Yushima Tenmangu Shrine

11月1日から11月23日まで、菊まつりが開催されています。

合格祈願でしょうか、三が日すぎて成人の日の三連休になってもまだすごい人出でした。

梅まつりの時にいってみました。ちょうど受験シーズンとも重なり、かなりの人出。学業成就の神様は、現代も地元に根付いているようです。

夏越の払い、毎年開催されてます。

Don't forget your tripod. The flood lights are too bright for getting the natural colors, yet the grounds are too dark to take with just your hands.

This shrine has many ume plum trees planted in its small garden. February and early March it is a popular place to see the plum blossoms and small food stalls are set up for the plum festival. Ochanomizu and Ueno are just a 10-15 minute walk away.

This shrine which seems to be called Yushima Tenjin in the guidebooks seems to attract busloads of wonderfully behaved Japanese students who come here to pray for success in their entrance exams. It's worth a visit if you are in the Ueno neighborhood. There are two statues of bulls to commemorate the god of wisdom. Be sure to touch the head of one of the bulls and then your own to increase your wisdom. I walked to it from the Ueno-hirokoji stop on the Ginza line, but it's closer to the Yushima stop on the Chiyoda line.

I visited last February 16 (year 2013) to see the Plum Blossoms.Before going,I researched it through the internet just to find out how to get there,and how big the place is.The place is just a 3-5 minute walk from the subway station (in my case,I got off at Yushima station,Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line).It is also a few meters away from Ochanomizu and Ueno station. It was not as big as I thought but it was enough for me to take some pictures and for sightseeing. The place is for free so no need to prepare for some entrance fees. Yushima Tenjin is famous because a lot of students go there to offer their prayers for passing their examinations (entrance examinations,etc..) especially in the months of February and March (which is the end of academic year here in Japan). Anyone can write their wishes/prayers in a wooden plate called "ema" in Japanese.Unfortunately,it's not for free.You can buy them at 800yen (which is quite expensive).Upon paying the 800yen,they will give you the "ema" and the pen that you'll use in writing (take note that after using the pen,it should be returned on the table where you wrote).The wooden plates are attached with each other (imagine a chain,each of them tied) . There are lot of food stands inside (Yakisoba,green teas,osenbe,chopsticks,"omamori" or lucky charms,etc..) that can be found. Occassionaly,you can see wedding ceremony in the temple (there was,when I was there,LUCKY! ) so you can take pictures as much as you want.Don't worry because unlike other temples where taking pictures of some stuffs are prohibited, you can take as much as you want in Yushima Tenjin. Plum Blossoms were awesome although I think there were only few types of "Ume' or Plum that I saw. Despite that,it was enough for me to take good shots of the plum blossoms...

This shrine which seems to be called Yushima Tenjin in the guidebooks seems to attract busloads of wonderfully behaved Japanese students who come here to pray for success in their entrance exams. It's worth a visit if you are in the Ueno neighborhood. There are two statues of bulls to commemorate the god of wisdom. Be sure to touch the head of one of the bulls and then your own to increase your wisdom. I walked to it from the Ueno-hirokoji stop on the Ginza line, but it's closer to the Yushima stop on the Chiyoda line.

A popular temple for prayin good notes and entrance examination acceptance