Happy New Year 2004!



Another 'Year of Monkey' started very calmly and traditionally (Please click Read More)

Happy new year to you all!

I spent the new year eve and the following two days with Masayo's family. I had a very good time with them, especially the new year's day was very enjoyable as below.

After we had a traditional new year breakfast, we怀first visited Kanshinji Temple which is said to be established in 815. There were many people making wishes or new year resolutions, and some of them were asking special prayer.

The entrance of the main building of the temple was crowded with people.



People donate incenses and try to take the smoke to places they want to be healed such as eyes, shoulders, backs etc.



There is a monk statue in the main building. You can touch it by wishing your illness or pain to be healed.
I touched its head. You know what I wished.



There are many historical Buddha statues, but the below is the shyest one:



Don't be so shy, it is a new year day!



After the temple, we visited a shrine nearby where we received a special fortune telling.



It may seem strange to some of you that we visited a temple and a shrine on the same day. I just say we feel like visiting somewhere holy on a new year's day!

Posted: (土) - 1 3, 2004 at 01:21 AM          

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