Sunday, January 4, 2009

Yanaka Cematary

After going to Nippori Fabric Town (Next Post, cute stuff!) we crossed the tracks and went up the hill, only to discover the largest grave yard in Tokyo. There are appearently many famous people buried here including the Tokugawa Family.  
Here due to both Buddist tradition and Japanese law every one is cremated, and their ashes taken to their family plot. The front stone can be lifted and a space for many small urns is below.

The sticks behind the stones are bought by donation to the shrine, and the flowers also come from one of the ten or so shrines around the cemetary.

 


If you are a really large rich family you have a stupa  and a mosuleum on your plot. Various other stone adornments like lanterns and buddas also abound. 

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