Nothing to see here, just a giant torii gate next to the road, a giant torii that is evidently doubling as a parking lot. An everyday sight in Japan.
This is the entrance to Iga Hachiman Shrine (伊賀八幡宮 Iga Hachimangu), one of the more famous shrines in the area. There is a great story about Ieyasu and this shrine that I'll tell later.
The parking lot beneath the torii may be an eyesore, but it reflects a reality of modern Japan: there just isn't very much land, so they use all the space available to pack in as much as they can.
I think this scene shows the interesting mix of old and new that you'll find in Japan. It's a pretty typical street here. Anything jump out at you, besides the giant torii gate of course? The tons of wires, perhaps? Or the swastika on a utility pole? In the comments, let me know what you see that is interesting.
Don't miss the other great photos in the Beautiful Japan photo series!
#1 - The Shogun's Keep
#2 - Gate to the Shogun's Shrine
#3 - The Golden Torii
#4 - Across the Universe
#5 - To Walk With You Under the Cherry Blossoms
#6 - I Once Knew This Place
#7 - Okazaki Tenmangu Shrine
#8 - The White Walls of Zui'nenji
#9 - Curious Kitsune Watches
#10 - Meeting Place of the Kitsune
#11 - What a Blur
#12 - The Watcher at the Shrine
Thank you for reading. :)
If you enjoyed this post, please like and resteem. Also be sure to follow me to see more from Japan everyday.
I post one photo everyday, as well as some misc posts such as haiku, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.
David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time.