Satoshi Nihonyanagi
Welcome to my blog, Green Tea Club !
I'll show you all the beauties and goodies in Shizuoka through this blog.
If you have any inquiry, please feel free to post your messages on it.
Hope to see you around in Shizuoka !
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06/30/2011 [Thu]
For Buddhist training – Kasuisai – 1 [Fukuroi]
Today, I introduce a historically old temple in Shizuoka.
About 600 years ago, in 1401, a temple named “Toyoken” was opened by a priest in present Fukuroi City. At that time, in Muromachi Era, Ashikaga Shogunate ruled Japan. Soon after the power of Ashikaga family had become weakened, feudal lords around the country began to attack their neighbors to expand their land. The advent of the Age of Civil Wars, the epoch when the most powerful and dignified man could become the absolute monarch of Japan. In a time like that, the 11th priest of Toyoken temple helped a boy, in hostage of Imagawa family of Suruga district, get away from it to his home country, Mikawa, current Aichi prefecture. The Civil War Period was ended in 1603 by the fact that Edo Era was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and he was the very man that the priest had helped.
Now, when Tokugawa Ieyasu reached his home country and became the lord of Hamamatsu Castle, he invited the priest to say thank you. It was when the priest sat right in front of Ieyasu, and while he was listening to his words, the priest fell into a nap in spite of himself. His men got furious about his terrible discourtesy but Ieyasu said, suppressing his men. “You may sleep”, from which word he was called “Priest Kasui” ( Kasui means “You can sleep” in Japanese old word ) and the Toyoken temple was also called “Kasui-sai” since then.
Kasuisai in Fukuroi has such a history. It belongs to Soto Zen which is one of the Buddhist sects, which lay belief on exhorting people to do Zen sitting meditation. Of course, Zen monks are meant to start the day by sitting meditation and also finish the day by it. Zen meditation is, simply explained, to sit and meditate but what should you think of ? Nothing. Nothing in mind, set five senses free and feel what you naturally feel, that is Zen. Maybe like the absent-minded feeling right after you wake up. Zen meditation is a training to renounce yourself, or shut out your thinking, which is believed to be the very image of Buddha.
I, this time, tried Zen meditation. This is the actual Zen room that monks and visitors use for meditation. If you join the overnight program, this is the room for it. I tried 30 min meditation. 30 minutes, having nothing in mind, may sound too long for you but honestly it was not. I felt rather too short. After the meditation, I felt so mind-washed with a sense of accomplishment.
The founder of Soto Zen is Dogen the Buddhist priest, and his mausoleum can be seen in Kasuisai. I found his figure also in Zen meditation in the altar.
If you’d like to experience Zen meditation like a Buddhist monk, please go ahead and try it because Kasuisai is very positive in accepting customers or even group tours from abroad.
So, after Zen meditation, I moved to another room for “Shojin-ryori” the Zen Vegetarian Cuisine.
Next time, I’ll report “Shojin-ryori”.
Shojin Zen Vegitarian Cuisine
Kasui-sai
Access from JR Fukuroi Sta.： 10 minutes by bus from #1 to “Kasui” and 5 minutes on foot.
Admission ： Free （ ※ ￥500 to get inside the temple ）
Open Hours ： 8:00～16:30 ( 7 days a week )
Shojin Cuisine ： Take ( ordinary course ) ￥2000／Take-jo ( upper ordinary ) ￥2500／Matsu ( deluxe course ) ￥3000／Matsu-jo ( upper deluxe ) ￥3500
＊ Prior booking necessary
Zen Meditation ： Every Saturday Application from 12:30／Zen meditation from 13:30（ 30 min×2 ）＊ No reservation necessary
Zen monk experience ： Overnight course／One-day course Please inquire us for further question
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 10:05 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 2 )
06/28/2011 [Tue]
Stay in Shizuoka ! － Half-off Campaign [Information]
Recently, a new campaign has been started in Shizuoka ! That is “Stay in Shizuoka ! Half-off Campaign”, which is to discount 50% from the fare of “Oigawa Railway Day Pass ticket” and “Suruga Bay Ferry" and "Izu Dream Pass” only on the condition that you stay overnight in Shizuoka.
About Oiwaga Railway, I’ve just reported in this blog and I also wrote about Izu Dream Pass including Suruga Bay Ferry last year. Please refer to them for more information.
It’s very lucky for tourists because we have also “GoGo! Campaign” at the same time until July 22. You use this campaign to stay in a ryokan (￥5500～) and get 50% off ticket as well.
Stay in Shizuoka ! Half-off Campaign
From Jun 25 (Sat) － Sep 30, 2011 (Fri)
●Oigawa Railway・・・・・・2-Day Pass from ￥1150～
●Suruga Bay Ferry
●Izu Dream Pass・・・・・・2 or 3-Day Pass from ￥2320～
（＊Dream Ferry, Tokai Bus and Izukyu Railway included ）
Fujinokuni GoGo! Campaign
From Apr 11(Mon) － Jul 22, 2011(Fri)
Accommodation Plans from ￥5500～ (with dinner and breakfast ) per night.
For Further question, please feel free to contact us.
Have a good day !＾＾
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 12:59 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 2 )
06/27/2011 [Mon]
Oigawa Railway ― Around Senzu and the way back to Kanaya [Kawanehoncho]
So I stood in front of Senzu Station, Kawanehoncho, again around 12:00. The SL was supposed to leave there at 14:58. 3 hours to go. So what shall I do ? I visited the information office for some tourist information. They were so kind as to let me have some maps and brochures. They had also English ones !
On seeing the map, my plan was fixed. Another suspension bridge !
Kawanehoncho Tourism Association
Starting from ① on the map, I walked on the red hiking pathway along Oi River as the map indicates, checking out the several sightseeing points, and in 40 minutes or so, I finally found it, Ryogyoku Suspension Bridge at ⑩ ! It looked so long. 145m, actually. The wind of valley was blowing a little strong.
I walked on it step by step, mindfully not to see beneath myself and finally, I made it ! No wasp that time.＾＾
Illustrated map (329KB)
Ryogoku Suspension Bridge
Suspension Bridge of Konagai
After returning to Senzu station, I visited “Otogi-no Sato” that stands beside the station. First I saw a roadside station that sells local products and souvenirs, and beyond it, I found a huge Sound Museum. “Otogi” literally means “ to play with sounds”. You will get startled with it because surprising sounds come out of unexpected stuff !
I bought Shin-cha green tea, one of Kawane’s specialties, at some tea-stores before the station and passed through the ticket gate to the platform briskly. Many tourists had already been flocking together in front of the first car to take some pictures of its historically dignified face. I did, as well, with all thankfulness for its longstanding hospitality. It proceeds backward to Kanaya, by the way. Can you tell the difference among pictures below ?
The old-fashioned seat was rather cozy for me. It began to move at the scheduled time after a squeaky whistle and smoggy smoke out of the blue, blotting out everything outside. A train conductor came in the car after a while to say hello and she talked to customers one by one about how they had enjoyed Kawane and Oigawa Railway. She went as far as to play harmonica to lift the audience, which seemed like a party to me.
A journey for about 1 hr and 20 min to Kanaya. I enjoyed beautiful views through the window until I fell into a blissful sleep irresistibly. When I found myself at Kanaya, I felt somehow so sad. End of dream-like days. Reality was coming up again, I felt.＾＾；
Anyway, it was definitely a good travel for me ! Oigara Railway has brought me varieties of awesome experiences. Best season now ! Why don’t you try ?
Have a good day !＾＾
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 12:12 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
06/25/2011 [Sat]
To enjoy Mt. Fuji Climbing safe and sound [Information]
Mt. Fuji climbing season finally starts from July. We feel so happy to have about 300 thousand climbers every year but at the same time, we feel sorry for various avoidable accidents caused by reckless climbers due to negligence of climber’s equipment. To avoid these unfavorable case as much as possible, Shizuoka Prefectural Government has made up an instructive video that would provide you with necessary knowledge about climbing Mt. Fuji safe and sound.
Those who’s been planning for Mt. Fuji Climbing
We’ll have the traditional “Mt. Fuji opening ceremony” on July 1st at each of 3 routes inShizuoka ; Fujinomiya, Gotemba, and Subashiri. I’ll let you know about it another day !
The trails might not be fully opened due to snow-coverage in early July. Please make sure of it before you visit Mt. Fuji. We will keep you updated about latest condition of Mt. Fuji climbing in the notice of Shizuoka Guide.
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 01:31 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
06/24/2011 [Fri]
Oigawa Railway ― Yumeno Tsuribashi suspension bridge [Kawanehoncho]
I left Suikoen in Sumatakyo Onsen at 8:30 and walked toward the hiking trail to Yumeno Tsuribashi suspension bridge. In five minutes or so, I found a statue of Japanese antelopes.
That is the gateway to it. Souvenir shops stand beside the walkway. I proceeded further to get my adventure started ! Now, why had I ever thought of going on a hike that I didn’t like much ? It was because of a picture on the brochure. A suspension bridge between mountains over the indescribable blue-like green water. It seemed very artificial to me. Some kind of joking ? Just like one from another world. Maybe I should make it sure with my own eyes, I decided.
The brochure said that I might come across some wild animal like monkeys or Japanese antelopes and I was sure I would because I am such kind of man ! You know, wild animals don’t show up before people who want to see them.
The air was so beautiful with the blue sky behind it. I could see dozens of mountains, some streams, and bridges through early summer trees. A kind of lizard swiftly passed before me. Hi, you look so cute. A huge snake was also enjoying sunshine in the corner of the pathway. Not bad.＾＾
In 20 minutes or so, I found it, Yumeno Tsuribashi, if literally translated, “a dreamy suspension bridge” ! I headed for it and in another 10 minutes, I stood in front of the bridge. Just like the one in the brochure ! The color of water looked as though it had been concocted with painting colors. To try or not. I walked step by step on the bridge, gathering all the power of nature and finally, I did it, almost ! I stopped at the very way out. Why ? A wasp…I really hate it ! I turned around to walk on the way I had walked. There was another way to reach the other side. I proceeded on the paved pathway to cross another bridge and finally got to the observation square after a while. I made it !＾＾
On my way back, because maybe I was totally unguarded by the stunning beauties, I came across a monkey just in front of myself ! I dashed off, and he ( or she ? ) sprinted off into the mountain. After that happened, I became too vigilant to enjoy the exquisite views. Sorry about that.
Anyway, I came back to the entrance shopping area safely and took the bus to Senzu Station.
Next time, I’ll report the final report, Senzu to Kanaya.
Have a good day !＾＾
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 10:57 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
