Sunday 7 September 2014

Summer 2014 in Japan: Yoyogi Park & Meiji Shrine

Greetings~!



Finally, catching up with blogging about Japan again. Past weeks have been about charging up, reading all the books I've procrastinating on and feeding my obsession for instagram LOL

Just a month ago I was in Japan and I'm missing being there already!

It was summer, so the perfect time for enjoying the sight of blooming hydrangaes. I love these cute pompom flowers! Initially, I wanted to visit Hakusan Jinja which is famed for accommodating thousands of hydrangaes bushes but my already-cramped schedule wouldn't allow it..

Still, I didn't know you can find them in Yoyogi Park as much as they're a regular sight in Japan. Not as many but still take lotsa photos hahaha



More hydrangaes~~



This one was taken with my Samsung S5, can you believe how clear is it?! *Impressed*



Went to Yoyogi really early in the morning and had my simple breakie there which I bought from Lawson.



Largest dorayaki I've ever had and had to skip lunch afterwards because I was so full WTH



Cream bun which is equally as fluffy and sweet as the dorayaki. This is the first time I'm glad I actually had bitter coffee to go with the buns ( =a= ;)あますぎる!



After a short stroll around Yoyogi, I headed to Meiji Shrine, my now favorite place in Tokyo! I don't know how to put it in words but it gives me a feeling of tranquility which I appreciate.



The torii gate leading to the shrine, so huge!



Then barrels of sakes lined together on the way towards the shrine.




Went to pray and then explore the shrine area. At one corner, dozens of ema boards a.k.a. wishing boards decorates the booth. I bought one too for 500yen besides an omamori from the nearby booth.



Someone's got a very bold wish. Saw that and I was like, "Ohkayyy...".


When I showed my omamori to my colleague, she displayed her own collection kept inside her handbag. Apparently she collects LOTS of them. I read about omamori online so I was really curious and asked "Wouldn't the deities fight among themselves??" and my friends went huh? ( =.=;) Not sure if its just me reading too much..

My first omamori~



Witness this wedding procession in the shrine area and the groom's a gaijin! Silently pray they have a blissful marriage and at the same time wishing the same would happen for the couple whose been very welcoming as to let me stay with them when I was in Japan (Ov≤)-☆



Just before I left, I went to check out Kiyomisa Well, one of Tokyo's "power spot". There's a history behind the well and the shrine, for that check Google. I'm too lazy to narrate them here.

This is Kiyomisa well~ The water's amazingly crystal clear and when I showed my sis she initially thought it was a dried up well ( =v=; ) Touched it and refreshingly cold!

I sort of believe the whole wish-granting power thingy and have the photos as the wallpaper on my phone hahaha




A teahouse along the journey.



By the time I left, I've have bags of omiyages from teas to keychains and Hello Kitty dolls (=v=)v

Summer in Japan: Hello Kitty Omiyage

Oh, and the drip coffee's from Nagoya. I found a shop which sells coffee beans and lotsa coffee brands. Coffee haven indeed!!

Those small kimono print containers contain green tea and they've got a really distinctive taste to it (O▽O)b

Summer in Japan: Omiyage

The little pink packets are sakura tea. Yes, SAKURA TEA!!

Didn't need to think twice to add them into my shopping basket LOL. The prettiest tea I've ever seen! Other photos are on my Instagram here and here.


Summer in Japan: Sakura Tea

Since we're on the topic of omiyage, just sharing the rest I've got the entire trip from Japan~

Summer in Japan: Omiyage

Summer in Japan: Omiyage

Summer in Japan: Omiyage


That's all for now~!

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