March 2, 2008

• Atago Shrine

  Our weekend "go somewhere" was Atago Shrine, located in Fukuoka City.  It is also supposedly the side of a great battle during feudal times.

  

  The Japanese version suggested that this shrine is a good place to visit for help in swearing off tobacco, strong drink and women.

  

  The climb up to the shrine starts.  There are four sets of stairs like this.

  

  Here is the main shrine at the top.

  

  Here is a smaller shrine.  Pull on the ropes to ring the bells and get the gods' attention.

  

  I liked the feathered effect on this stone critter.

  

  You can see the city from the top.  Behold Fukuoka Tower to the left.

  

  A bit further to the left...

  

  And a bit further yet.  The ferris wheel is the one we went up in with Ei when she was here at New Years.

  

  Some nesting activity in the trees

  

  

  Here are various good luck charms for sale.  They will supposedly help one pass entrance exams, find true love, be happy, you name it.

  

  Here are a variety of stones to cure what ails ya.

  

  Even Hello Kitty is in on the act, complete with a little talisman bag.

  

  This is another part of the shrine.  The priest is lighting candles.

  

  Turn left to see myriad paper cranes.  There is a belief that if 1000 origami cranes can be folded that an illness can be healed.

  

  Support your local team.

  

  This is a picture of a sea cucumber taken at a local supermarket.  It is very nice sliced and topped with lemon juice or wasabi and soy sauce, but this was a bit too large for just to two of us, as a little goes a long way.

  • 20:42
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