Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Sunshine City

Sunshine City is a huge commercial complex in Ikebukuro.





This place is so huge that they have moving walkways





We finally met Ultraman







Ikebukuro

Ikebukuro is an entertainment, shopping and food centre.









Train back to Tokyo

We then took the direct train back to Tokyo





Taiyuin Byo Shrine

This shrine was completed in 1653. It is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu (1603-1651) the grandson of Ieyasu. This powerful Shogun managed to close Japan's trade with foreign countries and isolated Japan from the world for over 200 hundred years







Niomon Gate
Guarded by two Nio Gods



Granite Fountain



The Bell Tower



There are also many steps to climb here



Yashamon Gate





Karamon Gate



Crimson lions guard the inner shrine





Kokamon Gate
(Ming Dynasty style) 
which leads to the Iemitsu's Tomb is closed to the public


Monday, September 8, 2014

Ieyasu's Tomb

Ieyasu (1543-1616) founded  the Tokugawa Shogunate which ruled Japan for 250 years.



There is a long walk further up the hill to the tomb



The many steps to the top





Another  Torii



Inukimon Gate



Ieyasu's Tomb


Within Toshogu Shrine

It was an upward climb as the shrine sits on the hill.




There  are two supposedly sculptures of elephants on the gable. The artist did not see a real elephant in his life and thus sculpted an elephant from his own imagination.



The Karadou Torii
 (6 m high)
The first bronze torii in Japan



The Sacred Fountain





The Rinzo
Buddhists scriptures are kept here



The Korean Bell
Presented by the Koreans to celebrate Ieyasu's son birthday



The Drum 








Unfortunately, we couldn't see the Yomeimon Gate as it was closed for repairs




The Karamon Gate
It is a national treasure of Japan



The Sleeping Cat












The Drum Tower