Alice in Wonder-Japan

I went to Ichinomiya Tower the other night with Matt and our friend Mari, who is becoming our good friend Mari, to see the "illuminations." In the Christmas season, it is common for people to put up light displays just like in the States. However, these displays are never as insane, gaudy, or power-sucking as those I'm used to seeing in America. They're also not as... Christmas-y. Case in point: Ichinomia Tower, turned into Wonderland, complete with caucus race.

Unfortunately I did not bring my camera (in my defense, I thought we were merely going futon shopping). The pictures with the better color are courtesy of Mari's brand-new iphone - which she proudly shows off every day at my desk - and the ones with no color are what passes for a photo from our pathetic cell phone. This taught me why Japanese people carry their cameras all the time: their country is one big land of cute, and everywhere you go there is a photo opportunity. NEVER, EVER leave your camera behind!

Okay, poll time: what's your favorite Alice in Wonderland character? (That was such a Japanese question.) Mine is without a doubt the Cheshire Cat, followed closely by the Mad Hatter and March Hare. While the latter two did not appear in the light-scape, the Cheshire Cat was prominently displayed. Actually, there were three in the same tree, and they all lit up at different times. This made it seem like he was fading in and out, moving from place to place. Very clever, Japan! His wide grin welcomed visitors through a flamingo arch down an alley of playing cards and rose trees.

I don't have any pictures of the caucus race because it would have photographed terribly. It was set up with a giant ring of lights, around which were placed various animals (mostly birds). I remember penguins, dodos, pelicans, and ducks. Like the Cheshire Cat, the lights flashed alternately, making it look like the animals were quickly running around the lighted track. It was an interesting effect, one that I didn't understand until I was quite far away. Then I looked back and said, "Oh! The caucus race!" To which Matt answered, "uh, yeah." To me, it's like a Monet; I can't see the image until I have some distance.



To the right is the cutest depiction of the hedgehogs - harinezumi - I can imagine. Matt: "Were there hedgehogs?" Me: "Yes! They were the croquet balls!" To the left is the rose tree...  some are white and some are red.


At the end of the alley stood a makeshift castle. It was built on scaffolding that surrounded a stone tower. Beside it you can see giant Alice (there is also a small Alice, currently not lit up, so she grows and shrinks). In front, there is the Red Queen on the left and her silly guard/announcer on the right. Although this is a cell phone image, I included it because it is a nice view leading up to the castle. It also displays the ability the Japanese people have of creating interesting and impressive "illuminations" without going over-the-top. Of course, that's only the opinion of one corn-fed Midwestern girl who grew up looking at displays like this.

Here's another view of the tower and giant Alice, as taken by Mari. The green lights at the bottom of the picture are on bushes, creating a maze leading to the castle, amidst signs proclaiming things like "Who is mad?" and "This is the way!" pointing to dead ends.

The final picture is of Ichinomiya Tower, rising out of the bedazzled landscape. This Mari took from the aforementioned red castle. It was a beautiful view, and I have to say, even the great iphone doesn't do it any kind of justice.