Happy New Year! Tokyo Edition

Asakusa Shrine: One of the most famous shrines in Japan:


As you can see, even statues get cold in the harsh Japanese winter:



At Asakusa Shrine, we got our fortunes for the New Year. I got a bad fortune. I was pissed! (Click on the fortune to enlarge)


If you have a bad fortune you are supposed to tie it to this wire to get rid of it, but the memory stayed with me! That fortune was some cold shit!

Pigeon in Japan!


"I don't go into your house and steal your Hello Kitty backpack."

New Year's!

On January 2nd, the Emperor makes an appearance on the Palace Grounds. It was really cool, although all of Japan turned out for it. It was so crowded! He only does these appearences twice a year though, on his birthday and on New Year's. It was awesome! We were given Japanese flags and got to shout "Nihon! Nihon!" (Japanese for Japan) when the Imperial family came out. Notice in the pics how everyone is waving their flags, and then there isn't a flag to be seen in the next one? Once old man Winter started talking, you could hear a pin drop. You don't mess around with an Emperor!

The Palace Grounds and massive crowds:




Emperor!


Funny sign:


Tokyo Tower:

The line was too long to go up Tokyo Tower, so this was our alternative. Just as good, I think! (Maybe not)

Cool shrine across from the Tower:


A monk getting rid of stuff for the New Year. I think these are wood signs you can write your wishes on, but I'm not sure.

Me ringing a bell for good luck. As you can see, my bad fortune from the other shrine really affected me!


So, I'll bet you thought my vacation could not ever possibly top the cowboy dog from Yokohama. I am sure for most people, in most cities, that would be the pinnacle of their vacation. I thought so too...I was wrong. Cowboy Dog was all but vanquished from my mind when I went to this shrine and saw....Chinese Performing Monkey:




Its not often one gets the happiest moment of their life captured on film, but I'm just lucky that way.