3)Saturday, June 24, 2006 Pilgrimage in Bando Fudasho (Part XV) Weather: Cloudy

• The twenty-eighth Fudasho : Ryudshouin Temple (1196 Namegawa, Narita City, Chiba Pref.)
  
  
  • I had been so busy at the weekend since the Golden Week Holiday in May and I didn't have a chance to go pilgrimage.
  • And now is the rainy season. It's not good for pilgrimage.
  • The weatherman said it would be rainy this weekend as weekly weather forecast. However, the forecast just changed as cloudy on Friday night.
  • Thus I suddenly decided to go pilgrimage on Saturday to the twenty-eighth Fudasho located in Chiba Prefecture, convenient to visit for me.
  • I left home at 5:45 AM. As forecasted, it was cloudy. It seemed that it would not be rainy all day.
  • The connection of the trains were so good that I could catch up with the limited express of Keisei Line bound for Narita Airport at 6:56 AM from Nippori Station.
  • I took on the local train to be left for Choshi at 8:18 AM.from JR Narita Station. Somehow, I found a lot of middle-aged and older people with backpacks were in the train.
  • After the train started from Narita Station, I could see paddle fields from the train window, I saw the paddle fields after a long interval. I was relived to see that scenery.
  • It took about 15 minutes to reach Namegawa Station from Narita. I found almost all middle-aged and older people also got off there. I wondered where they were going.
  • At the exit, I finally found that they were joining the hiking planned by JR. The hiking was called "Hiking direct from JR Station".
  • However, I was worrying that they might go to the same route as mine. But they went to the different direction and I was relived. (The hiking course included the twenty-eighth Fudasho.)
  • Anyway, I started to walk to the Fudasho from the station. The guidebook says it takes 20 minutes on foot to the Fudasho, however, I reached there less than 15 minutes. When I arrived there, I could see several hikers were already there.
  • When passing through the deva gate roofed with thatch, you can see the big main temple.
  • The eleven-headed main Kannon cannot be worshipped since she was closed in the big shrine (Height of more than 4 meters). Instead you can worship the substitute Kannon in front of the shrine.
  • You can see the image of angel at the ceiling of the main temple. There are several pictorial offerings.
  • After worshipping the main temple, I went to the Nokyosho to have red-stamp. An old lady was there. She was so kind and respectable. I really felt at ease. Every staff at Fudasho should be like this. She even told the time of train from Namegawa Station.
  • Then I strolled in the precinct for a while. There were guardians for the community who protect from Alzheimer's disease.
  • Tome River flows very close to the temple. I walked back on the bank of Tone River to the station. I came across a lot of hikers on the bank.
  • Tone River flows calmly. It breezed on the bank. I wished I could jog on the bank.
  • I could get on the train to be left at 9:56 AM, which an old lady told me.
  • This time I could enjoy a mini trip.
    
    
    Deva Gate Stone Monument A decoration of sacred straw rope
    
    
    Main Temple Temple Plate Image of Angle
    
    
    Pictorial offering Stone Buddha
    
    
    Guardians for the community Bank of Tone River
    
    
    Carduus on the bank
    
    
    
  • I got home around 12:30 PM. Thus I could run 30 km in the afternoon, but it was so hot and humid and I was exhausted.
    
    
    

2)Monday, May 1, 2006 Weather: Sunny Pilgrimage in Chugoku Kannon Fudasho (Part I)

• The tenth Fudasho : Senkou Ji Temple (15-1, Higashi-tsuchidou machi, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Pref.
  
  
  • I read the guide book of Chugoku Kannon Fudasho and found that there exists pilgrimage route which connects 37 famous and old temples in Chugoku area.
  • I had a plan to return to my home country, Okayama, during the Golden Week holidays in May. So I decided to visit some of those temples during the period.
  • First, I planned to visit Onomichi City since there are three Fudashoes (temples) there.
  • I left Niwase Station of JR Sanyo Line located in my parent's house at 9:40 AM by local train. I arrived in Onomichi Station at 10:50. It was sunny and hot.
  • The voluntary guide gave me a sightseeing map just in front of the station.
  • The map shows the route connecting 25 temples in Onomichi City (2.8 km) and thus I started to follow the map.
  • First I headed for Senkouji Temple. However, soon I lost my way!
  • There are lots of slopes in Omomich City. Anyway, I walked up the slope and finally reached the Senkouji Park. I could enjoy a good view of Mnomichi Strait from the park.
  • I walked down the slope to the main temple of Senkohji Temple. The view from the temple was also marvelous.
  • I bought the Red Stamp Book and got the red stamp there. The pilgrimage in Chugoku Kannon Fudasho just started. The lady at the reception of the temple was so kind and explained about the Fudasho.
  • The eleven-headed main Kannon can be only worshipped every 33 years.
  • I descended the steep stone steps to visit next temple.
    
    
    View from the park Senkouji
    
    
    Senkouji Stone Buddha
    
    
    
• Special Fudasho : Saikoku Ji Temple (29-27 Nishikubo-cho, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Pref.)
  
  
  • Saikokuji Temple is in the mountain located furthest from the sea among 25 temples of Onomich City.
  • Two big straw sandals were hung at magnificient deva gate.
  • The precinct is spacious and there exist many splendid buildings such as Kondo (Main hall), Jibutsu-do, Fudo-do, Taishi-do, etc. The three-storied pagoda is built at the highest point. It is said that the 6th Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshimasa, built the pagoda.
  • I was surprised that there exits such a magnificient temple in Onomichi City.
    
    
    Deva Gate Kondo Pagoda
    
    
    
  
  
• The nineth Fudasho : Jodo Ji Temple (20-28 Higashi-kubo cho, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Pref.)
  
  
  • Jodoji Temple is located in the western part of Onomichi City. It's the oldest temple in Onomichi City. It is said that the temple was open by Prince Shotoku.
  • The staff of the temple would guide in the main temple at a fee of Yen 500. The explanation of the staff was interesting. He also taught me the shooting points in the temple.
  • The eleven-headed main Kannon, a national treasure, can be worshipped every 33 years. The staff said you came a little bit earlier since the Kannon would be shown from May 4!! However, the entrance fee would be doubled during the period.
  • I could worship three Amitabhas in the Amidado.
  • The pagoda, a national treasure, is one of three famous pagodas in Japan.
  • The garden of Jodoji was also wonderful.
  • The temple would be crowded when the Kannon is shown, however, when I visited, it was quiet and see the temple leisurely.
  • The maximum temperature of today was almost 30 degrees Centigrade. It was already summer! Thus I decided to return to the station by bus not on foot.
    
    
    Temple Gate Main Temple Imperial Envoy Gate
    
    
    Garden Part of Pagoda
    
    
    
  • I bought locally brewed Japanese sake for souvenir.
  • As soon as I came back to my parent's house, I tasted the sake. It was so delicious.

‚P�jSaturday, April 29, 2006 Pilgrmage in Saigoku Fudasho (Part V) Weather: Cloudy

• The eleventh Fudasho: Kamidaigoji Temple (1 Daigosan, Daigo, Fushimi-ku, Koyoto)
  
  
  • At night on April 28, 2006, I took on the overnight highway bus to leave for Kyoto at 23:00 from Shinjuku, Tokyo. The bus reached Yamashina, Kyoto at 5:45. I had breakfast at "Matsuya " restaurant in front of the station, and then I got on the first bus to "Daigo Sanpou-in" at 6:24 AM. Only three passengers were on the bus. It took aound 20 minutes to the bus stop of "Daigo-sanpou-in".
  • I started to walk toward the 11th Fudasho "Kami-daigo-ji" Temple. I passed the precinct of Daigoji Temple and reached the approach of "Kami-daigo-ji". There exists the "Nyonin-do" at the entrance of the approach.
  • The slope started from the beginning and continued. It was hard for me to climb since I didn't sleep well in the night bus.
  • I met several people were coming down in the early morning. I wondered if they were worshippers of the Fudasho. I saw one young man were running up and passed me. It's a good training. I finally reached the main temple of the Fudasho after one-hour climbing. The height is 450 m above the sea level. I believe it's hardest for old-aged people to reach there from the foot.
  • No one was there when I arrived in the main temple. I was standing in front of the main temple for a while by myself. It was so quiet.
  • The Kannon was in the small shrine and I could not see. It was before 8:00 AM. No one was in the "Nokyo Sho".
  • Thus I climbed to the peak of Mt. Daigo. It was cloudy and the view from the peak was not clear.
  • When I came back to the main temple around 8:30 AM, I saw a staff and I could get a red stamp from him. Then I started to walk to the next Fudasho "Iwama-dera" Temple.
    
    
    Approach Nyoninndo Steps
    
    
    Main Temple Main Temple Stone Buddha
    
    
    View from Mt. Daigo
    
    
    
• The 12th Fudasho: Iwamadera Temple
  
  
  • The downhill way continued from Mt. Daigo.
  • No one was there while walking down to the foot.
  • After entering the paved road, I continued to walk according to the guidebook. However, I might lost the guide plate and l lost my way!
  • I was forced to make a big detour and walk up the paved long slope.
  • I was tired when I came back to the correct course.
  • To reach to Iwamadera Temple, I had to climb up for 30 minutes. No one was there and I sweated very much.
  • Finally I reached the back of the temple. A lot of worshippers were there.
  • This is my second visit there. I got a red stamp and started to walk again to next Fudasho, Ishiyamadera Temple.
    
    
    Guide plate to Iwamadera (Mt. Daigo) Iwamadera (Pond where Basho Matsuwo, Haiku poet, composed Haiku)
    
    
    Stone Monument Bajo's Haiku: Hearing the sound of water when a frog flies into the old pond.
    
    
    
  
  
• The thirteenth Fudasho: Ishiyamadera Temple
  
  
  • I walked down the slope where I walked up and down sweatily two years ago.
  • I finally reached the bus stop of Nakasennmachi. I was so tired since I passed two peaks and thus I decided to take on the bus to Ishiyamadera Temple.
  • Only two buses were available per hour. However, fortunately, the bus came within 5 minutes.
  • I took off the bus at the bus stop of the gate of Ishiyamadera Temple.
    
    
    Gate of Ishiyamadera Temple
    
    
    
  • I also visited the temple twice. Last time, I came here in the early morning and thus it was quite. However, this time, it was almost noon and a lot of worshippers were there. Many souvenir shops were open although I did not notice last time.
  • A lot of people were waiting at Nokyosho where a red stamp was given. An old-aged couple asked the staff to handwrite "Namuamidabutsu" on the white gown. They were told that it would cost Yen 700. It's a good business for the temple, I thought.
  • Anyway, I also got the red stamp on the stamp book and heded fot the next Fudasho, Miidera Temple.
  • I bought the freshwater clams seasoned by Chinese pepper, a specialty of Ohmi District, as souvenior. I also had the freshwater clams rice bowl as lunch. It was delicious.
  
  
• The fourteenth Fudasho: Miidera Temple
  
  
  • I took on the train from Keihan Isahiyamnadera Station to Miidera Station.
  • The main temple (Kannondo) of Miidera was also crowded.
  • I got the red stamp there and walked around the precinct, then went back to the station. My pilgrimage finished as scheduled. The total steps of this time were 32,000!!
  • I finally came back to my home country, Okayama, in the evening.
    
    
    Kannondo
    
    
    
  
  

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