Every January huge numbers of Japanese come to Meiji Jingu, an important Shinto shrine in Tokyo, to start the New Year. Before the New Year's events are complete, all of Japan takes another holiday for Seijin No Hi, or "Coming of Age Day" for twenty year olds. The most visible feature of the day is that twenty year old girls put on kimonos and wear them to special events and, perhaps, to a nearby Shinto shrine. Meiji Jingu is one of the largest and most important shrines in Tokyo, so large crowds gather there every year in early January. These pictures give you a glimpse into this particular day; not just of girls wearing kimonos but of a cultural event in progress.

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