*Meiji Shrine and Harajuku on a Sunday..

About 2 weeks ago, my friends, Geri and Korin, and I decided to go back to Harajuku on a Sunday because that's when all of the cosplayers, Lolita girls, etc are around. These are pictures from that Sunday:

TAIYAKI! These cute little fish shaped yummies are probably my favorite pastries here in Japan (and that's saying a lot). This one, my first, was filled with custard and it was delicious. 

This guy was just hanging out on the bridge that leads to the Meiji shrine from Harajuku station. When I asked him if I could take a picture, he looked surprised I even asked. Then, he threw himself into and action pose. That guy was pretty cool. 

I look SO horrible in this picture. It's one of those pictures where the angle is off and your legs look really short. BUT, this girl looks so awesome, I kind of HAD to post it anyway. 

This is the entrance to the pathway that leads to Meiji-jinju (the shrine). 

This is a cute little bridge you cross over to get to the shrine. 

These used to hold sake. They were given as gifts a looooong time ago to help purify the area for the shrine. Now, the empty caskets are put on display. 

The torii in front of Meiji-jinju.

These are located in front of shrines. You use the water there to wash yourself so you are pure enough to walk through the torii and into the shrine to pray. 

After a wathcing the Japanese people before me, I was like, "OK, I got this."  But, actually, this time around I did it wrong. I learned this a week later when a Japanese woman taught me the proper way to do it. It's really beautiful. You pour water on your left hand, then pour it on your right, then you cup your left hand, pour water into that, put it in your mouth and spit it out onto some rocks at your feet. Lastly, you hold the ladle thing upright so the water washes the handle and your right hand again. (o.O) 

Korin and me in front of the Torii, doing the tourist thing. 

I didn't take anymore pictures at the shrine after this because you can't take pictures inside. But it was beautiful and more moving than I thought it would be.