The Cics are Here! Part 1: Temples and Shrines

Hooray!  The Cicolellos, my sister and her family, came for week.  It was her kids' first overseas experience and Suzanne and Phil's first since their honeymoon in Jamaica.  Needless to say I felt pressure to deliver, but given Japan, it wasn't hard to do.  First and foremost the weather was good and only got better over the week.  It was a non-stop adventure, maybe a little too much but that's our style.  Everyone did great, jet lag and all, probably the most painful part was Phil's daily trip to the ATM.

After considering time, money and bang for buck, we decided that Kyoto was a pass this time around and to do day trips from Tokyo instead.  We went to Hakone, a resort area reknown for it's hot springs, views of Mt Fuji and black eggs cooked in the volcanic sulfer springs.  We also visited Kamakura home to some of the most famous and important Buddhist temples in the world as well as the Great Buddha statue.

They're here...in front of our building

We started close to home with Asakusa Shrine, one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Tokyo.  Also of note it survived the US air bombs and raids of 1945 that burnt down most of Tokyo.

savoring the "local" treats on the street leading to Asakusa Shrine

purifying with wafting incense

Suzanne and Phil in front of Senso-ji Asakusa Shrine

Showing some respect

Then it was off to Hakone for an Edo Festival to celebrate Culture Day, 

November 3rd.

A procession of a total of 170 people dressed up as samurai warriors and princesses paraded over a distance of some 6 km in the hot spring town of Hakone-Yumoto.

The procession is reproduced in the style of the Daimyo Gyoretsu (feudal lord's procession) which was also known as sankin kotai during the Edo Period (1603-1867). The suite of retainers, each assigned with his role and armed with spear, bow and arrow, or gun, marched on as they carried their lord in the palanquin to the words, 'Down! Down! The Lord comes!' voiced aloud by those leading the procession.

A real gun that was loaded and fired in front of us.

A dancing procession

here come more

and more

Is the emperor in there?

geisha

walking through the hot springs town to get to the procession

We had to cut the festivities short in oder to see the rest of Hakone at break neck pace once again taking about every form of transportation known to man.

A cable car ride up the mountains to the sulfuric volcano

Alec with a view of the hot springs that are filtered down to the hotel onsens

the Cics

Quinn and the Kitty

At every tourist destination (mostly for the Japanese themselves) there is Hello Kitty dressed in whatever is destination appropriate garb.  Here she is a black egg.  At the Great Buddha, she was buddha.

Shipping the raw eggs up to be cooked in the hot springs

Holding our black eggs.  Supposidly eating one gives you good luck and an extra year of life.

cousins having fun

Ian enjoying the view and searching for Mt Fuji as we cross Lake Ashinoko.  On a clear day you can see a mirror-like reflection on the Lake.

We were on a pirate ship like this.

Oh where, oh where is Fuji-san?

  Hakone was a lot of traveling in a single day.  Too much in my mind.  Kamakura was much more manageable.  It was closer and once there we could walk between the temples.

Ian at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine 

sisters

Kenchōji Temple. Number one of Kamakura's Five Zen Temples, the oldest in Kamakura (built 1253) and one of the oldest in all Japan

Persimmons

Phil at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine looking out towards the ocean

Suzanne with a 7 year old girl celebrating Shichi-Go-San, a traditional rite of passage

Shichi-Go-San is said to have originated in the Heian Period amongst court nobles who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood. The ages three, five and seven are consistent with Japanese numerology which dictates that odd numbers are lucky.

Girls of age seven replace the simple cords they used to tie their kimono with the traditional obi.  The modern ritual involves the visiting a shrine to drive out evil spirits and wish for a long healthy life.

Serenity now

just chillin' with the man

.