The summer 'must do' list: visit a wind chime display

Each year without fail, I visit at least one wind chime display in summer. And for the last ten years in row I have visited the "Enmusubi" Wind Chimes at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. This is the ten year anniversary; so every year since its inception. They have become very famous, even internationally, which has brought some challenges for the shrine. But they are well worth visiting as they really are a beautiful display.

If you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend visiting on a weekday morning. It will still be busy, but not as crowded as it is midday on a weekend. For an even quieter visit, I suggest visiting on a rainy day. Likewise the shrine is less busy after 6 pm on a wet weekday night. The above photo was taken on the first night of the event in 2023. I was lucky that last year the wind chimes went up a bit earlier than normal and people didn't realize that they were up yet, so I was able to get photos without any other people in them. 

The other option is to take photos at a different angle to what most other people do, like the photo above.  There was actually no-one else there when I took this photo, but on other visits over the years I've experimented with different shots.  If you want to take a short video, it is a must to visit on a windy day, so you can hear the beautiful, distinct sound of the chimes. A sound I, like many others, identify with summer.

Please do remember that a shrine is a place of worship and it is important to respect the sanctity of the precincts when visiting and taking photos or videos. The shrine kindly request that you don't spend a long time in one spot taking photos. Furthermore, they discourage the use of camera equipment such as tripods. Moreover, if you want to take professional photographers you now need the permission of the shrine.