Japan has a new year tradition called Hatsumode which is the first shrine visit of the year where you pray for good fortune and ward off bad omens for the year ahead. This is an important part of the culture, especially for older folks. My mother-in-law's nursing home is taking all residents via special busses to a local shrine to celebrate this tradition. Sawako and I looked around and found, to our wonder, Chomeiji a major Shingon Buddhist temple a 30 minute walk away. This is special to us as Shingon Buddhism was founded by Kukai, aka Kobo Daishi who is the monk celebrated by the Shikoku Pilgrimage. It was very cool to go to the temple and see the main hall
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| Chomeiji Kondo Hall |
and then the Kukai's hall. This is at the end of a long path with many stone towers and statues. This is modeled after Oku-no-in of Koyasan graveyard.
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| Chomeiji Daishido Hall |
and finally, the statue of Kukai himself
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| Kukai |
I consider this a good omen that Hikarigaoka is a perfect place for us to live in Japan. Now whenever I am missing Shikoku, I can come here for a while.
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