I went to a ballet performance at my church and then headed over to watch the Tokyo Bay Fireworks display, but I just didn't have any luck sitting in places where I had a good view. Gave up pretty early on my hopes of getting good photos at both events. :)
Took only one picture of the ballet. I had to stand up to get this one, and there were still plenty of heads in the way...
After the ballet finished I made my way over towards the bay, proud of myself for getting there early enough that I could get a decent spot to sit. Go right ahead and have a seat here, they said. I took a seat among a huge crowd of people.
But what they didn't say was that for most of us the fireworks would be obscured by a building. As soon as things got started I discovered that I could either get up and move, or resign myself to just listening to the booms.
While searching for another place to watch from, I snuck in a few very quick shots of the fireworks exploding over Tokyo Bay...but had to do it in a hurry because there were police officers and security guards everywhere telling us to move on whenever we stopped walking.
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| A few of the lucky ones who found seats in a place where the fireworks were visible... |
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| Snapped this one as a police officer was yelling at me to keep moving... Needless to say this was pretty much the best I could do for the night |
I never found a place to sit. Ended up standing to watch what little I could see over the top of a tree and through some railings, then decided to head back to the train station about 30 minutes before the end. At least I didn't have to squeeze onto a crowded train on the way home, right?
At the end of the day, I decided to console myself over my failed efforts at fun by indulging in a watermelon granita. Worth. It.
But that was yesterday. (Technically the day before yesterday, since it's already after midnight.) Today was a whole lot more fun, and I've got a whole lot more pictures to show for it.
It was the annual local neighborhood summer festival, and in the six summers I've lived in this neighborhood, this is the most I've ever experienced of it. My friend Chi-chan came over and we each got gussied up in our own yukata (light cotton kimono) before heading out to the festival, just in time to watch a group of participants carry the mikoshi (portable shrine which in Shinto religion functions as a vehicle for a god) through our main shopping street.
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| Participants carrying the mikoshi |
As you can probably tell, they really pack the people in for these things.
Once we'd seen a bit, and after we'd picked up two of Chi-chan's friends, we walked over to the local shrine to get something to eat from the yatai (food stalls) set up for the occasion.
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| Chi-chan (right) and a friend |
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| Kana-chan (another friend) adding syrup to her shaved ice |
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| Food stalls, with the shrine in the background |
We stayed there for a while, mostly because it was HOT today and we could stand in the shade and enjoy the breeze here. I enjoyed some jaga-batta (steamed potatoes with butter), my personal favorite at festivals. We took turns taking strolls around the shrine grounds.
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| Grillin' up some ika (squid) |
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| In case you need a quick disguise |
Heading back towards the shopping street, we watched a second round of neighborhood folks carry mikoshi. We followed the group as they wound their way through the streets...and all the way back to the shrine again.
Everybody was hot and sweaty by this point. I don't know how the celebrants survived the weight of the mikoshi and the constant shouting in addition to the heat and humidity...
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| Tatami mats ready and waiting with well-earned refreshments for the when the participants finish carrying the mikoshi |
We decided to wrap things up and head to a local bar. But first, I had to have my own shaved ice.
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| I chose mango and lemon flavors. Best 200 yen I spent all day. |
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| Enjoying some snacks and cold drinks. I dressed myself this time! It took a couple rounds of practice, though... |
And now, for the grand finale...I'm going to attempt to upload a video. There's just no other way to give a better sense of the festival atmosphere.
And now, bed time. :)
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