Photo of the Day Archive for January 2004

by Albert Wen, Nov 15, 2006 | Destinations: Japan

This flaming display held in mid-February is called Dondo yaki, in which huge pyres of New Year's decorations are burned to send off old spirits and to pray for health and safety in the upcoming year.

Image ©

The New Year is Japan's most important celebration. At this time, the people of Japan visit shrines and temples to pray for blessings in the year to come. Families gather to enjoy specially prepared foods called O-sechi, and to exchange seasonal gifts. One traditional New Year's gift is a symbolic arrow to ward off bad fortune in the coming year.

On the second Sunday of the New Year, wearing nothing more than loincloths called shitaobi and headbands called hachimaki, many Japanese men brave the icy waters of Teppozu Inari Jinja, a Shinto shrine in central Tokyo, to practice a yearly purification ritual.

Photo of the Day Archive for January 2004

More From This Author

Photo of the Day Archive for July 2006

Japan

Albert Wen

A Year of the Tiger display at the Landmark, Central, Hong Kong

Kung Hei Fat Choi

China

Albert Wen

Turtle Mountain Island, located 10 kilometers off the coast of Toucheng in Yilan County, Taiwan, looks like a turtle floating in the sea, hence its name. The island has high cliffs, steaming fumaroles, welling underwater hot springs, mountain peaks, sea-eroded caves, a lake, and unique cliff vegetation, as well as a rich marine ecology. Since the Ching Dynasty, Turtle Mountain Island has been famous for its runrises. The best place to watch this spectacular sunrise is from Toucheng Beach or the mouth of the Lanyang River, between April and September.

Photo of the Day Archive for October 2006

Vietnam

Albert Wen

How to photograph an eclipse: don't look at it directly...

Eclipsed in Hong Kong

China

Albert Wen

Japan / Thailand

Stephen Bueckert

Seijin Hi: Coming of Age Day in Japan

Japan

Frank Lev

20 things in Tokyo

Japan

Bebe

Sakurajima Volvano

Japan

Jan Polatschek

About ThingsAsian

ThingsAsian is an Asia travel website with stories contributed by a worldwide community. Although we cover a wide range of topics, our emphasis is on art, culture, history and travel. Our writers, photographers and contributors are real people who tell you the stories of their personal travels and experiences. Some of the countries we currently cover are Burma, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Email: info@thingsasian.com

ThingsAsian | ThingsAsian Press

Photo of the Day Archive for January 2004

Image ©

More From This Author

Japan

Albert Wen

China

Albert Wen

Vietnam

Albert Wen

China

Albert Wen

Japan / Thailand

Stephen Bueckert

Japan

Frank Lev

Japan

Bebe

Japan

Jan Polatschek

Explore Other Destinations

China

Myanmar

Vietnam

India

Malaysia

Japan

Cambodia

Thailand

ThingsAsian | ThingsAsian Press

Search form

Photo of the Day Archive for January 2004

Image ©

More From This Author

Japan / Thailand

Explore Other Destinations