January 1, 2010
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January 2 - Bentendoukutsu
On New Year's Day we went to see Avatar and then did a bit of shopping. Also celebrated Christmas with Sonny B who had not been around on the 25th and Dotter's birthday which is actually on the 10th, but that we will not be around for. January 2 we thought that Sonny B should be introduced to the Benten Doukutsu cave in Inagi, and dragged him in. It is a really fun place to take someone for the first time!
Now Sonny B gets to play Indiana Jones! Remember, it is pitch black in the cave with no flashlights or camera flash.
Scared?
Here is a New Year's decoration in the cave.
Weak of heart, look no further!
This is called a gejigeji and has a few legs. Lucky for us they like to stick on the ceiling.
What's he getting a picture of....
Family Portrait?
After the cave we take a walk to check out another nearby shrine. The fire at the side is for burning last year's amulets and whatnot.
At this point the kids had enough "togetherness," and Sonny B left us for an appointment with his friends and Dotter also had something to do. Mom and Dad were not ready to go home yet, so we went for a walk in Chofu where we lived twice, once when we were first married and then later when the kids were born.
We checked out Fuda Tenjin Shrine but there was nothing unusual going on.
Girls selling New Year's charms from a tent. Notice the kerosene heaters to keep them warm.
As we left Fuda Tenjin Shrine, we noticed that the temple on the way was open to the public, and since we had never seen the inside, we took a look. It turns out that it is only open to the public at New Years, so it was our lucky day. Above is the main temple building. Too bad I don't remember the name of the temple, silly me.
This is another building decked out for New Years. Let's take a look inside.
Pretty cool with a chandelier and everything.
Hit the wooden plank with the mallet and drop in a coin for prosperity in the coming year.
Reclining Buddha
Buddha's feet
Skinny Buddha
Next we took a walk to the apartments where we lived on two occasions. The outside of the buildings had been repainted, but the grounds were a bit run down. Well, it wasn't all that great 30 or so years ago, either. The apartments were not bad for just two, but add two kids and I was glad to get out.
Our first home
The second time we lived in these apartments in Chofu it was on the second floor on the right side of the stairwell. It was here that we brought two babies home from the hospital. When Dotter was three and Sonny B was one we moved out of here when Hubby was transferred to Okayama.
