The 33rd Day in Japan The day starts cool and moist. It rained again, because I can not have my breakfast of biscuits pilgrims, mochi (rice balls with bean filling) and Cola more cheer. Yesterday was a nervous and demanding sports days and nice weather would have been easier for me to get up. But I will come away late - until I peeled out of my sleeping bag, I had breakfast and packed, it takes after all. But I have a dry place for my morning ablutions, when behind the lodge such a small cubicle (small store) with sink, toilet and even electric light (denki) position. The Bangai No. 14 is right on my way, but I can not miss, but the rain is getting stronger.
digression Bangai temple No. 14 Tsubakidō / Jōfukuji (椿 堂 / 常 福寺)
"The Hall of Karmeli" and "The Temple of endless happiness" was founded by Kobo Daishi and dedicated to Jizo Bosatsu Enmei and Fudo Myoo. In the year 816 of the Daishi was on his travels through here and used his walking stick from camellia wood to hold a rite which saved the population from a mysterious fever. As the fever was gone, the floor of the Daihi grew from a beautiful camellia, which was called by people only "Kobo Daishi Tsubaki (camellia Kobo Daishi). The temple was burned but was rebuilt on the present site.
When I arrive at the temple I am in the pilgrim's office warmly welcomed by the monk. We keep a small Klönschnack in English and I get the first Osettai (pilgrim gift) the day a "crown orange" gift. Crown oranges have such a small, flattened bulge, which acts like a little crown on the round orange. But the entry in the book Pilgrims (nokyochō), and a rice dumplings with bean filling (mochi), I still get to it because the monk is so enthusiastic about me and my stories. But I also do not want to splash out and buy an album in the temple in which I Götterbildchen (Fude) and can collect only in Bangai-related stamps, colorful stamp cards. Taking pictures in the temple is cumbersome because it is raining. So I jump from shelter to shelter and take some pictures to document my visit. A camellia tree with a few flowers I find the water tank. At this time, but that is my shield, which prohibits the drinking of water more in view than the few flowers, the rain still do pretty disheveled. The stone statues in the temple all seem to be relatively new, as if they had just been set up. I can Hotei, one of the seven lucky gods represent. This is the fat monk who always laughs and carries a sack of charity. Its virtue is self-sufficiency - "Expect nothing and you shall receive". But from his alms-bag he gives you some off, so that it appears mostly as Santa Claus with children or against a statue in restaurant entrances smiles. Especially nice to find here the palm trees, you see them here more often, as we are not in the tropical Okinawa (southernmost islands). If a force but always thick raindrops on the lens for cleaning, make taking pictures is not really fun.
My next goal is not the Temple No. 66, but the Bangai temple No. 15, which here is quite far away from the main pilgrimage route. I walk along the road No. 192 bending, but not to the north, the way I would embark on the return trip. After about 13 km I'm past the Maruzen Shokudo, a small restaurant that is so small that the toilet is housed in a separate house. Before I pass even the Sakaime tunnel, preceded by a discarded bus stands. Is that perhaps the bus, the director of the film "88 - pilgrims in Japanese" has used as a sleeping place? I vaguely remember that I have seen such a scene in which he ate with another Japanese in a converted bus and slept. But say the signs on this road wreck, not that it's free. 2,000 yen to shell out the pilgrims, but the amenities are listed, and a phone number is also recorded yet. But still I will seek no accommodation and refresh myself in the small restaurant first time in my udon soup, which brings the heat again in my heart. I continue my way and the weather is getting better. Although I can read on an electronic display board in 12 ° C ", but if you put a quick step to the day and plenty of warm udon noodle soup has absorbed, then the sun breaks through as the cream on a piece of cake. On a Daily Yamasaki combining (24-hour store) I hesitate to get my food and as a pilgrim gift even a giant apple. Fruit is always expensive in Japan, as much has to be imported and if it is a shell of apple an extent. The vendor has brought him extra from an adjoining room and not taken from the delivery, then taste such a thing but doubly delicious!
now the sun is shining and my mood rises, not only because I have eaten well. I're shooting for a business hotel, where I will deliver my luggage and then to pay the Bangai temple No. 15 a visit. "Namu Daishi Henjo Kongo" I pray when I was at about 10 m height of the river over a suspension bridge, cross over. Just do not go to rhythm, so I do not bridge will oscillate. That is an impressive river with large bridges, not as a dried trickle. The reason for this I will learn later, because there are a locking mechanism that accumulates the flow. When I, however, the stairs, full of leaves, the Hotel climb, I'm not sure if it was the right choice. There do not seem to take this route many walkers. In the hotel at this time there is still "dead trousers" and I speak to two young waitresses from the adjoining restaurant. By night it should be okay, so I leave my luggage in the lobby and make my way to the Bangai temple No. 15 I underestimated the track quite nicely: As I walk but a few hours a river. While I still ponder the fact that I have not run much longer, it also happened to me again. A large construction site has put me off the path, but you'd have the temple and leading him to Cable car but actually recognize from afar. I continued to run and then still find the cable car, although I initially held out for the first time after a train station, where I wanted to get my bearings. I redeem a ticket for return trip. Let's see how well the trail is signposted above-maybe I will make the return trip back on foot.
digression Bangai temple No. 15 Hashikuraji (箸 蔵 寺)
"The Temple of chopsticks camp was 828 established lured by Kobodaishi by the strangely sacred atmosphere of the mountain, and Konpira Daigongen actually a shintositischen deity (kami) dedicated. The Deity is the Daishi appeared to be and to have told him they would all save those who use chopsticks. Sun carved a statue of the monk deity Konpira that comes from the Indian pantheon and protected as a "crocodile-god" fishermen and sailors. As Buddhism Shinto deities as manifestations of Bosattsus (enlightened) conceives that are not yet entered into Nirvana (resolution), they are often asked as a helper on the path of your own enlightenment to help. And in the aforementioned Shugendō (Bergasketentum) be honored. Can be found here, along with the temple buildings, and a miniature pilgrimage route of 88 temples, thus Shinto buildings and statues. 1868, here close to each other socially religions were torn apart under the "Put the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism. They say a goblin (tengu) should have completed our first holy chopsticks here. As with brushes or needles, there is an annual festival where the equipment sent into retirement and thanked them for their work. On 4 August, chopsticks are incinerated in the fire and there are races held over hot coals. The cherry blossom is on 12 April, on 12 November, the autumn leaf colors celebrated. For this purpose there are special rice cakes (Omochi) that are similar to a lottery, thrown to the people. In the cakes are hidden pieces of paper that can be exchanged later in small gifts. In Japan it is believed that the star under which one is born determines whether you have luck or misfortune in life. At the four star parties on 31 December 6th and 14 January and 4th February with ceremonies and prayers are held, the believer can change his fate by praying to his star.
When I get off at the top station, I had seen while driving an old gate is to lay my decision to run the return trip back on foot. A small wild boar greets me up here, it may be a few weeks old, as an adult, we would not connect with a line from here. The temple complex is extensive and impressive building. I did not think that an additional cancellation afford such buildings and spacious grounds can.
After I recited my Sutra, I walk in the direction of photographing the temple office. When I arrive there, "bluffs" with it as a monk in English. If I had taken pictures, he asks me in a harsh tone, and makes a gesture as if to take away my camera. I am short of the wailing - whether the harsh tone of voice or in the prospect of photographing not allowed. If you imagery, not just flash photography, which often have harmful may be the sensitive surfaces or could interfere with the faithful, or the camera is aimed directly at the statues in the temple halls, the photography is actually allowed. If it is not desired, actually provide information on large signs, which are then written in English. It goes like this several times back and forth whether I would have now photographed anything or not. But suddenly he changes the subject and asks me what I do here and for my age. The atmosphere tilts, while he still played a few seconds before the strict guard, he smiles very wide, as if he had his goal to unsettle me, is achieved. His colleague brings cookies and we start a Pläuschen Shikoku about my tour. When the two do make the entry in my pilgrimage book, they go over the eyes, where I been everywhere in Japan. Since I had bought for the Bangai temple is not a new stamp book, but my old from the shrine at the Fuji-san native pilgrim book, use, she can see from the entries that I have both the Fuji and Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and of course Shikoku have traveled. They are very surprised that I do as a single woman is not only a tour of the 88 temples, but also the additional cancellation (Bangai) visit.
When the conversation is about my age, I have to grin, because the Japanese have the same problem with the assessment of age by Europeans, like the foreign tourists, the Japanese can classify poorly in age. I still get a "pamfueto" (brochure) on the temple and then tear myself away from my talk, because I have not explored everything on the site, which is like saying very widely.
In a Mini-88 Temple Tour, where each a small stone statue represents another temple, I spoke to a Japanese. He is a smattering of German and tells me about his friend, who married a German. Now I have to hurry me but if I have the Gate "halfway", which I had seen from the gondola out to visit, will. I get so down the innumerable stone steps. A wide path leads here to the gate, past Shugendō figures with long noses (Tengu) and vogelschnäbligen hybrids. The gate is very old and I was wondering what holds the gatekeepers still so rotten they work. I pass another tower that is located here on the trail, but when I want to return to the cable car station in order to exchange one return ticket, I choose the wrong path and give up my plans. But when I first course, but then suddenly I'm standing in front of the small valley. For the money, the return trip, I can combine dinner and breakfast at the (24-h-Shop) buy, what I will do it even after I have checked into the hotel. 5750 yen without breakfast I have to shell out. That's pretty heavy, when I view my bad, I look under a bridge and my initial problems with the electricity supply, they had forgotten to secure, remember.
excursion holidays in Japan
The 4th February is a special day, he will "Setsubun" and is a kind of spring festival. To him, the evil demons banned by roasted soy beans, shouting "Fuku wa uchi, oni wa soto" (happiness in! Evil spirits out!) Throws out the door. In part, even people with devil masks of children with these special Beans thrown.
Public Holidays
first January - New Year's Day (shōgatsu): Is the highest holiday in Japan, there are specific foods that all have symbolic significance - as are long noodles for long life. The houses will be brought to a shine with, made from straw and bamboo decorations (Shime-na or kadomatsu) decorated. Although Christmas is celebrated in Japan, but received gifts or money in special envelopes the children at New Year. We visited the Shinto shrine (Hatsumode) and the Buddhist temple. The earlier you his first visit to the "new year" makes, the better protected you from harm. Therefore, it is already on New Year's Eve in long lines to do a first after 24 Clock prayer and burned with new charms, the old to make a replacement. Even with the New Year begins a new zodiac sign, which change each year in Japan. Therefore, the animal also the main subject in the masses of all the friends sent New Year cards. The Japanese postal service has a special, so that even a map is delivered too early. This implies a kind of New Year's lottery. The following days are still considered as holidays. Thus, one of the 3 main New Year holidays in Japan, next to the "golden week" for the 1st May and O-Bon (All Souls Day) in August. It remains to be mentioned, that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday off anyway, the following Monday is fei.
second Monday in January: Coming of Age Day (seijin no hi): On this day we see many 20-year-old (more precisely those who are in this calendar year, twenty years old) in a kimono on the way to City Hall where a ceremony to celebrate the age takes place. For many young Japanese women, this is in addition to the wedding, the only time you will have to be a traditional kimono.
11th February: Commemoration of the Empire (Kenkoku Kinen-no hi)
around 21 March: Beginning of Spring (shunbun no hi) (sakura) with cherry blossom
Early spring coincides roughly with the cherry blossom (sakura) on the latter I have already been reported.
29th April: Showa Day (Showa no hi) in honor of the birthday of Emperor Hirohito (government slogan "Showa"), father of the reigning Emperor of Japan, who died 1989th To the number of holidays that make up the so-called "Golden Week", not to interrupt, he was replaced by the "World Environment Day (midori no hi).
third May Constitution Memorial Day (kenpo Kinenbi)
5th May: Children's Day (kodomo no hi) On Children's Day, previously only a "boy-day" wishes to the children health and happiness. Given the original meaning of the day before each house in the form of carp windsocks (koinobori) hoisted. There is always a great black for the father, the mother of every son and a red one blue, often in different sizes depending on age.
third Monday in July: Ocean Day (umi no hi): This public holiday was introduced in 1996 to break up the long holiday free time between May and September.
third Monday in September: Day of honoring the elderly (Keiro no hi)
around 22 September: beginning of autumn (Shubun no hi)
second Monday in October: the Sports (taiiku no hi): On this day take place in many cities, sports events, it commemorates the anniversary of the Summer Olympic Games in Japan in 1964.
third November Culture Day (bunka no hi): Is also a "Ersatztag" for the birthday of the celebrated here before Emperor Meiji, the Japanese for its food has led to the modern age.
23rd November: Workers' thanksgiving day (Kinro kansha no hi, literally "day of thanks to the work")
23rd December: Birthday of the reigning Emperor Akihito (tennō no tanjōbi)
's birthday each reigning emperor, the emperor is, for the duration of his reign, a holiday. How but in the "Earth Day" in April sees, he is retained even after the "resignation" of the emperor still. On the birthday of the current emperor, part of the inner courtyard of the Imperial Palace is open to the public. Take this opportunity many Japanese to the emperor, during a brief address, which he keeps in support of the imperial family to congratulate.
Other holidays
14th February Valentine's Day
Unlike in the West, the Japanese women here give chocolate to men they admired (friends, colleagues), which then on 14 March, the "White Day" (white tag) return the favor.
3. March: Doll Festival (hinamatsuri): There will puppets (ningyo) issued in historical kimono. This holiday is dedicated to the girls. But the faith to take the dolls away evil spirits into itself and thus protect the owner. If a girl this as a "puppet staircase" designated collection does not put away the next day, it is said that she would only marry late.
8th April: Flower Festival (Hana Matsuri): Buddha's birthday
On this day, on the occasion of the birthday set of the historical Buddha Sakkyamuni elephant figures in the temples. The believer remembers the day a special ceremony in the tea sweetened with a small Buddha statue is poured.
13th August: O-Bon (Buddhist All Souls' Day) Buddhist memorial for the dead. Many Japanese go to their hometown, most companies do for a few days of holiday, the 13th about four to seven days around the August last. Authorities and public institutions remain open because in Japan there is a strict separation of church and state and therefore must ignore religious holidays. I had already reported on the celebrations in the cemetery and the bonfires of Kyoto.
15th November: "Seven-Five-Three" (shichi go san) On this day, it is common for parents with three-or seven-year-old girl and five years with these boys to the local Shinto shrine visit, to pray for health, safety and happy future. Here, the children placed in traditional dress, kimono and hakama ie (culottes). To celebrate this special day, children receive sweets in the shrine. The custom was to thank once to the then high KindersterblichkeitKindersdem local god (kami) for the welfare of the child.
24th and 25 December: Christmas (Kurisumasu)
in Japan also can not escape the atmosphere of Christmas. Although taking place where the actual "gifts seasons" in the winter and summer. To this end, the department stores prepared "obligation gifts" distributed to the persons to whom we owe gratitude or respect. Christmas is more of an atmospheric party in which to enjoy the lights and decorations, and, above all, love couple, a restaurant or make love hotel visit. It falls during the preparations for the New Year, is "years hen parties" appeared similar to the familiar in our Christmas celebrations in the company or association.
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