Bronze Azalea

Was so lucky to arrive on a rainy day. It really helped add a nice effect to varying hues of bronze greenish blue to the rooftops.

More tiny torii gates among the azalea bushes.

View of another rooftop through the azalea bushes.

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo

Trunk

A busload of tourists arrived and promptly put up their umbrellas. I wish I were a kid again -- I would have enjoyed playing hide-and-seek among the shrubbery.

I like that they use a simple rope to keep visitors from straying from the pathways. It's nice to see places that still use wooden poles instead of steel or concrete poles.

This shot doesn't truly show the immense size of this tree. You can slightly compare it with the house in the background on the left.

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo

Roofing

One of my favorite things about visiting a shrine is the fact that you can see huge, old trees. The greenery and the red and black paint offer a wonderful contrast.

Even the fencing around the main hall of the shrine has its own little roofing. A lot of painstaking work just to keep part of a fence dry.

Different materials used for the roofing present a range of hues that we normally cannot see unless the shingles are wet from the rain. 

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo

Main Bridge

Shots taken in front of the romon gate. The bridge leads to the main entrance of the shrine grounds. Ironically, most tourists enter from the side or rear due to the lack of parking at the main entrance.

If you have a chance to visit this shrine, I strongly encourage you to enter from the main entrance. You may have to walk a little bit, but it will be well worth it.

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo

Lion-Dog

View from within the main hall looking toward the main gate. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to take pictures inside the actual hall itself albeit understandable. The "lion-dogs" can be found at almost any Shinto Shrine guarding the main hall.

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo

Main Gate

View from the inner sanctuary looking out of the main gate.

Rear view of the romon gate from the front of the main gate to the inner sanctuary.

Main gate leading up to the inner sanctuary with main hall in the background.

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo

Bronze Gold

Gold plated head of a dragon-like creature at the entrance of the main gate of the inner sanctuary.

I love the highly detailed gold-plated, bronze-plated, and colorful woodwork found throughout various parts of the main gate of the inner sanctuary.

This is a shot of the base of one of the huge pillars supporting the main gate to the inner sanctuary.

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo