Azabu Juban Festival

The Azabu Juban Festival was going on in Azabu Juban this weekend, a giant culinary market with lots of foodstuff to try and an international corner as well! Of course I had to take a look/taste.

The first thing I couldn't help to notice were the pure masses of people drifting through the stall-lined streets, navigating here was going to be a pain:

Letting the crowd take me where it would I wandered the area for a while, taking a taste here and there, stopping for a sake seller with samples and a breather.

The food ranged from local specialties of all over Japan to the usual Matsuri fare.

Crepes

Takoyaki

I have no idea what they are selling

Matsuri food

Namahage

Also present were two Nagahame, mystical creatures often impersonated to scare children into obedience if they don't behave at home.
Screaming and crying are pretty much an expected part of this with kids around, with their parents offering a safe haven for then and gaining proper behavior that way. They were more of photo models here though.

The shrine of the area had something going on as well, was too crowded for me to get there though, but the music drifted over.

Azabu Juban Shrine

Azabu Juban Festival

Being a practical people, the locals took this opportunity to sell some of their stuff as well, a flea-market of sorts formed in the side-streets.

Azabu Juban sees a lot of foreigners with many embassies from all over the world being located there, and so is the Austrian one. Went there to take a look, who knows if I need it someday if loose my passport or something. The operating hours immediately reminded me of home.

Embassy of the Republic of Austria

Feels like home *lol*

Stuffed and packed with potential souvenirs, I left the crowds behind and went home, to prepare for my girlfriend to arrive. She will probably hijack this blog some times, so be prepared for that.

So long and stay tuned,
JuergenS

written by

JuergenS on August 21, 2010 from Tokyo, Japan

from the travel blog: Two month of Japan

Send a Compliment

comment on this...