1)Sunday, January 8, 2006 Pilgrimage in Bando Fudasho (Part XIV) Weather : Sunny

• The nineteenth Fudasho : Ohya Ji Temple (1198 Ohya-cho Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Pref.)
  
  
  • Now is already 2006!! I intend to visit Fudashoes as much as possible this year.
  • I left home past 6:00 AM. It was dark outside. It was said that this winter would be the coldest after the interval of 20 years. The coldest weather has continued. It was very cold this morning.
  • I took on the train of Saikyo Line from Ikebukuro to Akabane, then changed to the train of Utsunomiya Line bound for Utsunomiya at 7:10 AM. I arrive in Utsunomiya at 8:40 AM.
  • I got off at Utsunomiya for the first time. It was cold there! I checked the bus and found that the bus would leave at 9:10 AM.
  • For a while, I looked for souvenir shops in the station and I remembered that the specialty of Utsunomiya was "Gyoza", steam-baked meat pie".
  • Middle-aged sales woman fully explained about the kinds of "Gyozas" to me, and thus I promised to buy one of them for souvenir when I would come back to the station. Then I took on the bus from the station.
  • Only a few passengers were in the bus. All passengers except me took off on the way and the passenger was only me to the bus stop of the Fudasho.
  • It took only a few minutes to the Fudasho from the bus stop. I reached there at 9:40 AM. It was still cold.
  • The main temple is built under the large rock.
  • First, I got a red stamp on my pilgrimage note for Yen 300. The visitor has to pay Yen 300 to meet to worship the kannon in the main temple.
  • I thought there might be no other visitors there since it was so cold, however, a few groups visited by their own cars.
  • The one thousand-handed kannon was carved on the wall of the rock, which was done by "Kukai", a famous high priest in the 8th century. It is almost 4 m tall. The kannon lighted by votive candles was visionary and mysterious and solemn. I involuntarily joined my palms to worship. It is natural that taking a photo is prohibited.
  • The kannon was once covered with gold leaf gold. It must have been more glorious.
  • There are nine more marvelous carved Buddhhas on the wall of other rock. They are all designated as important national properties.
  • After worshipping the kannon, I visited a treasure museum in the temple. Human bones of 11,000 years ago is exhibited there.
  • Then I also visited to see a "Peace Kannon" in the vicinity.
  • Finally I went to the "Ohya Rock Museum" located 600 m away from the temple.
  • You can learn the history of Ohya Rock and see the mining complex of Ohya Rock.
  • The size of mining complex is almost the same as that of Tokyo Dome. When I got into the underground complex, I felt uneasy since it was so dark and spacious. It was also cold inside. The temperture was only 4 degrees Centigrade.
  • I finished the schedule very earlier than I expected. I took on the bus from the Ohya Rock Museum at 11:12 AM.
  • I reached Utsunomiya Station around 11:40 AM. I bought rice balls as lunch and "Gyoza" for souvenir and took on the train bound for Ueno to be left at 12:00 AM.
  • I finally came back home around 2:30 PM.
    
    
    Temple Gate Main Temple
    
    
    Main Temple Main Temple
    
    
    Stone Buddhas Peace Kannon
    
    
    Ohya Rock Museum Mining Complex
    
    
    Mine Scenery near the museum
    
    
    
  • It was a cold travel this time.
    
    
    
  
  

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