There are temples and shrines all over the place in Tokyo, and yet as a whole, the Japanese really aren’t all that religious. Superstitious, on the other hand, may well be a different story, but pious? Probably not.
Come New Year’s Day, however, an absolutely massive number of people head to one of these many places of worship and rather refreshingly eat, drink, have a really good time, and even pray for something they could do with in the coming year: money maybe, or a decent score in a dreaded exam.
But for some, less of a scene and much more silence is what’s called for, and fortunately for this fella, he found such a place.
tamh says
WOW, that sight looks even ghostly.
Nevertheless, that guy’s lucky. From what I have seen in TV shows and the sort, almost all shrines in “some” parts of Tokyo were bursting with people.
Lee says
Yeah, the big, and especially famous ones are busy beyond belief, but some local places are pretty quiet.
BryT says
Excellent. Very very peaceful. It’d be almost timeless it it weren’t for his clothes.
Lee says
Thanks. Yes, it was. There were a couple of other people on their way there, but it was lovely and quiet.
Jab says
Great pic.
But superstition and religion are one in the same.
Lee says
Cheers Jab. And yes, that’s a very good point.
The Envoy says
Such places are like oases in the bustling, never-sleeping modern world, regardless of ones beliefs.