Uploaded June 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Here in Japan, there are small shrines here and there. You can see them in mountains, on seashores, beside rice fields, in residential areas, and even in developed city areas.
Ginza, Tokyo is one of the most luxurious shopping and gourmet districts in the world, but it is not so difficult to find a shrine there once you go down back streets.
Asahi Inari Shrine, one of the 'largest' small shrines in Ginza, settles beside a back street three blocks away from the main street. This Shinto shrine appears as a common small shrine among buildings at a glance, but is a bit different. The shrine you can see at the street is not a main shrine. When a building was built where once the shrine was, the main shrine was moved to the rooftop of the building. They also built the vice-shrine beside the street for people to make it accessible to worship. This is a kind of an urban-type shrine.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 14th, 2012
Here in Japan, there are small shrines here and there. You can see them in mountains, on seashores, beside rice fields, in residential areas, and even in developed city areas.
Ginza, Tokyo is one of the most luxurious shopping and gourmet districts in the world, but it is not so difficult to find a shrine there once you go down back streets.
Asahi Inari Shrine, one of the 'largest' small shrines in Ginza, settles beside a back street three blocks away from the main street. This Shinto shrine appears as a common small shrine among buildings at a glance, but is a bit different. The shrine you can see at the street is not a main shrine. When a building was built where once the shrine was, the main shrine was moved to the rooftop of the building. They also built the vice-shrine beside the street for people to make it accessible to worship. This is a kind of an urban-type shrine.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 14th, 2012
![Kochikame Statues at Kameari, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Kochikame(*) is a long-running popular comedy manga and anime in Japan. The manga has been serialized since 1976 with over 1700 chapters. It is the longest-running manga series in history.
The story is set in Kameari, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. Around Kameari Station, you can find several bronze statues of Kankichi Ryotsu, or Ryo-san, the main character of the story, and a few other supporting characters.
*The formal title of Kochikame is Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo which literally means This is the police box in front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward, but it is usually called by the shortened name.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 24th, 2012 Kochikame Statues at Kameari, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tlOt263hQcc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Small Festival at Local Shopping Street, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
Sometimes you might come across a small festival held at a local shopping street on a weekend if you live in Japan. You can see there stalls serving fast foods and drinks, the shops beside the street selling things at reasonable prices, a flea market where local people are selling things, and some tiny shows presented.
I came across this local festival when I was going to central Tokyo to find something fun for a Sunday afternoon, but I changed my plan and ended up enjoying the festival.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 27th, 2012 Small Festival at Local Shopping Street, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uYQ13OICYhw/mqdefault.jpg)
![Rainbow Colored Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
If you would like a great view of the Rainbow Bridge during winter, visit Harumi Pier at dusk. Around the winter solstice, you can watch the sun setting on right side of the bridge across the Tokyo Bay from east to west.
The bridge, connecting central Tokyo and the massive artificial island Odaiba, is illuminated in rainbow colors in December and the first few days of new year. It is literally the Rainbow Bridge.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Dec. 12th, 2012 Rainbow Colored Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u_WttwErMrs/mqdefault.jpg)

![Onsen Theme Park, or Hot Spring Theme Park, in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari, located in Odaiba, Tokyos waterfront entertainment area, is an onsen theme park, or a hot spring theme park, with various baths using natural hot spring water pumped from 1,400 meters below ground. The theme park houses not only baths, but also restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and an accommodation facility. You can relax your body there after you fully enjoyed the area.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 2nd, 2012 Onsen Theme Park, or Hot Spring Theme Park, in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vXtYI48fPVw/mqdefault.jpg)
![Stroll Around My Place #2 [iPhone 4S / Honda RoadMovies]
The car company Honda often provides cool iPhone apps that you can enjoy even if you dont have a car. This movie was made with Honda RoadMovies, their brand new work.
http://www.honda.co.jp/internavi-dots/roadmovies/
- Shot with an iPhone 4S on Nov. 21st, 2012 Stroll Around My Place #2 [iPhone 4S / Honda RoadMovies]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vwB9N3-rcuA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Adorable Dog Growling Quietly [iPhone 4S/HD]
I came across these adorable dogs while strolling around my neighborhood. I was trying to play the staring game with one of them, but he kept growling at me quietly without barking. I realized he was seriously preparing to pounce on me, quit shooting the video, and got away. :P
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 7th, 2012 Adorable Dog Growling Quietly [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w-EnXpDD_T0/mqdefault.jpg)

![Yabusame at Meiji Shrine, Tokyo ~Japanese Mounted Archery~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Yabusame, or traditional Japanese mounted archery, is the ritual dating back to 9th century. It is performed to entertain the gods. An archer dressed in a noble costume rides a horse and shoots three arrows successively at three targets. Even today, you can see Yabusame at many places.
Also at Meiji Shrine, the shrine surrounded by 170 thousand trees in central Tokyo, Yabusame ceremony is held as an act of the shrines annual festival. This year again, the archers wowed not only the gods but also the crowd with their brilliant skills.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Nov. 3rd, 2012 Yabusame at Meiji Shrine, Tokyo ~Japanese Mounted Archery~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wHykCupvWa0/mqdefault.jpg)

![First Snow in Tokyo Area, 2013 [iPhone 4S/HD]
Japan has a variety of climates. The areas of the mainland along the Sea of Japan are known as one of the snowiest regions on earth. On the other hand, it is, in the areas of the Pacific Ocean side of the island, usually so dry in winter that you dont often see snow. Many of cities in the areas, including Tokyo and several other large cities, are vulnerable to snow. The Japan Meteorological Agency announces that it is a heavy snowfall when the snow reaches 5 cm in central Tokyo.
We had our first snow of this winter in Tokyo area on January 14th. It was a heavy snowfall. While kids and dogs went outside and played delightedly, public transportation and cats stopped their activity. It was a national holiday as Coming-of-Age Day and not so many commuters were affected. However, a large number of new adults were deprived of their transportation to Coming-of-Age event.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jan. 14th, 2013 First Snow in Tokyo Area, 2013 [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wg8l836ObfA/mqdefault.jpg)