Ermie

Some of my favorite experiences from my Japan trip were my visits to and happenings upon a handful of the many Shinto shrines existing in the city and the country side. We were very fortunate to be allowed to take photographs in one, the Setagaya Hachimangu Shrine, during Satoko's and Alex's traditional Shinto wedding ceremony- an opportunity that is extremely rare.

 

I could not get enough of the beautiful torii, shimenawa, and shide... 

 

The last photograph above is of a shrine located near the ryokan in which we stayed in Kaga City. We were informed by a guide that the tree photographed here is over 2,000 years old!