Japan 2019

Wednesday27November

Last day in the Japanese capital, and we can also say the last day of the trip because tomorrow, we will fly back to France. For this third day in Tokyo, rainy as usual, we head to our last cultural visit, the Asakusa shrine.

As we approach the shrine, the Skytree seems to struggle not to disappear behind the thick layer of clouds.

Rain or shine, visiting a shrine is always better with a traditional kimono.  

Here we are in front of the Hōzōmon gate, within the grounds of the Buddhist shrine dedicated to the goddess Kannon, one of the rare female deities in the Buddhist religion.

Sensō-ji Temple, the oldest in the capital, is also one of Tokyo's most visited sites. Nearly 2 million curious visitors pass through the shrine's gates every year.

Three enormous paper lanterns or chōchin are suspended under the Hōzōmon gate.

After the excessively large lanterns, here is a giant waraji, the traditional straw sandal.

Just to the left, a five-story pagoda.

The censer to purify the place and the worshipers who approach it.

The main temple also adorned with a giant chōchin.

The Skytree fights relentlessly against the clouds but seems to be losing the battle!  

Inside the temple with its vermilion red columns and fresco-covered ceilings.

A dragon holding a sphere between its five claws. The dragon is celebrated during a big festival every March 18 and October 8 right here, where dancers manipulate a large 15-meter dragon above their heads.

The treasure room.

As often, temples mix religions. Here, a Shinto chōzubachi fountain with all the protocol to follow for a perfect purification.

Some Buddhas to venerate...

And also some lemon trees...

Jizô Buddhas with their yodarekake bibs dedicated to infants.

Let's leave the emblematic sanctuaries of Asia to join, 15 minutes by metro, in Ueno Park, a Western interlude, with the National Museum of Western Art. We will not enter the museum, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its architect Le Corbusier, but will enjoy its exteriors with another Frenchman honored: Rodin, with here the ninth original edition of The Burghers of Calais. There are 12 of them around the world, all cast from the original mold.

Three of the characters from The Burghers of Calais: Jean d'Aire, Eustache de Saint Pierre, and Pierre de Wissant.

"Eustache de Saint Pierre is the best known of the six Burghers of Calais who went, 'in shirts and with ropes around their necks,' to King Edward III of England to implore mercy for the inhabitants of Calais in August 1347, and to whom, according to the chronicler Jean Froissart, the king granted mercy at the request of his wife, Philippa of Hainaut." © Wikipedia

And here is the most famous of Rodin's productions with "The Thinker". The museum possesses about fifty of the artist's works.  

Time flies and it is time to spend the last Yen we have left in our pockets! This stop in this small arcade in the Ameyayokocho district will do just the trick. The last coins will go into these two capsule machines which will give me two surprises that will only be revealed once back in France.  

Our loop around Japan will soon close. And this will be done by reaching Osaka from where our plane will take off tomorrow morning. For this last trip, we will enjoy one of the country's must-sees: its high-speed train, the streamlined and futuristic Shinkansen! Its first commercialization dates back to 1964, the year of the Tokyo Olympics, and very quickly the success of the Japanese bullet train was confirmed thanks to its punctuality and its more than impressive safety. Until this year 2019, the Shinkansen has known no accidents (except in October 2004 but due to an earthquake)!  

Inside the Shinkansen. The train will run for 2.5 hours on the 500 kilometers of rails separating Tokyo from Osaka.

Last hotel of the trip in the Shin-Osaka station district!  

Thursday28November

Early rise to join the train that will take us to Kansai Airport, and after the slender Shinkansen, it is the no less original "Hello Kitty" train that welcomes us!  

And so Hello Kitty accompanies us on the last kilometers of our Japanese journey started thirty days ago! Phew, so many memories will jostle in my head for many weeks to come. So many images that will surely make me come back one day! See you soon Japan!