Tokyo Meiji Jingu Shrine Shichigo san is a traditional rite of passage and festival day held annually on November 17th in Japan for three and seven year-old girls plus three and five year-old boys. Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo, Japan A Japanese mother and child in traditional dress standing below Meiji Jingu Shrine’s second torii. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan A traditional wedding ceremony at the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan A traditional wedding ceremony at the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan The first main Torii at the entrance to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan Empty sake barrels (kazaridaru) displayed along the walking entrance to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Sake has always been a way to bring gods and people together, brewers donate the sake that shrines need for ceremonies and festivals. Some of these sake barrels have been there for up to 50 years. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan Barrels of wine donated by the wineries of Bourgogne in France, to be consecrated at the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan A temizuya is a place for a Shinto ceremonial purification rite known as temizu. The temizuya is usually situated in an open area where clear water fills one or more stone basins. The water filled basins are used by worshipers for washing their left hand, right hand, mouth and the handle of the water ladle, to purify themselves before approaching the main Shinto shrine. Originally, this purification was likely done at a spring or stream and this way is still thought of as ideal. Tokyo, Japan Kengai, small flowered chrysanthemums trained on a boat shaped framework covered with netting. Just one plant with careful training and a year of time, the result is a peacock tail of flowers up to six and a half feet long. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan Kengai, small flowered chrysanthemums trained on a boat shaped framework covered with netting. Just one plant with careful training and a year of time, the result is a peacock tail of flowers up to six and a half feet long. Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan