Sakura & Nobori
A long exposure evening shot of the Niōmon Gate at Gumyoji Temple in Yokohama. The photo captures the stone staircase leading down to the illuminated wooden gate, framed by blooming cherry blossoms. Red nobori flags, blurred in motion, line the stairs, creating a sense of gentle movement against the calm, historic backdrop.
Jokoro Incense Burner
Front view of a large, cauldron-shaped incense burner at the top of the stairs in front of Gumyoji Temple. The burner is dark green with a decorative roof and is adorned with two distinct crests: the gosan-no-kiri, featuring the paulownia plant, and the hidari-mitsudomoe, a triple swirl motif. The background shows the wooden temple entrance, flanked by stairs and draped with colorful banners.
Gumyoji Temple
Founded in 1044, Gumyoji Temple in Yokohama, Japan, remains a vibrant cultural center for the local community.
Jizo Bodhisattva
Just beyond the Niōmon Gate at Gumyoji Temple, I encountered a serene courtyard adorned with small stone statues of the Jizo Bodhisattva. Revered in Buddhism, Jizo is a beloved figure, often depicted as a gentle monk with a staff and a wish-fulfilling jewel.
Niōmon Gate
The Niōmon Gate (仁王門), originally built during the Edo period (1603-1868), stands as a reminder of the rich architectural heritage that is abundant throughout Japan.
Gumyoji Kannon Shotengai
Western entrance to a traditional Japanese covered shopping street (shotengai) lit up at night with shoppers, pedestrians, and commuters. The shotengai is very long and eventually disappears at the far eastern end.
Edo’s Fast Food
Take-out sushi shop specializing in Edomae sushi, which originated in Edo (now Tokyo), which was the fast food of its time, located Gumyoji Shotengai in Yokohama, Japan.
Teal & Red
Yakitori Maichan: A Japanese yakitori restaurant with a vibrant teal storefront and contrasting red signage at the Gumyoji Shotengai shopping arcade in Yokohama, Japan.
Green Tea Shop
A Japanese green tea shop with a traditional wooden exterior dating back to 1945, featuring a wide variety of green tea products on display in front of the shop, higher-end tea products behind glass cases inside, and gift tea products lining the walls.
Bento Shop
A Japanese bento shop on a traditional shotengai shopping street, featuring freshly prepared meals free of artificial coloring and preservatives.