"Happy New Year! Meiji Shrine - January 1st, 2010"

I've often visited Meiji Shrine at New Year's, but I've always gone either in the middle of the night on 12/31-1/1 or early in the day on 1/1, 1/2, or 1/3 - this is the fist time I've visited there in the late afternoon of the first. It turned out to be a good time to visit - watching the evening sky while waiting in line, etc.

"Food Area Near Meiji Shrine - January 1st, 2010" (100101-1559)

Walking around part of the food area near Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day, 2010. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 3:59 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Crowd Walking Along Gravel Path" (100101-1611)

Part of the ritual of visiting Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day is crunching through the gravel on the long path that leads to the center of the complex. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 4:11 p.m.)

"Meiji Shine - Sea of People on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1626)

Looking ahead and behind from the middle of a sea of people on their way to visit Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day. This level of people could be a problem, but the police did a very good job of crowd control and (aside from a few bipeds who rudely pushed their way through the crowd), everyone was calm and polite and it was a pleasant experience visiting the shine. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 4:26 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine New Year's Crowd Moving Toward 3rd Torii Gate" (100101-1656)

The crowd begins moving towards the third torii gate, near the middle of the Meiji Shine complex. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 4:56 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Announcements Near Inside Torii Gate" (100101-1702)

Near to the inner courtyard of Meiji Shrine - listening to announcements while waiting for the crowd control police to let another batch of people through. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:02 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Entering Center Courtyard on New Year's Day " (100101-1710)

The crowd begins moving towards the gate that leads into the central courtyard of Meiji Shrine! Looking back, the police have formed a new line (with a rope) to keep the next group of people waiting while my group moves forward. Entering the inner courtyard, there are a sea of people, but - thanks to good crowd control - there is very little pushing and banging into other people. The police suggest moving to the left and right, and some people listen, but the largest percentage opt for the center. (You can't see it in this video, but there's another, last, police line holding my group back from the very front of the crowd.) 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:10 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Inner Courtyard on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1713)

While looking around and behind me in the inner courtyard, the final crowd control barrier gives way and we move forward.... 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:13 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Courtyard Shadows on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1715)

Looking down at moving shadow patterns on the stone ground of the inner courtyard of Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day, 2010. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:15 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - People Leaving Inner Courtyard on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1735)

After praying at the shrine, people walking away from the inner courtyard. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:35 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Heading Back Towards Station on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1741)

Walking back towards the station after visiting Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:41 p.m.)

"People & Their Shadows" (100101)

While leaving Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day, stopping to watch people and their shadows walk by. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:44 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Exit Path on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1746)

People talking & laughing as they walk towards the station after visiting Meiji Shine on New Year's Day 2010. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:46 p.m.)

"Meiji Shrine - Photo Session on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1757)

People posing for pictures in front of the entrance torii to Meiji Shrine. 明治神宮での初詣 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:57 p.m.)

"Harajuku Station - Back to Normal Tokyo Life... (100101-1802)"

After the pleasant once-in-a-year visit to Meiji Shrine, the platform of Harajuku Station signaled the return to normal Tokyo life - more trains. That said, traveling in Tokyo today was quite pleasant, with seats available on all the trains. (It would be so much nicer to travel about within Tokyo if the people density on the trains was always this low!) 明治神宮での初詣 原宿駅 (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 6:02 p.m.)

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon