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Traditional Japanese Noodle Shop in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 13:51 on July 19, 2023
Established over six decades ago, Yaoki noodle restaurant finds its place alongside the main boulevard that leads to Tokyo's historic Jindai-ji Temple. Culinary delights include soba and udon noodles, crispy tempura, and a small menu of sake. Next door, their petite emporium offers edible souvenirs.
The third-generation proprietor continues to uphold the time-honored techniques of making soba pioneered during the Edo Period (1603-1867). The secret elixir of the noodle broth, a closely guarded family heirloom, has been passed down through the generations.
Jindai-ji Temple, an ancient Buddhist sanctuary nestled in Tokyo's outskirts, basks in a lush canopy of greenery and enjoys many natural springs.
The temple's historical narrative is a result of the land's limitations; the region's unsuitability for rice cultivation led the tenant farmers of the Edo period to sow buckwheat (soba) fields. In lieu of rice, these farmers offered the temple soba flour yields. The temple would then transform the buckwheat bounty into noodles, extending hospitality by serving soba noodles to all who visited—thus giving birth to the genesis of Jindai-ji Temple soba.
Jindai-ji Temple soba's essence lies in the use of local pristine spring waters and the finest buckwheat flour.
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Traditional Gift Shop Near Jindai-ji Temple in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 13:53 on July 19, 2023
Step into a realm of tradition and flavor at the Yaoki, a noodle shop and souvenir establishment with a legacy spanning over six decades. Nestled along the main boulevard leading to Tokyo's historic Jindai-ji Temple, this shop not only delights visitors with its delectable souvenirs but also offers various noodle dishes from the restaurant's kitchen.
One of the more popular drinks sold a the souvenir shop are the renowned ramune drinks. Look out for the iconic blue ラムネ flag donning red lettering against a white backdrop – a symbol of this fizzy delight often seen during summer.
Ramune bottles bear a distinct and purposeful design tailored exclusively for carbonated beverages. Each bottle houses a glass ball beneath its plastic cap that seals the carbonated drink inside. To savor the refreshing drink, a gentle press on the cap sends the glass ball into the recessed niche in the bottle's neck.
The origins of this bottle design trace back to 1884 in Kobe, thanks to British pharmacist Alexander Cameron Sim. Over time, Japanese innovation has taken the concept with modern renditions where the marble comes pre-assembled within a specialized cap making it easier to open by hand.
Ramune, now synonymous with summer in Japan, assumes its rightful place as a cherished refreshment of the season offering respite during warm festival days and nights, becoming a part of the cultural icons that define Japanese summers.
Adjacent to the emporium, a series of benches offer a place to relax and enjoy your drink. After finishing your drink, you can either return the empty ramune bottle for recycling. However, recognizing the allure of these bottles as keepsakes, some foreign tourists opt to carry them home.
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Elderly Lady adding Tanzaku Paper Strips to a Bamboo Wish Tree
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 13:57 on July 19, 2023
The Tanabata Festival: Legend has it that every July 7th, the Weaver Star and the Cowherder Star embark on a journey across the Milky Way to reaffirm their bond of love. In Japan, these celestial lovers are honored wishes penned onto strips of vividly colored paper, fastened to bamboo trees or stalks. This tradition spans across Japan, with numerous cities, including Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture, gaining renown for its elaborate Tanabata festivities.
Known as "tanzaku," these colorful paper ribbons, along with other bright ornaments, dangle from bamboo branches in Japanese homes, shopping arcades, railway stations, and communal areas. Prior to their hanging on the bamboo, tanzaku are adorned with wishes, be it a child's aspiration to become a renowned soccer player or a parent's yearning for professional success.
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Exploring the Enchanting Kitaro-chaya: A Traditional Japanese Corner Shop and Art Gallery
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 14:00 on July 19, 2023
Nestled gracefully along the main approach to the Jindaiji Temple in Chofu City, Tokyo, the Kitaro-chaya beckons with its rustic charm. This wooden structure, standing for over five decades, offers a quaint tea room where treats and beverages await you. As you step inside, a world of art and imagination unfolds before you, as the gallery proudly showcases the intricate drawings of the legendary Mr. Shigeru Mizuki, who dedicated over half a century to creating "GeGeGe no Kitaro” manga world from the heart of Chofu, Tokyo.
The building also includes a small gift shop featuring the beloved characters of "GeGeGe no Kitaro,” one of Japan’s most famous monster manga created by Mt. Mizuki.
Many of Mizuki’s creations have been adapted for the screen several times, as anime, live action, and video games. Mizuki spent the last 50 years of his life here in Chofu city working on his creations until is passing on November 30, 2015.
If you are a manga fan, please stop by the shop to gain an insight into his creative approach to manga by visiting the gallery of collected original drawings that are on display.
From there, be sure to continue up the street to enjoy the beautiful and lush grounds of Jidai-ji Temple.
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Japanese Garden and Pond on Temple Grounds in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 14:06 on July 19, 2023
Situated to the southwest of the Jindai-ji Temple Gate in Chofu, Tokyo, you'll discover a small, charming Japanese garden graced by a serene pond. This pond serves as a habitat for a diverse number of inhabitants, including various fish species, striped shrimp, mitten crabs, dragonfly larvae, and delicate water lilies.
Known as Benten Pond (弁天池), this little haven boasts a miniature island adorned with a small Shinto shrine and vermilion bridge. The pond has meticulously sculpted Japanese pine trees, their branches gracefully extending over the water's edge, seemingly attempting to caress the water’s surface.
The longer branches are supported by crutches known as shichu (支柱) to safeguard them from the weight of heavy snow and to provide essential reinforcement to aging trees. These braces also play a role in enhancing the aesthetic appeal by allowing certain branches to gracefully extend beyond the water's boundary.
Shichu are typically crafted from logs, burnt poles, or in some instances, stout bamboo stalks are utilized. In this pond, it looks like they went with burnt poles.
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Wooden Carvings on Temple
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 15:30 on July 19, 2023
Fukutokuson-do (福徳尊堂) Temple is a small gem located near the Jindai-ji Temple Bus Stop in Chofu, Tokyo. Having been relocated to its present site in 2006, this sanctuary offers a blend of traditional artistry and spiritual symbolism.
What truly captured my attention at this temple were the remarkably intricate carvings adorning the eaves. Delicately fashioned fruit tree blossoms, reminiscent of cherry blossoms or plum blossoms grace the woodwork accompanied by a grand bird figure and a retinue of dainty birds throughout this decorative motif.
A gilded sign bearing the temple's name in elegant kanji script, 福徳尊 (Fukutokuson), rests just beneath the carving. The juxtaposition of the gold against the rich wood creates a captivating visual interplay.
Directly beneath the sign, another masterpiece of artistry unfolds with an intricate tableau featuring a dragon and Benzaiten, the revered Japanese Buddhist goddess embodying the essence of flowing elements: water, music, arts, love, wisdom, wealth, and fortune. In this depiction, Benzaiten plays a biwa, a traditional Japanese lute, atop the dragon's back, symbolizing the harmonious interplay of symbolic forces in life.
Fukutokuson-do Temple stands as a testament to the skillful craftsmanship and deep spiritual significance that characterize Japanese temple architecture, inviting visitors to marvel at its intricate details and contemplate the profound symbolism it holds.
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Jinja Daio-do Temple in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 15:06 on July 19, 2023
Jinja Daio-do (深沙大王堂) stands approximately one block (around 120 meters) to the west of the central area of Jindai-ji Temple grounds, where the main hall is situated.
Reconstructed in 1968, this smaller temple is closely linked to the natural spring located behind it, which serves as the water source for the entirety of the Jindai-ji Temple grounds and holds significance in the temple's origins.
The temple derives its name from the deity Jinja Daio. According to legend, a young man named Fukuma deeply fell in love with a girl hailing from a wealthy and influential family. However, their union faced opposition from her parents, prompting them to send her away to reside on a diminutive island situated in the center of a vast lake.
Fukuma beseeched the aid of the deity Jinja Daio, imploring for assistance in reuniting with the girl. One fateful day, a mysterious turtle materialized and guided him to the lake's island. Witnessing Fukuma's seemingly divine safeguarding, the girl's family underwent a change of heart, permitting their marriage.
The couple eventually bore a son, who, as a monk named Manko Shonin, went on to establish the Jindai-ji Temple. This endeavor was a fulfillment of his father's aspiration, an expression of gratitude to the deity Jinja Daio for the intervention that led to their union.
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Aka-do Handwashing Stall at Buddhist Temple in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 15:17 on July 19, 2023
Typical handwashing stations found at Shinto shrines (known as 手水舎/temizuya; a place for the ritual cleansing of hands and mouth with water when visiting shrines) considerably outnumber the handwashing stations commonly seen at Buddhist temples (referred to as 閼伽堂/akadou; literally translated as holy water temple).
At either of these locations, you would typically encounter rows of ladles. These ladles are used to dip into a large stone water basin and then poured over your hands, cleansing oneself before approaching the temple or shrine that houses the deity.
However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many handwashing stations were either deactivated or reconfigured to enable visitors to cleanse their hands without direct contact with the ladles, as depicted in the provided photo.
Based on my personal experiences, I've observed that several shrines I visited throughout 2023 are gradually returning to the traditional practice of using ladles, indicating a positive shift towards normalcy before the pandemic emerged.
Interestingly, the purification ritual at Buddhist temples may or may not include a handwashing station. However, it invariably incorporates a large covered cauldron that emits incense smoke for purification purposes. In contrast, Shinto shrines exclusively rely on handwashing stations, without employing incense smoke for purification.
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Historical Hall Housing the Statue of Ganzan-Daishi in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 15:25 on July 19, 2023
This hall is home to an impressive wooden statue of Grand Master Ganzan (912–985), a towering figure standing nearly 2 meters tall. The statue depicts Ganzan Daishi, the 18th chief abbot of the Tendai sect of Buddhism in the 10th century, in a seated posture.
Regarded as one of the largest statues of its kind in Japan, this remarkable artwork has been enshrined within the hall since the year 991. However, it is unveiled to the public only once every 25 years, with the next scheduled viewing planned for 2034.
In 1867, following a devastating fire that had damaged the hall's original structure located on the southwestern side of the main temple, the hall was meticulously reconstructed here on the western side.
Today, visitors frequent this hall to offer prayers seeking relief from misfortune or the challenges they may be encountering in their lives.
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One of the Oldest Buddhist Temples in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 15:28 on July 19, 2023
Jindai-ji Temple, established in 733, stands as a testament to Tokyo's ancient spiritual heritage. With its construction dating back over a millennium, it has witnessed the ebb and flow of centuries, preserving the wisdom and devotion of generations past.
The Main Hall's reconstruction in 1919 stands as a symbol of the temple's unwavering resilience against the destructive forces of time and fate. The flames of 1646 and 1865 could not deter the dedication of the faithful, who diligently restored the temple to its former glory.
As the special Head Temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, Jindai-ji Temple holds a special place in Japan's religious history. The Tendai sect, founded in 806, found its spiritual heart within these hallowed grounds, spreading its teachings and embodying the principles of harmony and enlightenment.
The Main Hall's enshrined statue of Amida Nyorai serves as a timeless link to the spiritual aspirations of centuries gone by. This beautifully crafted statue is a masterful example of Buddhist artistry, an embodiment of serenity that guides visitors toward deeper introspection.
In the heart of Tokyo's bustling pace, the temple's preserved woodland grove offers a respite—a verdant oasis that has sacred spring waters that flow through the temple grounds are said to possess a healing aura, inviting pilgrims and visitors to rekindle their spirits.
Since antiquity, Jindai-ji Temple has welcomed seekers of solace and assurance to its serene precincts, promising a journey beyond the noise and hurry of daily life, inviting all to rediscover moments of stillness and self-discovery.
Jindai-ji Temple invites all who enter to find a sanctuary where the mind can settle, the heart can open, and the soul can reconnect with the eternal rhythm of existence.
A visit to Jindai-ji Temple is an opportunity to partake in an age-old tradition of reverence. Embrace the continuity of devotion that has spanned generations and take with you the tranquility that lingers long after your departure.
Incorporating these suggestions can help paint a richer picture of the historical, cultural, and spiritual significance of Jindai-ji Temple, inviting you to embark on a journey of understanding and reflection.
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328-Year-Old Sanmon Main Gate to Buddhist Temple in Tokyo
Location: Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan
Timestamp: 15:30 on July 19, 2023
The “Sanmon” gate is named as such due to most Japanese temples historically being built in the mountains. Thus, the main gate of a Buddhist temple is typically called a “sanmon” (山門), literally “mountain gate.”
Unlike less fortunate structures on the grounds of Jidai-ji Temple, the sanmon gate has survived over three centuries of fires since its construction in 1695.
Originally, all of the Jindai-ji Temple structures had thatched roofs. After the Edo Period (1603-1867), more durable and fire-resistant roofing materials were adopted, except for an old storehouse and the sanmon gate, which have retained their beautiful and unique thatched roofs.
The roof visible in this shot with its humble yet elegant freshly thatched gabled roof—a roofing material that dates back to the Jomon period (14,000–300 BCE). The gate's pillars, beams, gates, and entablatures are made from Japanese zelkova; the attic and rafters are made from cedar; while bamboo and cedar bark are used on the topmost outer ridge of the roof.
This shot, which was taken from inside the gate, shows the elevated temple grounds in relation to the street level. Additionally, you can see the Bon Festival decoration outside the sanmon entrance—an arch adorned with hozuki plants (Physalis alkekengi), also known as ground cherries or Chinese lantern plants.
In Japan, these lantern-like plants are offered during the Bon Festival to guide the souls of the deceased during their annual visit to ancestral homes.
References and further reading: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20230719-jindaiji
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