Meiji Jingu
Today is setsubun, which is the day before the first day of spring. Taken from Wikipedia: “It is a sort of New Year’s Eve, and so was accompanied by a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. This special ritual is called mamemaki (literally “bean throwing”). Roasted soybeans (called “fortune beans” (ç¦è±†Â fuku mame)) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon or ogre) mask, while the people say “Demons out! Luck in!” (鬼ã¯å¤–! ç¦ã¯å†…! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door.”
If you know me, you know that this whole thing makes me incredible happy. Why? I don’t know. But it does. Â We have a little kit to perform this ritual, but B is out of town, so we’re waiting to do it until he comes home. We heard that there might be something going on at a shrine, so we went to Meiji Jingu to see if we could find any festivities. We did not find any. But we had a good time anyway.
We realized shortly after this that Tiny’s shoes were on the wrong feet. 
I was intrigued by the metal work on the temple gates this time.
When I see things like this, and realize that these are the images that will be at the core of the girls’ minds and souls and imaginations, I know we are exactly the right place.
A monk. And for the Doctor minded among you- what appears to be a message ala River.
This made me laugh.
And this store name is awesome.
A train from the top.
These next pictures were taken at the beginning of the year- January  1, actually. I just found them, and I like them. 
A seemingly random question: do your girls dress themselves? As in pick out their own clothes either from the closet or from the store? They seem very much like they have their own tastes but I wonder if those are your tastes or theirs? Thanks love!