Naritasan Shinshoji Temple

Unari ("U"nagi + "Nari"ta) is the tourist ambassador of Narita.

Narita is a city located in north Chiba prefecture, and is home to Narita International Airport, the main international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area. The location of Narita, roughly at equal distance from the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay around a number of small rivers, made it a natural political and commercial center for the region, and gained importance as a pilgrimage destination with the foundation of the noted Buddhist temple of Shinshoji (新勝寺) in 940 AD.

Before paying the temple a visit, we walked along the picturesque street near the temple, which has many small shops selling local products and snacks, as well as good-luck charms and other souvenirs, such as Daruma dolls. We also had our lunch at one of the restaurants here; Kikuya (菊屋), or Chrysanthemum House is located in one of the narrow alleys off the main street.

On the temple road, there are approximately sixty shops that serve grilled eel over rice, more commonly called unadon (うな丼) and other eel dishes. 
There are many highly popular sweet shops as well.

One of the shops along the Omotesando, that sell Daruma dolls.

Most restaurants now serve the pre-processed kind, from eel grown in farms outside Japan. Kikuya however, only serves fresh eel caught in nearby waters. The restaurant even puts up a notice on its door specifying where the day's catch came from.

Kikuya's version was gently cooked over coal, with just a pleasant hint of charring to its crisp skin. The soy-based sauce poured on top of the generous portions of fish, and the rice underneath, was subtly sweet with a hint of herbs. It complimented the eel without overwhelming it.

Kikuya, a Japanese restaurant which is specialised in grilled eel was where we had our lunch.

Our place has been reserved on the second floor, in a grand-looking hall that fits more than twenty people.

I went for unagi set meal, as Narita is well-known for its grilled eel dishes.

By the way, this is the badge given to every Chiba Kun Ambassadors, and we wear this badge throughout the trip.

The staff from one of the restaurants along the street, who was preparing the live unagi to be grilled.

After our satisfying lunch, we moved to our next destination - Naritasan Shinshouji Temple (成田山新勝寺), a few stones' throw from Kikuya. This Shingon Buddhist temple includes a large complex of buildings and grounds, and is one of the best-known temples in the Kanto region. It is dedicated to the Buddhist deity Fudō myōō ('Unmovable Wisdom King', known as Ācala in Sanskrit), who is usually depicted holding a sword and rope and surrounded by flames.

The history of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple starts with the image of Fudomyoo which has been enshrined in the Temple as a main deity and is said to have been carved and consecrated by Kobodaishi (Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhist sect, 774-835) at the request of Emperor Saga.

A signboard to welcome tourists to Naritasan, erected along the Omotesando street.

The main gate to the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is approximately 15 meters high, made entirely of zelkova wood and erected in 2007.

Enshrined are the images of Hattaibutsu, the deities for protecting people depending on their year of birth.

This is the forth animal in the Japanese zodiac calendar - rabbit.

The image had originally been enshrined at Takaosan Jingoji Temple in Kyoto, capital of the day. When Tairanomasakado led a revolt against Emperor Suzaku in 939, Priest Kanjo received a secret order from Emperor Suzaku to suppress the revolt. He went to the district bearing the image of Fudomyoo and performed a three week Goma rite for peace. Miraculously, on the final day of the Goma rite, on the 14th of February in 940, the revolt was suppressed completely.

Priest Kanjo, thus fulfilling his duty, prepared to return with the image of Fudomyoo to Kyoto, but he found that it had mysteriously grown as heavy as a huge stone and could not be moved. Soon he heard the oracle of Fudomyoo saying, “My wish has not been fulfilled. I wish to stay here forever and relieve innumerable people from suffering.” Deeply impressed by the mercy of Fudomyoo, Emperor Suzaku ordered a temple be erected to enshrine the image on that spot. Then Naritasan Shinshoji Temple was established by Priest Kanjo (taken from this site).

Temizuya (手水舎) a fountain near the entrance of a shrine and a temple where worshipers can cleanse their hands and mouths before worship.

The Niomon Gate (仁王門), built in 1830 and is one of the several structures in the temple designated as National Important Cultural Properties. 

A water fountain in the pond called Nioike Pond (仁王池) adjoining the gate.

There are also hundreds of tortoise in this pond, that symbolises longevity.

The big group of Chiba Kun Ambassadors were divided into two smaller groups and each group had a volunteer guide to take us around the temple. A short climb over 33 staircases brought us to the Great Main Hall (大本堂) that enshrines the image of Fudomyoo, the main deity. Erected in 1968, the Great Main Hall is the main dojo (土壌) for the Goma (sacred fire) rite that is the most important service in the temple.

The enormous size of this Great Main Hall was really astonishing, and the magnificent view of the interior of the hall is something that will remain in my memory for some time. Unfortunately, photography inside the hall is prohibited. I gotta say this is one of the best temple I have come across in Japan.

The group of us posing in front of the Great Main Hall.

The three-storied Pagoda, erected in 1712 and measures 25-meters tall. The rafters on each story, carved with cloud and water design, 
are made of single solid beams and so-called "single-beam rafters", which are extremely rare.

Fudomyoo, one of the popular Buddhist deities, is fierce-looking and wreathed in flames with a sword and a rope in his hands. The sword cuts away hindrances of passion and false knowledge, and the rope is used to draw in beings to Enlightenment. To demons he is terror, but to the faithful he is the remover of anxieties, banisher of evil and savior from oppression. 

Fudomyoo of Naritasan Temple has been worshiped by numerous people from all over the country for a long time.

Another group photo, this time in front of the Shakado Hall (釈迦堂) or the Buddha Hall.

Shakado Hall was erected in 1858 and was the old Main Hall. The hall is made completely from zelkova wood and displays characteristic of the late Edo period.

Enshrined here are the images of Shakanyorai Buddha in the centre, and four images of Bosatsu; Fukenbosatsu (Samantabhadra), Monjubosatsu, Mirokubosatsu and Senjukannon (Thousand-armed Avalokiteshwara) on the right and left hand sides.

Gohyakurakan (Five-hundred Buddha's Saints) are reliefs carved into the walls around the hall in the early 19th century. 
It took Master Matsumoto Ryozan ten years to complete them.

The expression of every disciple is different. It is said that a pilgrim may recognise a disciple's expression as similar to one of his/her ancestors.

The Goma rite is a secret service of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism to pray to Fudomyoo, the main deity. During the service, many votive offerings are dedicated on the platform in front of the image of Fudomyoo, and special pieces of wood called Goma sticks are burnt for prayer. The fire of the Goma rite symbolises the wisdom of Fudomyoo, and the wood sticks express earthly passions.

Through the Goma rite ceremony, the head monk burns the earthy passions represented by the wood sticks in the fire of Fudomyoo's wisdom, and prays with the devotees for their wish to be ennobled and purified fur fulfillment.

Smaller statues around the temple.



Several more structures found around the compound of the temple.



Various kinds of local nuts and snacks sold at the stall in the temple.



This temple was not spared from the March 11 earthquake, as there were some parts of the staircases which suffered damages and currently undergoing repair-works.



As usual, a final shot in front of the Niomon Gate before we leave the temple.

|| INFORMATION ||

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Address: 1, Narita, Narita-shi, Chiba Prefecture, 286-0023, Japan.
Tel: 0476-22-2111　Fax: 0476-24-2210   
Website: http://www.naritasan.or.jp

Chiba Prefectural Boso-no Mura

The Chiba Kun Ambassadors had our first tour four days after the appointment ceremony. The destination was Chiba Prefectural Boso-no Mura (千葉県立房総のむら) or Boso Village, a unique museum that reproduces a Japanese scenery of 150 years ago at the Boso area. Here, visitors get to learn about the history and deepen their understandings of traditional skills and lifestyles in Boso area not only by the exhibitions but also by their own experiences. Among the interesting attractions in this village are old samurai residences, farmhouses and old buildings.

This place is basically divided into two areas, namely "Fudoki-no-Oka area" (風土記の丘エリア), where visitors can learn about history and nature from the many excavated artifacts from tombs and ancient temples in Chiba prefecture,  and "Furusato-no-Wazataiken area" (ふるさとの技体験エリア), an area where visitors can experience first-hand various types of Japanese culture such as traditional crafts and events that have been passed down through the generations.

Chiba Prefectural Assembly Parliament.

This building is the Chiba Prefectural Assembly Parliament, which is currently used as the administration building for Boso Village. It was built in 1880 and used until 1911 as the second generation assembly parliament. The current building is reproduced based on the photographs of the same building taken at that time. The design of the building is a fusion between the eastern and western architecture. The roof has a unique Japanese influence, while the veranda and windows are designed to resemble the western-style.

We only got to explore the Furusato-no-Wazataiken area during the tour this time, mainly due to the tight schedule. This area is mainly divided into two parts - "Shouka-no-Machinami" (商家の街並) or "merchants street" and "Bukeyashiki & Nouka-no-yousu" (武家屋敷・農家の様子), which translates "Samurai residence and farmhouses".

The shops, such as soba restaurant and rice shop, line up on both sides of the commercial street.

You can tell that this is a soba restaurant based on the soba-like curtain that hangs down the window.

Although most of these shops are made of wood, there are some shops which were built with concrete, as one of the preventive measures against fire.

Machinami (街並) is a reproduction of a typical commercial street consisting of 16 shops, an information office, a guardian deity for children, the town square and Inari shrine, modeled after those found in Katori city (formerly Sawara city). These buildings were commonly found from the last years of the Edo period to the early years of Meiji period.

A short walk along this street gives a feel of bustling town market through the demonstrations done at most of the shops.

The fire watchtower, standing at more than seven meters high. Whenever a fire occurs in the village, the bell will be rung to warn the villagers.



Anyone knows why visitors are not allowed to walk along the centre of the street? Make your guess in the comment box, alright?



A paper shop (紙の店), called Heguri-ya (平群屋), where visitors can try on the origami (折り紙) and kami-ningyo (紙人形) crafts.



Sakura-do (佐倉堂) is a pharmacy (薬の店), where several types of traditional medicine prescriptions and equipments are displayed.



Inside the shop, there are many signboards written with the names of the medicine, a main characteristics for a pharmacy in those days.



Woodwork factory (木工所), called Nagara-ya (長柄屋). There are many types of wooden clogs displayed on the shelves inside this shop.



Sugidama (杉玉) or sakabayashi (酒林), a ball made of the leaves of Japanese cedar, which is usually hung outside the liquor and fuel shop (酒・燃料の店) 
called Shimousa-ya (下総屋) to indicate that new sake has been produced at the store.

Chiyogami (coloured pattern paper) candle making (千代紙ろうそく) is the making of beautiful candle by clipping the patterns from colourful chiyogami paper 

and paste them on the cone shaped candle and finish it by coating the surface with wax.



Inari shrine (稲荷の社), the Shinto deity for rice. Inari God has been worshiped as the God of food by the people since the olden days.



A group photo of all the Chiba Kun Ambassadors at the Machinami street.

Bukeyashiki (武家屋敷) represents middle-class samurai's warriors residence of Sakura clan in the last years of Edo period. Bukeyashiki of Sakura clan is characterised by the construction on high premises. 

The main building is modeled on Takei's house in Miyakoji (宮小路) in Sakura city. It consists of guest's room called genkan (玄関) and zashiki (座敷), and family's rooms that include ima (居間), chanoma (茶の間), daidokoro (台所), and doma (土間). There are many bukeyashiki in Miyakoji at present, which remind us of the Edo period.

The entrance to the samurai residence. Take notice to the few steps that lead to the main door.

A reproduction of a middle-class samurai residence built in the latter half of the Edo period.

Kazusa farmhouse (上総の農家), a reproduction of the village's headman's (or nanushi (名主) in Japanese) farmhouse in Oami-Shirasato town (大網白里町). There is a mezzanine in the main building of the house.

Shimousa farmhouse (下総の農家), a reproduction of the village's headman farmhouse built in the middle of the Edo period in Narita city.



Ash cottage (灰小屋) is a place to store ashes and manure. It was used extensively from ancient human excrement to make compost. 
Ash cottage is also equipped with a toilet.

Mr Ishizaki from the International Affairs Division, trying out the take-uma (竹馬), a Japanese traditional stilt.

These hanging stuff are called tsuna-tsuri (綱つり), made in the shapes of octopus, shrimp, scrubbing brush, etc.  It is commonly found in Kanada (金田) area 
in Kisarazu city (木更津市) and is believed to bring prosperity to the city and to prevent misfortune from outside.

Some cracks on the concrete road at some parts of the village from the March 11th earthquake.

Our next stop was the open field near Awa farmhouse (安房の農家). Here, several activities can be enjoyed throughout the year while learning the farmer's wisdom, device and hardship though traditional farming methods.

Among the activities provided are rice planting, harvesting, and also crop harvesting. Visitors can enjoy first-hand experience of harvesting peanuts and sweet potatoes, which are the specialties of Boso region, and also other crops such as potatoes, soy beans, vegetables and plums. This was the part that I look forward the most because I got to harvest the fresh peanuts along with a few other Chiba Kun Ambassadors.

The farm which is planted with various kinds of crops like rice, groundnuts, and vegetables.



Each of us got to harvest five plants of peanuts each. It takes about three months for the peanuts to be mature enough to be harvested.



Zoltan from Hungary and me with our peanuts (pun unintended) haha!



Here are my peanuts (again, pun not intended) lol!



After harvesting the peanuts, it was time to pluck them one by one. I was the last person to finish plucking my peanuts =.= (photo credit: Laura)



With the two ladies who assisted us in the peanut harvesting. The middle lady has worked in this village for seven years.



The three happy Chiba Kun Ambassadors with our freshly harvested peanuts.

Rakkasei (落花生) or peanut is well known throughout Japan as the specialty of Chiba prefecture, as it produces top peanuts in terms of quantity and quality. Chiba prefecture produces almost 75% of the country's total production and the main location is Yachimata town (八街市) in the central region.

From Boso Village, we headed to our next destination, in which I will reveal in the next entry. 

The Chiba Kun Ambassador with his peanuts, getting ready to leave Boso Village for the next destination haha!

|| INFORMATION ||

Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if Monday falls on a holiday), beginning and end of the year, other extra holidays.
Admission: 300 yen (adults), 150 yen (high school/college students), free admission (senior citizens of 65 years and above, junior high school students and below).
Address: 1028 Ryukakuji, Sakae-machi, Imba-gun, Chiba Prefecture, 270-1506, Japan.
Tel: 0476-95-3333    E-mail: mura@chiba-muse.or.jp