One of the interesting things to me about Japan is that one runs into its religion in the most unlikeliest of places. Coming from a place where 400 years is a long time, it is different to realize that one is in a land which has been inhabited with a record history for at least 4-5 times that.
On an afternoon with a free day, I decided to try to see if I could find any local temples or landmarks. Turns out there was one not a mile from the hotel.
Along the way, I came across these two cat statues. They are named Hanako and Taro, and are built to honor the Japanese poet Sakutaro Hagiwara.
A small fox shrine on the edge of the street and the parking lot.
Oi Zao Gongen Shrine. Apparently (per the website) this shrine has an approximated 1,000 year history but was relocated in 1925 when a railway factory was built at the site. It was moved here approximately 30 years ago. It enshrines Fukuroju, one of the seven gods of fortune,
There was no-one at this shrine (it was a very small one) except for the rather sleepy temple attendant I woke up in the office for a souvenir.
One of the things that worry me a bit about touring around Japan is how much I would be able to understand without being about to read their language. Do places like this have translations available or does one have to just look it up after the fact?
ReplyDeleteEd, like everything it depends. The more well know and traveled places will usually have something in English. Smaller gems like this are much more after the fact. That said, the information is not too hard to come by: even this small shrine has its own website now.
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