Chigasaki is also famous for Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms. About 70 Kawazu-zakura trees are in full bloom on the bank along the Koidegawa River. The dark pink flowers look beautiful against the rape blossoms and the sunset.
Kawagoe, located in the southwestern part of Saitama Prefecture, used to flourish as a castle town and is called “Koedo”. There are many historic sites such as shrines and temples, and the number of cultural properties in the Kanto region is said to be the third largest after Kamakura and Nikko. When I visited Kawagoe for the first time, it was covered with spring weather, and the white plum blossoms were in full bloom at Yakushi Shrine. The townscape of Kurazukuri remains well. The potato has been a specialty since the Edo period. The local sake is also delicious. The bell that is the symbol of the city is “Nihon Otofukei 100 Selection”. Shiki MASAOKA composed a haiku while he was a student here.
The Soga Plum Grove in Odawara is at its peak. At Kozu Station (KO- ZU) on the JR Tokaido Line, transfer to the Gotemba Line and get off at Shimosoga Station. About 35,000 white plum trees were in full bloom and reflected the sunset. Mt. Fuji is also nearby. This village of Soga is famous for ‘Soga Monogatari’, one of Japan’s three famous avenges. I remembered the Soga brothers at his family temple, Jozen-ji Temple.
Early blooming rape blossoms are in full bloom at Mt. Azuma in Ninomiya Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. The weather was nice and the silhouette of Mt. Fuji was beautiful. The sweet scent of rape blossoms fills the air and makes me feel refreshed for a while. The flower language is “cheerful love”.Spring is drawing near.“Risshun” (the first day of spring)is coming soon.
That is the 18th temple of Shikoku exceptional Sacred Sites.Its principal image is Seikanzeonbosatsu and its founder was Kobo Daishi. According to temple legend, this temple is the birthplace of Tamayori Gozen, Kobo Daishi’s mother. Behind the main hall is the Seto Inland Sea. I was comforted for a while by the calm view of the sea after a long time. At the temple gate, local sumo wrestlers greeted me instead of Nio statues. From the main hall to Daishi-do called Oku-no-in, cross the JR Yosan Line. Hydrangeas float on the chozubachi in Okunoin and it is beautiful.
It is the head temple of the Soto sect along with Eiheiji in Fukui Prefecture. It was founded in the Nara period and is said to have been founded by Gyoki. The principal image is Shaka Nyorai. During the Meiji period,this temple moved from Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsurumi, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The precinct is huge. There are many temple buildings surrounded by trees and monks are in training. This site was open to the public, and the citizens were taking a leisurely walk. In the midst of silence, I visited Daisodo Hall, which houses the founder Dogen and other Zen priests. I heard the sound of drums from the distant hall.Mr. Yujiro Ishihara was buried in this temple. It is close to Tsurumi Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line.
That is the 66th temple of Shikoku 88temple pilgrimage.The temple was founded by Kobo Daishi and its principal image is the 1000 armed Kanseon Bosatsu. It is 910 meters above sea level and the highest of the 88 temples on the pilgrimage. Although the temple is located in Ikeda-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, it is said to be the fudasho “Nehan no Dojo” of Sanuki, and at last I entered into Sanuki. From the henroyado in Ikeda, I silently climbed up the steep pilgrimage road in Mt. Unpenji. Looking back, I can see the beautiful mountains of the Shikoku Mountains. The temple grounds are large. I was greeted by hydrangeas in full bloom and the Gohyakurakan. The water I had at Mizudo was very mild and delicious.
Today is Rikka. One of the 24 divisions of the solar year. It is said to be the day when spring reaches its peak and a hint of summer begins to appear. It is midway between the Vernal Equinox and the summer solstice, and it is summer from today until the beginning of autumn. During the beginning of summer, the beach is full of blooming false Bindweed, and the beautiful pink blooms will add color to Chigasaki in early summer. The flower language is’ kizuna. ‘. The evening sun shone with petals amid the roar of the sea.
That is the 14th temple of Shikoku exceptional Sacred Sites. Its official name is Tsubakido Jofukuji. The principal images are Enmei Jizo Bosatsu and Fudo Myoo. It is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi.It is located along the road from Kawanoe to Ikeda. It is said that the name of this temple comes from the fact that camellias sprouted from a stick Kobo Daishi poked to contain noxious vapors and grew into a large tree. The camellia, which is called Daishi Otsue Tsubaki, is said to be 300 years old in the third generation and is very thick in the precincts. I was entertained by a temple staff who said that there was no need to pay the sutra offeringfor the Arukihenro of pilgrimage. The temple is small but impressive.
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.