It’s Sunday, but we’ll start our programme early on Monday; we arrive Nagoya a day before.
I’m staying at Nagoya JR Gate Tower Hotel.
It’s new, convenient and functional.
New – this hotel is newly opened on 17 April 2017.
Convenient – it’s connected to Nagoya Station.
Functional – the size of room is only 20 sqm, but it’s functional.
We can experience IoT world.
We can operate light, AC, etc from a tablet.
I’m lucky to have a Nagoya Castle View.
Yesterday, on Saturday, I drove to Kamogawa, Chiba to attend a Buddhist Ceremony for our Grand Father which is scheduled on Sunday.
It takes three hours drive to reach there and the ceremony is scheduled at 10:30 am in the morning.
We (family members) decide to arrive one day earlier to enjoy staying in town.
We used to visit there often when our grand parents were still alive.
We have many memories here and there in town.
We used to stay in Kanpo no Yado Kamogawa, a hotel operating by a Japanese former national insurance company (currently, privatized).
We used to dine at a restaurant to enjoy local food and bath in a large public bath over looking Pacific Ocean.
This hotel is reasonable and located in front of Kamogawa Sea World (aquarium) and our Temple, Eimeiji (Eimei Temple).
I attended a ceremony and we also enjoyed eating lunch and talking after the ceremony.
They gave us a box of Soramame (broad beans) as a sourvenir.
I love this beans so quickly boiled and ate when I got back.
It’s so fresh!!!
I miss my Grand Parents.
Please Rest In Peace.
I’m keeping my hair long.
However, my hair is thin so it’s easy to get waves when it’s moist.
The other day, I tried this KERASTASE Hair Oil for Colour-Treated Hair at a beauty salon; it’s heavier than other KERASTASE series, but lighter than Moroccan Oil.
I asked for one, but it was out of stock.
My beauty salon is just one block away so I asked them to deliver when a product arrive.
I received a product in Takihai Box (Delivery Box).
There are few delivery boxes at my apartment to leave a delivery box if a receiver is out.
A delivery person will leave a note to inform number of box and its combination to open a door
I usually come back home in the evening, so this Takihai Box plays a great role for me.
I received a package from my friend in Kobe.
My friend sent me frozen beef croquettes!
In Japan, domestic frozen and chilled courier service are available.
We can enjoy local specialties anytime.
Yammy!!!
The view at this narrow river is breathtaking during Sakura season.
Sakura trees reach out branches from both side covering a river.
It’s Sakura season in Tokyo.
Sakura is delicate so it cannot last for long.
Perhaps, a week or even less.
If rains, petals will fall.
We all look forward to viewing Sakura after dark and cold winter.
We appreciate it so much because it’s so delicate, short-lived and beautiful.
We chase Sakura to get the best viewing.
We call viewing Sakura, hanami.
I had dinner with my old friends from Malaysia.
We enjoyed Robata Yaki (grilled) in Shinjuku.
We haven’t met for years so we laughed throughout dinner, sharing good memories.
We were asked for last order; we said we are fine.
Then light went out.
I thought there is a problem with the light, worried.
Then a lady who has been serving our table neared to us with a welcoming plate.
It’s simple, but touching.
This is my first time posting a photo that I didn’t take.
We were all feeling overwhelmed.
I didn’t want to spoil the moment so I asked my friend to share a photo with me.
All of us are overwhelmed by this.
I am so proud to show my friends Japanese warm hospitality: OMOTENASHI.
The chemistry was right: good friends, good food and good moment.
It is a wonderful night.
My friend gave me a gift.
Yoku Moku is a famous Japanese confectionery maker and their confectioneries are delicious!
This is a special gift edition and these are in specially designed box – so sweet.
In Japan, we call 14 March, White Day.
Japanese commercial sector is so clever.
Japanese chocolate manufacturers set the trend and culture for girls to send a chocolate to express her feeling on 14 February.
To boost purchasing power in Japan, Japanese retailers created White Day (14 March) for boys to return an appreciation for chocolate.
These gift packages are now consumed by young ladies to reward themselves.
Perhaps, this is why we can still find cute packaged products.
Sayonara Kushimoto Royal Hotel.
And I enjoyed varieties of food at breakfast.
Wakayama is the largest production of sour plum in Japan; I tried my first sour plum porridge.
We are at the tip of the Kii Peninsula; therefore, we need to drive back over 200 km.
We stayed in bus for long; but I enjoyed scenery from a window.
I looked at Hashigui from the other side.
The scenery is so peaceful.
First we stopped at Nachi no Taki (Nachi Falls).
This is the tallest waterfall in Japan (133 m).
No. 1 Seigantoji
This is the World Heritage Site.
Main Temple
We can view Nachi Falls from here, too.
This temple is next to Kumano Nachi Taisha (shrine).
There is a simple gate to divide the two.
This Miagatahikosha is for safe travel and safe drive.
Obviously, I love traveling so I need God’s blessing.
In addition, Yatagarasu gets me excited.
This shrine is for Yatagarasu as well.
If you look carefully in a picture, you will find a crow with three legs.
Yatagarasu is used in design of Japanese national football team’s uniform because it plays a role as a guidance.
There is a hope that Yatagarasu would lead a Japanese national team to a victory.
Go Japan!
I also prayed for my good health by writing a wish board and to walk through 1,000 year old tree.
Time’s up!
I rushed back to the bus.
I continued enjoying scenery from a window again.
The water of Kumano River is so blue!
There is a boat to enjoy a river cruise, but we didn’t have time for that.
Perhaps, next time.
This is my lunch today.
I bought my own dessert: sour plum ice cream!
Next is the final destination of this trip.
No. 5 Fujiidera
Last sutra recite at the temple.
I love to visit Temples and Shrines because I can feel and touch real Japanese culture.
Many of them are located at peaceful places (mountain with full of trees, scenic ocean, etc).
I feel refresh visiting these temples and shrines and blessed.
We reached Shin-Osaka Station to catch a shinkansen back home.
Ate dinner on Shinkansen.
Once I reach home, I take a shower and go to bed.
I plan to visit other 29 temples later this year.
Last November I conducted the Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage.
This time, I came to Saigoku (the Western region of Japan) to visit 4 temples in weekend for the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
Thirty-three temples are located in as many as six prefectures such as Gifu, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Osaka and Hyogo.
I departed Tokyo for Osaka by Shinkansen (bullet train) early morning at 7:20 pm.
I had pork sandwich for breakfast.
Last November, I also started the Pilgrimage from here.
Bus departed from here, the same place.
First, we went to No. 3 Kokawadera.
This temple is located in Wakayama Prefecture.
I don’t remember visiting Wakayama; this could be my first trip to Wakayama.
For Shikoku Pilgrimage, we followed the number of Temple; however, for Shikoku, I was told we don’t need to follow number.
This temple is huge and beautiful.
Main temple looks far left.
This is the Main Temple.
Kawazu Zakura is beautiful.
The town is nicely decorated with Hina Ningyo.
Every 3 March, Hina Ningyo is decorated to wish for health and happiness for daughters.
Hina Ningyo is passed down to generations.
This must be antique Hina Ningyo.
We had a lunch box on bus for lunch.
No. 2 Kongoji (Kimiidera)
We climbed many steep stairs to Main Temple.
Main Temple
The ceiling is decorated with celestial maidens.
There is a Pagoda.
We could specially view the largest wooden Kannon today.
I hope you are blessed, too.
Before we check-in hotel, we stopped by to see amazing nature – strange stones: Hashigui Iwa.
It does look like as if these are foundations of bridge.
Hashigui means foundations of bridge and iwa means stones.
Amazing and beautiful.
We reached to the tip of Kii Peninsular to check-in at Kushimoto Royal Hotel.
A room is spacious.
I could see sunset from my room before dinner.
Dinner is nice.
Fresh, delicious and the right portion – not too little, not too much.
Continued enjoying local food at the room: ponkan orange, ume (Japanese apricot) and Kinkan (kumquat) juice, and water.
Wakayama is nice place to visit.
I’m Japanese; but there are still many places to be explored!
sonokotchi 