It is one of the 24 divisions of the old calendar and this year is April 4. In China, it is called Seimeisetsu, and it is a national event to visit ancestors’ graves and clean them. A time when everything is bright, clean and beautiful. On this day, I climbed my favorite Mt. Azuma and enjoyed the cherry blossoms in full bloom. It was like heaven.
That is the 11th temple of Shikoku exceptional Sacred Sites. The honzon (principal image of Buddha) is Enmei Jizo Bosatsu. The Kaiki (patron of a temple in its founding) is said to have been Gyoki. It is read in the same kanji as Enmeiji Temple, which is the 54th temple on the 88 Temples of Shikoku in Imabari City. The pine tree that Kobo Daishi planted in this area in the Heian period lived until the Showa period, but now the withered trunk is sleeping quietly in the precincts. When I looked at pictures of the past, I was surprised at the extent and vitality of the branches stretching from north to south, east to west. As soon as the former priest died, the pine tree died, so people of the time said that the priest might have taken pine tree.
That is the 64th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage.It was built by Enno Ozuno.The principal image is Amida Nyorai.It is located at the foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, a sacred mountain. The temple grounds are large and the main hall looks magnificent and majestic. I looked up at Mt. Ishizuchi from the approach. When I visited our temple before, I remembered that I was entertained by an old lady who lived nearby with an orange.
I took a walk in Odawara after a long time. First, go to Odawara Castle which is one of the 100 famous castles in Japan. This castle was the residence of the Hojo family that reigned in Kanto region for 100 years from the first generation Soun Hojo, and it withstood the attacks of Kenshin Uesugi and Shingen Takeda and was called an impregnable castle. There are many big red pine and black pine trees, and the castle tower is beautiful. Hotoku Ninomiya-jinja Shrine in the castle enshrines Ninomiya Sontoku, a thinker of the Edo period. “Economy without morality is a sin.” he said. Miyuki no Hama Beach is goog one where Emperor Meiji and his wife visited. You can see Izu Peninsula, Hatsujima Island, Oshima Island, Miura Peninsula and Boso Peninsula. It is blessed with seafood and the kamaboko is a specialty. I ended my trip with hot sake and yakitori.
That is the 63th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage.It was built by Kobo Daishi.The principal image is Bishamonten.Of the 88 sacred places in Shikoku, only this temple is dedicated to Bishamonten. There is a stone called Jojuishi in the precincts, and it is said that if you close your eyes from near the main hall, walk to Jojuishi with a kongozue, and stick the kongozue through the hole, your wish will come true. This temple is located in the city center, but I can feel the calm and relaxed atmosphere of the precincts.
It’s official name is Kyoeizan Daikyoji. Taishakuten was originally an Indian god and became a god to protect Buddha after being introduced to Buddhism. This temple associated with the extremely popular movie series “Otoko ha tsuraiyo(Men are hard)”. When you get off at the nearest station, Shibamata Station of the Keisei Electric Railway, the Tora-san and Sakura statues welcome you. I washed my hands in the spring water called goshinsui in the precincts and prayed. Probably because of the new virus, there were few people on the approach, which was always crowded with visitors. Going up the banks of the nearby Edo River, I saw the sunset sinking into the town of Shibamata. The “Yagiri no Watashi” crossing the Edo-gawa River from Shibamata toward Matsudo is located nearby.
That is the 61th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage.It was built by Syotoku Taishi.The principal image is Dainich Nyorai.Along the pilgrimage route, about 10 kilometers from Yokomineji to this temple,there are the Monument of Nakatsukasa Mohei that built many signboards making 280 pilgrimages and Shirataki Fudo, in the inner sanctuary of this temple. You will be surprised at the huge reinforced concrete cathedral that serves as the main hall and Daishido.
Although Kawazucho in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of Kawazu-zakura, is famous for its cherry blossoms, there are 70 of them in full bloom along Koidegawa River in Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The flowers are more pink than Somei Yoshino cherries. Although the annual cherry blossom festival held to counter the coronavirus was canceled, many cherry blossom viewers visited the festival. Today is also the first Emperor’s Birthday in Reiwa period.
I took a forestry route from Kurose Pass to Yokomineji. The view of Lake Kurose and Mt. Ishizuchi is magnificent. The pilgrimage route in the mountains from Yokomineji to Kouonji has various colors of trees and mountains, so I was fully enjoyed it. I encountered a child of a wild boar.
That is the 60th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage.It was built by Enno Ozuno.The principal image is Dainichi Nyorai, which is said to have been carved by Kobo Daishi.It is located at an altitude of 745 meters and is the second highest fudasho after Unpenji. I looked at hydrangeas for a while as they were beautiful against the green of the forest and the blue sky. It is also famous for rhododendron.
