Thank you for choosing our tour at Asakusa and Ueno Park on Jan.8th, 2025. We welcomed 9guests from USA and Russia for Asakusa morning tour , 6guests from USA and Italy for Ueno Park afternoon tour. I hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had.
To celebrate New Year, we see many special decorations. Each of them have special meanings.
Kadomatsu -pine tree arrangement- stands in front of houses and shops. Kadomatsu welcomes New Years deities who bring happiness. Matsu -pine trees- are especially believed as an auspicious and sacred tree that deities reside. Bamboo symbolizes strength and growth.
Here you see another New Years decoration called Kagami-mochi. Kagami means mirror. Mirror is believed to ward off evils. Mochi is sticky rice cake. It is a round mochi offered to deities for good fortune and health. In this picture, this mochi is decorated with many lucky items. Fan on the top means prosperity in the future because the fan spreads out. Then you see an orange. Golden Orange color symbolizes wealth. Shrimp refers to longevity because they look like old people with their back bent. Then you see Black seaweed, Konbu in Japanese. People say they have similar sound with YoroKobu that means Joy and happiness in Japanese.
Tokyo Free Walking Tour wishes you a Happy New Year 2025!!
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(posted by Sakamoto)