/alcohol) called “chozuya”
A simple way to wash your hands is to scoop some water and run it over your left hand and then your right hand although some shrines will indicate how to do properly.
Sumo
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Suwa Shrine near Yamana lake, Yamanashi prefecture!
Sumo has always been strongly associated with the Shinto religion.
Accordingly, some Shinto shrine will shelter a sumo ring where annual tournaments occur.
Stone lanterns
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Stone lanterns/”ishidoro” of all kinds and sizes can be found at most shrines. The bigger the shrine, the larger the number.
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Monjyu Atago Shrine in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
They are hollow to hold candles (or bulbs) and sport various designs such as simple hollowed moon crescents or moon, or more elaborate carvings featuring clouds, mountains, deer and else.
Animal guardians.
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Closed mouth lion guard at Mishima Taisha Shrine!
You will find all kinds of animal guardians usually in pairs, such as lions, foxes or monkeys and even birds, boars, and what else.
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A closed mout lion guard at Mishima Tasiha Shrine!
The lion guards called “shishi” or “koma-inu” appear under the shape of two statues facing each other, one with its maw closed, the other one with its mouth open.
But you might discover them into other places such as under the eaves of the shrine.
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A rare lion guard mounted by a “oni”/goblin in Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City!
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Ogushi Shrine, Shizuoka City!
Fox guardians/”kitsune” stand at all “inari/Godess of Agriculture” Shrines.
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The other fox at Ogushi Shrine!
Other “animals” encountered at Shinto Shrines.
Although the same can be found in Buddhist temples, they provide plenty of material for photographers:
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Dragons/”tatsu” at Ooi Shrine in Shimada City!
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Elephant-like nightmare eaters/”baku” at Mizu Shrine in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
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Tiger/”tora” in Sengen Shrine, Shizuoka City!
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Phoenix/”hoo” in Okitsuhiko Shrine in Shizuoka City!!
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Dragon horse/”kirin” in Sengen Shrine!
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Carp/”koi” in Sengen Shrine, Shizuoka City, and many, many more such as bulls and cows, horses, even frogs and kites (bird)!
Garlands and paper strips
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Inomiya Shrine in Shizuoka City!
Shinto shrines are typically marked with a “shimenawa”/ rice straw garlands and “shime”/strips of white paper to ward off evil spirits, or placed around trees/objects to indicate the presence of a “kami”God. Made of rice straw or hemp, the rope/garland is called nawa. The pieces of white paper that are cut into strips and hung from these ropes (often hung from ropes on Torii gates as well) are called “shime” or “gohei”.
Worship halls
A full-fledged Shintō shrine is typically a two-part structure:
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Mishima Taisha Shrine!
(1) the Haiden, or oratory, before which worshipers say prayers.
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Ishida Shrine in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!
(2) the Honden, or inner sanctum, the main dwelling of the deity. The Honden is built behind the Haiden.
One also often finds a third structure between the Honden and Haiden called the Heiden (Hall of Offerings), open only to the priests when they are making offerings on behalf of devotees.
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Ishida Shrine in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!
Shinto architecture
Shintō architecture is usually “down to earth,” blending rather than conflicting with the natural setting. Shrines are typically stand-alone complexes, but shrines can often be found within Buddhist temples as well. Shintō roofs are usually peaked, and most everything is painted red (but not always). The presence of a torii (gate), two shishi (lion-dog) guardians, shimenawa (ropes with white paper), and the absence of a cemetery, are all telltale signs of Shintō shrines.
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Ishida Shrine in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!
You can tell whether the deity housed at the shrine is male or female by looking at the roof of the shrine. On some shrines (not all though) you may find horn-like cross boards on the roof. If the ends of the boards are cut so the flat edges face up, then the deity is usually female. However, if the boards are cut so the flat edges face sideways, the deity is usually male.
Praying bells and money offering boxes
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Money offerings box in Shirahige Shimojima Shrine in Shizuoka City!
Worshipers usually first throw coins into the money offering box/”saisen”, clap their hands to call the God’s attention, pull the bell rope and pray before bowing away.
Lucky Charms, Votive Plaques, and Fortune Telling
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Votive plaques at Miho Shrine in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
Shrines offer many diversions to visitors – and if most cases, these diversions involve superstition and magic. Nearly all shrines sell talismans to bring good luck or keep evil away:
“O-mamori”/protective amulets, “O-inori”/paper prayers, “Hamaya”/evil-destroying arrow, “Ema”/votive plaque,”Omikuji”/lucky or unlucky oracle, and more!
Dance platforms
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Noh stage at Okuni Shrine in Mori Machi, Hamamatsu City!
Large Shinto shrine might also include on their grounds platforms of various size and complexity to hold traditional sacred dances called “Kagura” and even Noh theater plays!
I was cycling around Yamato machi in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City when I espied a green column poking out of a cluster of houses and decided to investigate!
That is when I realized it was an old chimney completely overgrown with ivy!
Getting near enough was nigh impossible as it was completely surrounded with no open access to it!
It is positively enormous by Japanese standards and would cost a fortune to pull down.
The company in front seemed to have ceased business.
They must have used an incinerator at their back.
There was some kind of access for a better view with a flight of stairs but it was safely locked!
I tried to walk though the high grass covering the small lane to another side access to what seemed a house or shed.
Unfortunately the gate was safely locked and the whole place overgrown with the trees of an abandoned garden, especially loquat trees!
There is little romantic about Gofuku Street in Shizuoka City!
It just shows you can easily transform any dour place into a destination with some appropriate photos!
You don’t even need a professional camera and whatever paraphernalia.
I took all these pictures with my mobile telephone! It is a Sony Ericsson they don’t make anymore, but I use it for all my blogs, although I do not use the flash!
I was in Gofuku Street, walking aimelssly, at around 7:00 pm, just before dog and wolf as we say in French, but it was particularly dark.
The contrast was naturally accentuated by the lamps focused by the camera.
If you know the whims of your camera, or mobile phone for that matter, I’m sure you can come up with some very interesting shots indeed!
And you don’t need to be a pro!
Cycling gives you the great advantage to be able to stop anywhere and take photographs for posterity!
Yesterday i was cycling along the Warashina River in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City when I found (for the second time actually. I had seen it there too many years ago) when Ifound this plane perched in front of a gasoline station in Tomizawa!
The owner had obviously tried to redecorate it to make it look like a “zero sen”, the famous WWII Japanese fighting plane!
The cockpit may make you think so, but the landing gear is far too modern!
At the very least it has become a useful landmark!
With the rainy season around the corner evening skies are more cloudy than usual and it results into some spectacular sunsets!
The Shichiken Cho area in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is a very interesting location to take pictures of urban sunsets thanks to some retro decorations existing along the streets!
Even simple high rise buildings contribute to a special atmosphere!
My favorite picture just before entering a hidden lair for the first drink of the evening!
In spite of the horrendous yesterday, or in some cases because of it because of the ensuing sudden rise in temperature, the cherry blossoms are practically exploding inside Sumpu Castle Park for the pleasure of photographers and revelers enjoying hanami/flower viewing parties!
The picture of the day!
Which is blooming, the pine tree or the cherry tree!
Sumpu Castle Park offers many possibilities for photographers whether hey want to take only cherry blossoms take them among the many trees and flower beds!
Flowers beds are tendered and renewed all year round!
This might make for a great picture at night!
Mind you, simple photographs are still the best most of the time!
SHIZUOKA TOURISM 