Wooden Ema hanging at the Gokoku Shrine at Sendai Castle Ground

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Aoba Castle (青葉城), also known as Sendai Castle (仙台城), was the castle of the Date family. Built by Date Masamune atop Mount Aoba, it commanded a highly defensible strategic position overlooking the city of Sendai. The castle site also contains a Gokoku Shrine (護国神社), as well as a large equestrian statue of Date Masamune. Come spring, the castle ground is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot. The shrine is a prefectural branch of the Tokyo Yasukuni Shrine, honouring Japan's militaristic past. Like all shrines and temples in Japan, followers can write their messages to god on an ema. Ema (絵馬) are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them.

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Size: 4000px × 2672px
Location: Sendai-shi, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Photo credit: © Moonie's World / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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