Hachinman Jingu

 These are kegs full of sake, also known as nihonshu or rice wine. Actually I checked and some of them are empty but others are still full. They will probably be used on New Years Eve, when most shrines serve hot sake to the people who come.

 This was put up last March, at the beginning of the soccer season, by the Sendai team, Vegalta. All of the players have signed it and I remember seeing in the newspaper that the entire team and coaching staff had come here to Hachman Jingu for a formal blessing. It seems to have worked this year (for a change). With two weeks left in the season they are in second place and within striking distance of first.

 The stone structure in side the red fence is a sundial.

 This is a dragon that protects one of the pillars at the front of the main shrine building.

 This shows the decorations under the eaves of the main shrine.

Sorry this picture is not very good, but this little girl was all dressed up and was presenting herself to the god. She was way inside the building so there was very little light. She was so cute that I could not pass up the picture, even now