#shrinestemples

[chikakimiko]

下鴨神社 (Shimogamo Shrine)

[10 March 2013] 

As the picture says, “This shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, and goes back to the days even before the capital was transferred to Kyoto in 794. It was registered in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1994.”

This overall view of the place may become a useful reference when I start talking about various places within this shrine:

I found this shrine to be quite different than Sanzen-in. It’s really simple as to why, actually—one is a shrine whereas the other is a temple and the two are not interchangeable. A shrine is used for the practice of Shinto religion and a temple is used for practicing Buddhism. When entering a shrine, one usually goes through red “gates” called とりい (“toh-ree”) and cleanses oneself (mouth and hands) at a purification fountain before prayer.

Some much needed helpful instructions (A little blurry, sorry!):

Here I am going through the purification process and I’ll tell you… that water was FREEZING, especially since the weather was already drizzly.  (Pictures thanks to Aya's dad.)

This is a little shrine just before entering the grand shrine. It’s dedicated to love—whether that’s finding your love or praying for stability in a relationship or marriage. I’m in a strong and stable relationship, so I just offered up a prayer to give thanks for my good fortune!

These are sake barrels for Shinto rites and festivals, though these are likely empty. The significance is that sake brings people and the Gods together. It’s spiritually significant, as the pouring of sake is symbolic of the pour of one’s soul.

And this is the entrance. Rather grandiose, eh?

Immediately inside there is this dance floor for festivities. You’ll notice the snake banner in the center. That’s from the change into the New Year—The Year of the Snake.

Behind it is a shrine dedicated to each of the 12 animals of the zodiac (two are represented at a time).

And of course, being the Year of the Snake, the Snake’s shrine is being featured.

We went on a self-guided tour of the grounds.

Hey, the back of my hair looks pretty good! (◕ヮ◕)!!

These are a little blurry, my apologies.

One of the houses/building contained tools and treasures from years past.

This is the hearth:

I wouldn’t mind being such an important person that I was carried around on this: (○◕ω◕○)

Spiffy, old car!

This was the only picture I was allowed to take of the National Treasures that were being housed here. I think the only reason we got to see this closed up house was because Aya’s dad talked to a worker and told him that I was here in Japan for the first time!!

We weren’t the only tourists in Kyoto. Despite their outfits, these girls are not from Kyoto. They said they just wanted to dress for traditional purposes. Fine by me, but I was a little jealous…! I wanted to dress up too!!

Alas, as we finished up at this shrine, we stopped in at a little shop that made しるこ (shiruko, “she-roo-koh”) which is a sweet red-bean soup.

Azuki beans are boiled and crushed, served in a bowl with mochi (the white balls here in the soup). The particular style we ate is called “ぜんざい” (“zenzai”).

I really enjoyed it, especially because the day was so drizzly and cool; it was perfect!

This was Kyoto for me! I had a lovely time and I was so grateful to go so early in my adventures here in Japan! I would love to come back to Kyoto and explore more of this incredible city!!!

((—>Next up: Dinner with the Nishimura’s))

[chikakimiko]

三千院 (Sanzen-in Temple)

[10 March 2013]

Sitting in the car, my mind is racing!! I’m on my way to the city I’ve most idolized about in Japan… Kyoto! (●⌒∇⌒●) I’ve only been in Japan for TWO days and I’m already on my way there with Aya and her parents!!

I don’t particularly know why, but I’ve always held a special place in my heart for Kyoto. Perhaps it’s because I’ve always thought of Kyoto as “old Japan”, a cultural place that still practices the “old ways” of Japan. I guess now it is time I put those thoughts to the test! Meanwhile, the weather today is threatening showers. The sky is dark and gray, but I’ve seen the sun appear a couple of times. Perhaps the day will clear off?? (・_・?)

Our first destination is Sanzen-in Temple, actually located in a rural town called Ohara, about an hour north of central Kyoto.

The area of Sanzen-in Temple has large temple grounds and a variety of buildings, gardens, and walking paths.

There are businesses that line the road approaching the main gate to the temple. This is an inn:

  The pathway:

  As the sign tells us, this temple is one of the Tendai sect temples of Buddhism, built and founded by an imperial family member, Saicho, around the late 8th/early 9th century. ＿〆(。。) *wise nod*

Here’s the front entrance to the gate!

Once inside, I had to remove my shoes. I will say this dreary day really could have been a LOT warmer, in my opinion! (￣～￣;) It was still very nifty to see the various rooms!

   There is a beautiful garden! (Sorry for the blurriness!)

     And koi:

I wasn’t particularly allowed to take pictures from up close, but inside there is a national treasure called the Amitabha Trinity. From my brochure, “the Ohara area has been known as Gyozan for more than a thousand years. Sanzen-in Temple was originally established as a hermitage by Saicho (767-822). The temple…is one of the five Tendai Monzeki temples.” This is the Amitabha Trinity:

From a distance, this is the structure, called "Ojo-Gokuraku-in":

Continuing our tour of the Temple, we saw the “Warabe-jizo” statues (Sorry, no, I don’t know what this is (^～^;)ゞ )

      I captured a really nice view of "Ojo-Gokuraku-in": <(￣︶￣)>

We came up to a resting spot that was serving this special kind of tea—with gold in it. I tried the two types being offered: a golden tea and a green tea.

   The green tea was artificially sweetened, but my reaction to the other tea:

Honestly, I did not like it. It was too bitter and I couldn't stomach it. (≧﹏≦;;)

The “Konjiki Fudo-do Hall” was immediately to our left stepping out of our warm haven. Oh, have I got a story for you!! Ha ha!! I went inside with Aya and her parents. Her dad insisted I take a moment to experience praying at a Buddhist temple, which of course I obliged! He handed me a stick of incense and told me to watch as he lit his own and gracefully put out the flame, while keeping the smoke tip. He motioned me to do the same, but I mistakenly blew my flame out. Everyone who was near me looked horrified and I was quickly admonished for blowing out my incense stick. I was supposed to wave the still back and forth to put out the flame. Whoops. (°×°)ゞ I placed my incense in the correct placement and prayed that I do well in school this semester and that I don’t make such a fool of myself!! Lesson learned!

This basically sums up my adventures at the Sanzen-in Temple, so please enjoy the pictures from around the grounds. 

             Aya's dad took a few pictures as well:

   Aya looks a bit fed up with pictures!

Group shot! (Pictured below: Aya, her mother, me, her father)

Before we left, however, I had to check out the souvenir shop!                       ☆.。.:*・°  ヾ（*⌒ヮ⌒*）ゞ °・*:.。.☆ I had heard that it’s customary to buy おまもり (pronounced: oh-mah-more-ree, “charm/amulet”) when visiting shrines and temples as a means of good luck in that year. They aren’t all the same, however. Some represent good fortune; some are for good luck in school, others for finding work/job, etc. So, I bought a couple different ones!

And what I like is that they have on them from which place you obtained your charm!! Front and back, respectively:

  Walking back to the car, we met a very kind and obedient dog named Hana! She was so sweet and came out of her warm bed to see us!

  It’s almost that time!! The sakura are barely starting to bloom!!

  ((—>Next up: Shimogamo Shrine))

[chikakimiko]

大須観音 (Ōsu Kannon)

I apologize these are delayed posts. I didn't have internet until after the first meeting of orientation. Alas, continuing from the last post…

[09 March 2013]

I originally woke up about 6:30am, but I went back to sleep until about 8~8:30am. We got up and had breakfast--broccoli, lettuce salad, thick bread with apple jam, and eggs with tiny sausage weenies...! We got dressed and ready and then went to the subway. It wasn’t really difficult figuring out the subway system, although I would prefer to be accompanied by someone rather than figuring it out completely on my on.... lol!

Anyways, we rode the subway train for a short while and then got off to go to the market area at Ōsu Kannon. This was the first thing I saw:

Ōsu Kannon is within the city of Nagoya and it's a temple that was originally built in the early 14th century. Although it's got some history behind it (flooded, fire, moved, rebuilt...), here it stands today:

The main hall has a very large, red lantern hanging from the ceiling where worshippers can tie small paper notes with wishes to the holding wires:

On the side of the staircase leading to the temple was this:

Ōsu Kannon (a suburb of Nagoya?) has lots of little shops and food places!

I only bought this t-shirt today! I thought it was interesting that each city mentioned shows what it’s known for (i.e. Nagoya has it’s castle, Tokyo has the tower, Kyoto has its shrines, etc).

Aya and I ate たこ焼き (pronounced: taco-ya-key) takoyaki (soup with dumplings stuffed with octopus; and a dry dumpling thing also with octopus and a seasoned sauce on top) for lunch!

たこ焼き:

As you can see, we enjoyed our lunch!

Afterwards, we went to a sweet shop for たい焼き (pronounced: tie-ya-key) taiyaki (a fish-shaped pastry stuffed with sweet beans; mine was sakura flavoured beans!)... Yum yum!!

The store was cute and offered more than just the fish pastry:

The following pictures for just from around the Ōsu Kannon area:

This was a "very small shrine" with no particular special purpose:

I like the とりい (pronounced: toe-ree), or the red pillars:

This was just on the side of a building:

Street shot:

Alas, as we made our way back to the apartment through the subway again, we stopped at a convenience store for water bottles and I got candies and gum! Afterwards, Aya took me to a book/cd/movie shop! They had a gazillon manga!!!!! For those of you who know me at all, I really like manga (Japanese comic books). It was AMAZING!! But, you'll be surprised to know that I did NOT buy any manga.... Not today at least. (－ｏ⌒)/☆ I did, however, buy 3 cds of Ayumi Hamasaki!!

On a side note, the さくら　(pronounced: sah-koo-rah, “cherry blossom”) trees are beginning to bloom. I honestly can’t wait to see the season in full bloom!!

We got back to the apartment to eat the おこのみやき (pronounced: oh-koh-no-me-ya-key) that Aya's dad was preparing!

Okonomiyaki is a pancake containing layers of batter, cabbage, pork, and noodles; and it's covered in a particular sauce. Really tasty!! Although, I realized that I am terrible with はし (pronounced: ha-she, "chopsticks")... Embarrassingly so. I can't seem to cut with them.... (⊙﹏⊙);;

  ((-->Next up: Sanzen-in Temple))