Meoto-Iwa, or Wedding Rocks, are two rock formations in the sea adjacent to Futami Okitama Shrine (Frog Shrine) in Ise, Mie prefecture, Japan. The two rocks are joined by a large shimenaw which is a rope usually made of rice-straw and used for sacred places or for purification. According to a Shinto belief, the rocks… Continue reading Meoto-Iwa (Wedding Rocks) and Futami Okitama Shrine (Frog Shrine)
Yamazaki Hachimangu Shrine was having a little festival over the last week. It was a lovely experience to see all of the flowers around the shrine. Hydrangeas floating in the pond, flowers in jars and vases, and flowers on the goshuin stamp. Goshuin Stamps Goshuin stamps are seal stamps that you can get at a… Continue reading Yamazaki Hachimangu Shrine
Well, I have officially started the Shikoku Pilgrimage. You do not have to be Buddhist to do the pilgrimage and I think everyone who decides to do a pilgrimage does it for their own individual reasons. (P.S. – I’m only squinting from the sun and am not in pain. Haha) What is the Shikoku Pilgrimage?… Continue reading Starting the Shikoku Pilgrimage
If you live in Japan, you are familiar with the maneki-neko. For my friends who are not familiar, the maneki-neko {beckoning cat) is a common Japanese figurine which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. They come in a variety of colors and some have the left paw raised and some the right paw. It… Continue reading Ōmatsu Daigongen – Cat Shrine
After a beautiful day of sunshine yesterday, today was back to overcast and rainy. A few days ago I started a fitness challenge with a daily outdoor exercise component, so as soon as I got home from work, I changed and set out on my walk. I don’t typically choose to walk in the rain,… Continue reading A Rainy Day Walk, Coffee, and a New Friend
Known for it’s onsens and tea, Ureshino is a quaint little town in a valley surrounded by mountains in the southwest part of Saga Prefecture. Throughout the area, you will see tiered fields that look like rows and rows of manicured shrubs. These are tea fields! Tea fields can be seen throughout Japan and different… Continue reading Ureshino Tea, Saga Prefecture
During my recent trip around Kyushu, while spending a few days in Miyazaki, I discovered Heiwadai Park. I was drawn to this park after reading about the clay figures, but once I arrived I was mesmerized by all of the different things to see and the beautiful park. Heiwadai Park, which is also known as… Continue reading Heiwadai Park / Miyazaki Peace Park – Burial Statues and a Peace Tower
First Stop – Miyazki Prefecture This year during spring break, I decided to drive the perimeter of the island of Kyushu, which is the third largest of Japan’s five main islands that make up the mainland. My first destination was Miyazaki-shi… the capital city of Miyazaki prefecture. It’s a coastal city located on the south… Continue reading Udo Shrine – A Shrine in a Cave on a Cliff
Abuto Kannon (Bandaiji Temple) This vermilion temple rising above the blue sea on a jagged cliff is the stuff that Japanese art is born of. Abuto Kannon (also known as Bandaiji Temple) is perched precipitously above the Seto Inland Sea. Ukiyo-e Art This temple was immortalized by ukiyo-e artist Hiroshige. Ukiyo-e art literally means “pictures… Continue reading Temple With a View
About thirty minutes outside of Hagi is a very unique temple where cat sculptures frolic or lie lazily in the sun. The official name for this temple is “Seigetsu-san Unrinji Temple”, but it is commonly known as the “Cat Temple”. There are more than 700 cat sculptures on the temple grounds. Many were carved by… Continue reading Unrinji (Cat Temple) in Hagi