Fukutsu City and the Miyajidake Shrine
Yesterday we were fortunate enough to join some friends from
school to visit the shrine. Corina and her family had previously visited the
shrine and the surrounding area. They were our expert guides and we had a wonderful
day. The weather could not have been any better. It was sunny with a slight
breeze and the temperature was in the mid to upper 60s.
Right now is prime time for the cherry blossoms (sakura).
Many people go and have a picnic under the cherry tress and celebrate with
family and friends (Hanami). I took so many pictures, but I honestly could not
believe how beautiful it was outside. There is a large area where we found
people having their hanami. There were young couples as well as many old
couples. It was simply beautiful to witness.
The Miyajidake Shrine has three gods of Jingu Empress,
Katsumura Okami ad Katsuyori Okami that are enshrine there. Many people gather
at this shrine to pray for business success, transportation safety and their
family’s safety. The oshimenawa, or giant straw rope, that decorates the main
building of the shrine, is the largest in Japan weighing 5 tons. Yes, 5 tons.
It is just huge and massive. There is a giant bell and a giant Japanese drum
exhibited in the shrine area, which are also the largest in Japan.
We walked all around the shrine, the petting zoo area, down
by the lake and near the traditional Japanese houses. I have took over 260
photos, and even thought you won’t believe it, they are not all attached to my
blog. I didn’t want to overwhelm anyone. There are many of the sukura (cherry
blossoms) because I was just in awe of their beauty.
Irene and Zach are children of our friends. It was fun to
watch them on our trip. They are in the same classroom (PK3) at school. Many people were entertained at one point or
another by them. They are very sweet children.
Some of the photos I took of the people enjoying their
hanami were taken with my zoom lens. I wasn’t trying to spy on them, I just
wanted to share the hanami with all of you. I hope you do enjoy the photos.
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| oshimenawa - it weighs 5 tons |
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| Beautiful shrine area |
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| What a view. |
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| Top of one of the buildings |
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| Sakura |
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| Walking up the steps to the main shrine area. |
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| The stairs leading up to the main shrine. |
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| Irene and Zach climbing the stairs. |
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| Horse with the sakura. |
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| Beautiful |
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| George |
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| Hanami |
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| Looking into the main shrine. |
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| sakura |
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| Irene and Vishwany feeding the koi. |
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| Many koi fish |
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| Hanami |
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| Hanami |
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| Hanami |
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| Hanami |
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| Hanami |
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| Hanami |
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| Walk way |
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| Hanami |
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| Friends! |
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| Corina with cherry blossoms in her hair. They were falling like snowflakes. |
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| Dragon fountain |
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| At the train station. |
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| Ringing the bell |
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| Japanese garden |
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| Mark in front of the iris garden. (They are still coming up) |
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| Mark |
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| Magnolio tree |
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| So many... |
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| Vishwany in front of the main shrine and the 5 ton oshimenawa. |
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| Looking into the shrine area from the main entrance. |
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| oshimenawa |
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| oshimenawa |
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| oshimenawa |
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| Close up of one of the tassels. |
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| Close up |
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| What a view! Still wondering about the palm trees. |
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| Walkway |
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| Pretty in pink |
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| Hanami |
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| Prayer time |
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| Vishwany |
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| Just a few stair |
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| Vishwany |
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| Underneath the tassel |
