July 27, 2009

• Exploring around Yomiuri Land Station - July 20

  We had to "go somewhere," of course, and since it was hot and muggy today, we stayed close to home.  We went a couple of train stations to Yomiuri Land and checked out a temple and a shrine.  The temple had a small cave that we had to explore with candles and a dying flashlight.  We felt kind of like Indy Jones!  The shrine boasted of one of the best natural sources of water in the area, and people were lining up with their empty bottles to collect it and take it home!

  

  First stop is Yakumo Shrine, which houses a local "deity."  Now go up the street a bit and turn left for the second stop, Ikoji Temple

  

  Established in 1675

   

  Here is the temple building.  The diagonal rods on the front of the building are reinforcement against earthquakes.  Hubby has armed himself with candles and a flashlight.

  

  I sneaked a peek inside.

  

  Now on to the main task at hand.  Cross the bridge and we will explore a small man made cave!  Don't fall into the pond, the sign says it is deep.

  

  Here is the route inside the cave marked in white.  The brown markers indicate a statue, and the snakes indicate snakes!!

  

  Let's begin.  Did I mention that it's very dark, the candles are small and the flashlight needs new batteries?

  

  Most of the pictures inside the cave were taken with a flash and most of the time I was not sure of what I was aiming at.

  

  Uh-oh!

  

  We encounter the first snake!

  

  A snakey image.  Leave him a 1 Yen coin and he may not bite you.

  

  Another snake!

  

  

  Images lining the wall of one section of the cave.

  

  Indy Jones?

  

  No flash

  

  We have gotten safely back outside.  We will definitely have to come here again and will bring our own flashlight.

  

  Here is the next stop, Myokakuji Temple, established in 1796.

  

  Go up the steps.

  

  It is requested that you walk only on the stepping stones.

  

  Here is a look inside the temple building.  That large bowl shaped gong on the left must really resound when hit.  There is a smaller gong on a hard pillow in the center.  Are these for musical accompaniment to the Sutras, or just to get the deity's attention?

  

  We see some carp in a stream on the way to the next stop.

  

  Here is the entrance to Anazawa Tenjin Shrine.

  

  More steps, Hubby counted 76.

  

  This Shrine has traditional masked Kagura dancing every year.

  

  We found this insect on the way in - In Japanese it is a "nanafushi" or "seven segments."  The abdomen does have seven segments.  This is a walking stick in English, right?

  

  Mug shot

  

  Anazawa Tenjin Shrine, main building.

  

  Here is another cave behind the shrine building, but it is across a gully and rather difficult to approach.

  

  Here is the stage where the dancing takes place. 

  

  We have come down from the shrine to find another local attraction.  The water that flows down from the mountain is said to be particularly delicious, and the neighborhood folks bring their empty bottles to collect it and bring it home for cooking and brewing tea.

  

  To the immediate right is a statue of the "goddess" Benten.  There is another small cave behind her.

  

  Again, very dark (flash used here) and very drippy.

  

  The man in the white shirt to the left is refreshing his sacred water supply and the fellow in the blue shirt awaits his turn for a drink.

  • 03:10
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