![Tatara Festival 2012, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD] @ohayuni71](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AdggFCriNWM/sddefault.jpg)
Uploaded August 2012 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
Tatara Festival, the largest annual festival in Kawaguchi City, my hometown, takes place at Kawaguchi Motorcycle Race Circuit every first weekend of August. The name of the festival originates from 'tatara', the traditional Japanese furnace, since the city was once known as the center of casting industry. The industry has been declining for these several decades and the city is now serving as one of bedroom suburbs of Tokyo, but this festival name reminds its citizens of what the city was like.
A lot of performances and events are held in the festival including mikoshi or portable shrines, fireworks and exhibitions relating to the indigenous industry. Numerous people fully enjoy them in the middle of summer every year.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 5th, 2012
Tatara Festival, the largest annual festival in Kawaguchi City, my hometown, takes place at Kawaguchi Motorcycle Race Circuit every first weekend of August. The name of the festival originates from 'tatara', the traditional Japanese furnace, since the city was once known as the center of casting industry. The industry has been declining for these several decades and the city is now serving as one of bedroom suburbs of Tokyo, but this festival name reminds its citizens of what the city was like.
A lot of performances and events are held in the festival including mikoshi or portable shrines, fireworks and exhibitions relating to the indigenous industry. Numerous people fully enjoy them in the middle of summer every year.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 5th, 2012
![Tatara Festival 2012, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AdggFCriNWM/mqdefault.jpg "Tatara Festival 2012, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
Tatara Festival, the largest annual festival in Kawaguchi City, my hometown, takes place at Kawaguchi Motorcycle Race Circuit every first weekend of August. The name of the festival originates from tatara, the traditional Japanese furnace, since the city was once known as the center of casting industry. The industry has been declining for these several decades and the city is now serving as one of bedroom suburbs of Tokyo, but this festival name reminds its citizens of what the city was like.
A lot of performances and events are held in the festival including mikoshi or portable shrines, fireworks and exhibitions relating to the indigenous industry. Numerous people fully enjoy them in the middle of summer every year.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 5th, 2012")
![Sumo Wrestlers Getting on a Packed Train in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AwZQTE8PRIo/mqdefault.jpg "Sumo Wrestlers Getting on a Packed Train in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
You may occasionally see sumo wrestlers in a city during your stay in Japan. If you visit a district where a lot of sumo stables are, you can often see them strolling around.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 23rd, 2012")
![Manneken Pis at Hamamatsucho Station, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/COcK2KD0jeU/mqdefault.jpg "Manneken Pis at Hamamatsucho Station, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
There is a statue of Manneken Pis at the platform of Hamamatsucho Station, Tokyo. The first ceramic statue was donated in 1952 in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Japans first railway opening. Three years later, when the platform was renovated, the bronze statue you can now see was donated by the same person.
The statue was initially naked, but nowadays you can see it dressed up in different costumes every month. It is said that a girl put a woolen hat on its head on a cold winter day, and that this was the origin of the custom to dress up the statue of a boy.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 26th, 2012")
![Zoshigaya Kishibojin ~A Quiet Temple in Tokyo~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DOxIFaYGHb8/mqdefault.jpg "Zoshigaya Kishibojin ~A Quiet Temple in Tokyo~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo? It would be a good idea to visit a Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine for relaxing your mind.
There are thousands of temples and shrines in the giant metropolis. Zoshigaya Kishibojin, one of them, is close to Ikebukuro area. You can feel the quiet atmosphere at the worship place located only 1 km away from the crowded town.
The surrounding old residential area is also calm. Strolling around there, you could feel nostalgic even if you had never lived there.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 7th, 2012")
![Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EjyIcqyku2k/mqdefault.jpg "Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Due to the rise of major supermarket chains and large shopping mall chains, local shopping streets have been declining for these several decades all over Japan. However, there are still many shopping streets supporting local peoples usual life. Many of them are shopping arcades. Without having to worry about getting wet even on a rainy day, you can get ingredients for dinner, articles for daily use or something else there at reasonable prices.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 5th, 2012")
![The Bell of New Years Eve in Japan (Joya no Kane) [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FGT574gp97A/mqdefault.jpg "The Bell of New Years Eve in Japan (Joya no Kane) [iPhone 4S/HD]
It is said in Japanese Buddhism that human beings have 108 vices. To sever the ties of them, in Japan, temple bells are tolled 108 times at midnight on New Years Eve. It is called joya no kane, which literally means the bell of New Years Eve. Although bells are basically tolled by monks, some temples allow common people to toll the bell by spells. In that case, the bell rings more than 108 times to make it possible for more people to join the event.
Shakujoji Temple, located in my city Kawaguchi, also holds a joya no kane event every year. Numerous people gather there on the last night of the year, to purify their spirits of evil thought and to pray for the coming year.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S from Dec. 31st, 2012 to Jan. 1st, 2013")
![Tokyo Sunset ~The View from Tokyo Station~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FmDroE-9HE4/mqdefault.jpg "Tokyo Sunset ~The View from Tokyo Station~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Standing in front of Marunouchi Central Exit, Tokyo Station, you can see a wide street leading straight to the Imperial Palace located in the west of the station. There, you can watch the sunset over the palace at the end of the street in sunny evenings.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 14th, 2012")
