(UPDATE: Check out the photos and videos of MITAMA MATSURI 2010 too if you like this post)
I went to the Mitama Matsuri (Soul Festival) at the Yasukuni Shrine yesterday. It is a festival that honours the dead.
My initial plan was to go to the Toro-nagashi (floating of lighted lanterns on the water) in the palace moat at Chidorigafuchi Park nearby.
Alas, I wasn't able to catch the latter, although I have to say that the Mitama Matsuri was definitely impressive.
This is the haunted house attraction at the festival. Hear the sounds of people screaming?
And then I made my way past the stalls and watched a drum performance.
As you can see, it was a pretty large festival, lots of stalls, people, and dazzling colours. I was excited to see so many in yukata too. (I am a fan of its aesthetics!)
Near the main shrine building, children performances were held. Lots of cries of "Kawaaaaaaii!" among the women audiences. I wanted to do the same but I am fearful that it would sound too pedo-ish.
The many lanterns in the festival bear letters written by many well-known people.
I was walking about the area around the main building when I suddenly heard the rumbling sounds of taiko.
Navigating my way through the sea of people, and as you can see, many were in pretty yukata, I went to check it out.
I left the shrine after that, wanting to head towards the Toro-nagashi as I've mentioned at the beginning of this post.
It was a pity I didn't catch that, the sight of lighted lanterns floating about a moat had always been something I wanted to see for myself.
Yet the Mitama Matsuri in Yasukuni, with its splendour, was worth the trip.
Before I left, I caught the Bon Odori at the festival on video. Pretty magnificent.
(UPDATE: Don't forget to check out the photos and videos of MITAMA MATSURI 2010 if you like this)
I went to the Mitama Matsuri (Soul Festival) at the Yasukuni Shrine yesterday. It is a festival that honours the dead.
My initial plan was to go to the Toro-nagashi (floating of lighted lanterns on the water) in the palace moat at Chidorigafuchi Park nearby.
Alas, I wasn't able to catch the latter, although I have to say that the Mitama Matsuri was definitely impressive.
This is the haunted house attraction at the festival. Hear the sounds of people screaming?
And then I made my way past the stalls and watched a drum performance.
As you can see, it was a pretty large festival, lots of stalls, people, and dazzling colours. I was excited to see so many in yukata too. (I am a fan of its aesthetics!)
Near the main shrine building, children performances were held. Lots of cries of "Kawaaaaaaii!" among the women audiences. I wanted to do the same but I am fearful that it would sound too pedo-ish.
The many lanterns in the festival bear letters written by many well-known people.
I was walking about the area around the main building when I suddenly heard the rumbling sounds of taiko.
Navigating my way through the sea of people, and as you can see, many were in pretty yukata, I went to check it out.
I left the shrine after that, wanting to head towards the Toro-nagashi as I've mentioned at the beginning of this post.
It was a pity I didn't catch that, the sight of lighted lanterns floating about a moat had always been something I wanted to see for myself.
Yet the Mitama Matsuri in Yasukuni, with its splendour, was worth the trip.
Before I left, I caught the Bon Odori at the festival on video. Pretty magnificent.
(UPDATE: Don't forget to check out the photos and videos of MITAMA MATSURI 2010 if you like this)
