The shrine where Japanese-style vow renewal is available: Takenobu Inari Shrine (武信稲荷神社)

#3 Takenobu Inari Shrine (武信稲荷神社)

This shrine is well known for giving a victory and assisting expecting couples with naming their baby. 

There are couples of tori at Takenobu Inari Shrine.

Takenobu Inari Shrine is the setting of the tale of old Japan: Issun-boshi (一寸法師), Japanese Tom Thumb. Issun-boshhi is familiar to Japanese children as well as Momo-taro (桃太郎) or Urashima-taro (浦島太郎).

Isshun-boshi

A summary of Issun-boshi

     Long, long ago, there was a man who is only a sun tall. He had never grown taller any more so was named Issun-boshi. (Issun means a sun.) One day he made his mind to be a samurai, so he likened a needle to a sword and went down a river onto a bowl boat paddling by a chopstick head for Kyoto.

     After coming to his destination safely, Issun-boshi lived and worked at the most biggest premises in Kyoto. He went along with the princess when she visited the Kiyomizu-dera because he pleased his lord, Sanjo-daijin Dono. However, they were attacked by a ogre while on a journey, and Issun-boshi was swallowed. Just then, Issun-boshi brandished his needle in the ogre's stomach. It couldn't stand the pain, and it ran for its life after spat out him. 

     The ogre dropped the Uchideno-kozuchi, a mallet of good luck. It is believed that dreams come true when you shake it. As Issun-boshi shook the Uchideno-kozuchi, he was grown rapidly up to be a man. He married the princess and they lived well ever after with bringing out worldly possessions. 

There is a Japanese hackberry in the precincts. It is 23 meters high and over 850 years old. The Government has designated it as a natural monument. People believed that it has healing powers, and they massage their affected part after touching the body of the tree. 

the Japanese hackberry 

Takenobu Inari Shrine is also famous for the power of matchmaking. Japanese hackberry is called Enoki (榎) in Japanese, but it is also called En-no-ki(えんの木). The meaning of En is a turn of fate or destiny. 

Here is the story that strengthen the power of matchmaking. When Ryoma SAKAMOTO, 坂本龍馬, who was a patriot during Bakumatsu period in Japan, was in hiding in Kyoto from enemies, he went to Takenobu Inari Shrine because this is their memorable place they often visited, and engraved his name on the body of the tree in order to let his wife, Oryo, know he was alive. After that they could meet again.

Ema(絵馬) which has pictures of Ryoma and Oryo drawn on it

A chainsaw art dragon made of a branch fallen down from the tree.

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Adress: 38, Imashinzaike Nishi-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 604-8801

Access: It is about 10 minutes walk from Omiya Station (大宮駅) on the Kyoto line of Hankyu Railway(阪急電鉄京都線) / Shijo-Omiya Station (四条大宮駅) on the Arashiyama main line of Keihuku Railway(京福電鉄 嵐山本線) / Nijo-jyou Mae Station  (二条城前駅) on the Tozai line of Kyoto City Subway (京都市営地下鉄東西線) / Nijo Station (二条駅) of JR.

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If you are interested in Japanese-style vow renewal at this shrine, visit our website and submit the application form. →http://wrappedinjapan.jp

See ya!

The shrine where Japanese-style vow renewal is available: Umenomiya-taisha Shrine（梅宮大社）

#2 Umenomiya-taisha Shrine (梅宮大社）

I found the shrine where is a splendid out-of-the-way-spot nearby Arashiyama.

The station nearest to the site is Matsuo-taisha Station on the Hanky Arashiyama line (阪急嵐山線), next to Arasiyama Station. 

Matsuo-taisha Station (松尾大社駅)

It takes 10 minutes on foot from the station to Umenomiya Taisha. After crossing the bridge over the Katsura-gawa River,  walk straight down the Shijo-dori Street. Go through the second pedestrian crossing, and you will see the tori of Umenomiya-taisha Shrine in the distance.

The first tori of the Umenomiya-taisha Shrine. 

This is the second tori.

When you cross a bridge in a shrine precinct, walk either side of the right left in order to avoid the center. The center of a bridge is the way of the god.

Honden: Main shrine building.

One of the reason why I recommend the Umenomiya-taisha Shrine is there are beautiful garden and pond! You can enjoy various kinds of flowers in spring or summer.

The best time to see...

• Ume (梅): Japanese apricot　　　　　　　　　　　   Mid-February. to Mid-March

• Tsubaki (椿): camellia　　　　　　　　　　　　　   Mid-March to Mid-April

• Yaezakura (八重桜): double cherry blossom　　　　　Mid- toward the end of April

• Kirishima Tsutsuji (霧島つつぢ): Kirishima Azerea　   The end of April

• Kakitsubata (杜若(カキツバタ)): rabbitear iris　　　   The end of April to early May

• Hanashoubu (花菖蒲): Iris　　　　　　　　　　　    The end of May to Mid-June

• Ajisai (紫陽花(あじさい)): hydrangea　　　　　　　 In June

Autumn  leaves are nice in this season.

 There are some Koi fish, carp, in the pond.

I found a taraxacum albidum!

Pay attention to the edge of the verandah. There are many lovely cats in the shrine precinct. 

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Adress: 30, Fukenokawa-cho, Umezu, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Access: Take Kyoto City Bus [3]・[28]・[29]・[71] and get off at Umenomiya Jinguu Mae (梅ノ宮神宮前). / Get off at Matsuo-taisha Station and 10 minutes walk from the station

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If you are interested in Japanese-style vow renewal at this shrine, visit our website and submit the application form. →http://wrappedinjapan.jp

See you!

The shrine where Japanes-style vow renewal is available: Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine (熊野若王子神社)

#1 Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine (熊野若王子神社)

Here is the very first shrine where you can renew your vows in Japanese-style! 

This is the first time I show a shrine to you, so I will introduce the Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine with some manners applying at every shrine. At first, before worshipping a tori, a gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrine, bow slightly.

The tori of the Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine.

Next, rinse your mouth and hands with fresh water at Temizu-ya/Chouzu-ya, the purification fountain. It is usually close to a tori. 

Temizu-ya/Chouzu-ya(手水舎)

--How to purify your hands and mouth--

1. Be ready for taking out a handkerchief.

2. Dip up water with your right hand using hishaku, a ladle.

3. Rinse your left hand.

4. Shift it from right to left hand and rinse your right one.

5. Ladle water into your left hand with your right hand, and rinse your mouth. Don't transfer water directly with a ladle to your mouths. 

6. Rinse your left hand again.

7. Hold the ladle vertically and rinse it by poring water over its shaft.

8. Put it back on the original position.
※It is desirable to purify with just one scoop of water you dipped up first on all steps.

Bento, box lunches, and light meals were sold in the precincts of the Shrine at the time. 

You can eat them and rest sitting on benches.

Honden (本殿): Main shrine building

Third, go to worship service.

--How to worship at a shrine--

1. Take some steps toward a hall of worship and bow slightly.

2. Make a money offering to an offertory box and ring a bell.

3. Bow deeply two time .

4. Clap your hands twice.

5. Pray peacefully.

6. Bow deeply once and go off.

Tips: 

In Japan, there's a superstition that offering a five yen coin bring good luck because the pronunciation of five yen in Japanese, go en (五円) , is homophone with go en (御縁). "En" of 御縁 means causal connection or relationship, and "go"of that is a respectful prefix. Therefore, many Japanese offer a five yen coin. Additionally, a fifty yen coin is considered as more lucky than a five yen coin.  That is because the Japanese for "fifty yen" is pronounced gojuu en (五十円) , and is the same pronunciation as the word meaning "quintuple". It is thought that lucky will become five times. On the other hand, a ten yen coin tends to be avoided to offer. A ten yen coin is actually pronounced juu en(十円); however, "ju" is also pronounced "tou". Tou is homophone with distant relation(遠縁), and that is why a ten yen coin is unfavorable as an offering.

In almost all shrines, there are omikuji,  sacred lots, in front of the shrine office.

 There are adorable omikuji in Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine.

Yatagarasu, a mythological black bird called a "mythical crow", considered to be a messenger of this shrine.

 Yatagarasu is three-legged crow.

After enjoying omikuji, it can be used a lovely ornament in your rooms.

The general seven outline for fortunes on omikuji:

daikich (大吉): best luck

chukichi (中吉): good luck

shokichi (小吉): average good luck
kichi (吉): average luck

suekichi (末吉): a little luck

kyo (凶): bad luck

daikyo (大凶): worst luck

※There are various theories on the order and variety of the fortunes.

The omikuji I drew said that shokuchi (小吉).

 As you see the center of the omikuji paper above, letters are written from right to left; 吉小. Originally, Japanese letters are usually written vertically and from right to left. Affected by European and American language, letters gradually became to be written from left to right and horizontally we know today.　

Finally, when you leave a shrine, worship a tori, don't forget to turn around and bow slightly in the same way as you come.

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Adress: 2, Nyakuoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoso-shi, Kyoto

Access: Take Kyoto City Bus and get off at Nanzenji / Eikando Mae (南禅寺・永観堂前) or Higashi Tennoucho (東天王町). 5 minutes walk from each bus stop

Open hours: all day (the shrine office: AM8:30〜PM5:00)

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Here is the starting point of Tetsugaku no Michi, Philosopher's Walk.

Autumn leaves are beautiful around the shrine.

If you are interested in Japanese-style vow renewal at the shrine, visit our website and submit the application form. http://wrappedinjapan.jp

Do you know what today is in Japan? -- 11/11

What is today? It is "Pocky & Pretz Day" in Japan!

November 11 is Pocky & Pretz Day every year in Japan. Both are popular stick snacks sold by Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. 

http://pocky.glico.com/1111/

Pretz is flavored with salt while Pocky is chocolate coated. Pretz is named after pretzel which is a crisp biscuit originated in Germany. 

Tips: when you see サラダ味, it means flavored with salt (and salad oil).

A box of two packs.

Handy.

Pocky was developed from Pretz: actually plain Pretz coated with chocolate as a substitute for salt.

 

Pretz                         →                         Pocky

Additionally, Pocky is snapped when you eat and it sounds "pokkin". That's why it was named Pocky and has been loved for almost 50 years.

This is the Pocky sold only in winter: covered with cocoa powder.

Also a box of two packs. This winter only Pocky is shorter than common Pocky.

A part of stick is not coated with chocolate in order to be able to eat without soiling your hands. 

Their stick shape resemble the number 1. That's why Pocky & Pretz Day was started on 11/11, the 11th year of Heisei Era (1999).

Other flavors I bought today at Family Mart (Japanese convenience store) .

By the way, I'm already starting to forget about that this blog about Kyoto's AREKORE...haha

Speaking of Kyoto, there is Matcha flavored Pocky! 

Quoting from:Travel.jp (http://guide.travel.co.jp/article/9141/)

This is sold only the Kinki Region including Kyoto, and Giant Pocky. It is one-and-half times as long as common Pocky. This will be good souvenirs of Kyoto for your families and friends! 

Here is a commercial of Pocky. The dance by the guys of the third J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE (Japanese popular boy band) is unique.

See you next time!

Kameoka dream cosmos garden,Tanba, Kyoto

What do you think of if I say "an autumn flower"?　

Many Japanese imagine cosmos. Accordingly,  I visited Kameoka dream Cosmos Garden（亀岡夢コスモス園）, Tanba, Kyoto. 10/25/2015

You can enjoy the cosmos of 8 million, 20 types in 4.5 hectares.

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Adress: Anagawanomizu, Yoshikawa-chou, Kameoka-shi, Kyoto, Japan 621-0014

Access: It takes about ten minutes by Keihan Kyoto traffic bus from JR Sagano Line Kameoka Station to Undou Kouen Mae （運動公園前）bus stop.

Bus fare is reasonable :¥230, probably. However, on this section of the line bus run infrequently, so if you want to get there fast and at ease, I'd recommend going by a Kyoto taxi or Hirano taxi after getting discount ticket at JR Kameoka station tourist information office. Show the discount ticket to the driver, you can pay a flat-rate. It is 1,000 yen taxi ride one-way from the station to Kameoka Dream Cosmos Garden.

Business day and time: AM9:00〜PM4:00 (weekends PM4:30) from the end of September to the end of October (Was in business until November 1st this year.) 

Entrance fee: 600 yen*weekdays 500 yen / [primary schoolchild] 300 yen

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     The representative of Japanese flower, as you know,  is cherry blossom, and it is called SAKURA in Japanese. SAKURA written in kanji (a Chinese character used in Japan) is 桜. When cosmos is written in kanji, it is 秋桜, although it's usually written in the katakana syllabary: コスモス. 秋 means Autumn. What it comes down to is that Japanese consider cosmos to be a Autumn cherry blossom.

The occasion was favored by magnificent weather. Strong wind though.

The contrast between the bright pink and the white is amazing.

Yellow ones are also stunning.

In the garden, creative scarecrow contest was held.

This is the characrer motif in Studio Ghibli's popular animated movie "My neighbor Totoro."

I'll be back next autumn! And I'm sure you also will visit there!

The season of cosmos was over, but leaves begin to turn red or yellow. Kyoto's noted for the autumn foliage. They are a lot of famous spots for its beautiful aurumn leaves. You can enjoy them if you come to Kyoto at this time.

Thank you♡