Tuesday 12 February 2013

Tuesday Then & Now - Five Storey Pagoda


Here's another set of photos from the Nagasaki University's Metadatabase of Japanese Old Photographs. Having followed the cedar-lined road, you approach Nikko Toshogu and, on your left, is the Five Storey Pagoda - this year specially open to visitors to celebrate Tokyo Skytree.


Late 19th century to early 20th century:







January 2013:


8 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting these, Sara, as well as your previous ones. They are a lot of fun. I've never been to Nikko, but I fell down this wormhole checking out old photos of Kamakura, my spiritual "hometown." I'm supposed to working right now, so I'm using all of my willpower to keep myself from jumping down the wormhole again to check out my other spiritual hometown of Ise, where I first lived in Japan as a high school exchange student.

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    1. It is a dangerous time-sucking wormhole, isn't it?! But a pretty incredible one. I hope your work finishes soon so that you can enjoy stepping back in time and enjoying an all new Ise! (or would that be an all old Ise, seeing as the photos are old ones? ;)

      I am embarrassed to admit I've never been to Ise. I will have to rectify that very soon, I think!

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    2. I haven't been back to Ise in about 12 years, and even then only for a day. The last time I spent any real time there was probably 19 years ago, but it's been on my mind a lot of late. I would love to take my kids to show them where I first fell in love with Japan.

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    3. Sharing special places like that is important, isn't it? I loved being able to share a special place of mine, Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park in Canada, with U this past summer. So, someday when you take your kids to Ise I'm sure they will love it too.

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  2. I love how little they've changed (although, it's hard to tell if the colours changed, or the photography just get better at capturing it).

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    1. I too love that it hasn't changed much! Some then and now shots are so different as to be barely discernable as the same place, but these, well you could probably take about the same photo if you had an old camera (or photo software).

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  3. One nice thing about being away is that I can enjoy a LOT of photos all at once. The pagoda is open to celebrate Sky Tree? Wheee! ^^

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    1. Yes, it is open... I didn't tell you that? I have two of the free commemorative clear folders they gave us (U didn't want his), so if you don't get the chance to go I have a gift for you! ;)

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