Women in yukata dancing in the Kappabashi shopping arcade

Troop of dancing women — Shot in Kappabashi, Tokyo

We left Senso-ji Temple and headed for Ueno. On the way, there is Kappabashi, the famous tool district. This is a wholesaler's district specializing in cooking utensils and all kinds of cooking-related items. Among the various items on sale, the most famous are probably the food samples. Food samples are samples of food that look like the real thing and are displayed in restaurants. Here in Kappabashi, there is a store that specializes in elaborately made food samples.

As I approached Kappabashi, the streets were crowded with people. Food stalls were set up at both ends of the street. It was the day of the Kappabashi Tanabata Festival. The street was filled with the smell of delicious food from the stalls. Enjoying the atmosphere of people walking happily, I made my way through the crowds.

Eventually, I heard music and a group of people in matching yukata came from the other side. A group of women with twisted headbands were parading in a dance. They were moving their arms up and down in unison in time with the music. When I see people wearing yukata, I realize that summer has come. Although the number of people who wear kimonos in their daily lives has been decreasing, yukata still looks good at summer festivals.

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