Sunday, November 16

I got my rainy morning and managed to bring some order into my life. Just before noon I noticed the rain had stopped. Taking my umbrella, my rain jacket and hopes the rain would discourage some of the tourists, I started out for one of the prime autumn viewing spots—Ohara, where there are four temples. Walking to the subway I passed a very busy shinto shrine. They were having a bazaar, complete with food and handmade goodies. I couldn’t just walk past. After inspecting all the knitted hats, mittens and homemade greeting cards, I bought a small slice of something I hoped was cheesecake and a cup of coffee, sat down on a tiny stool that made me very nervous, and ate what became lunch. When I bought the coffee they began making it by opening a paper packet. Thinking it was instant coffee I was unhappy. Then I saw they pulled out a filter packet with finely ground coffee that was hung on the edge of the cup and water poured into it, just like a Melita. It made a decent cup and I was delighted with it.

The subway took me to the end of the line, a place called Kokusai Kaikan, surrounded by mountains. It would be wonderful to live in a place like that and watch the mountains all the time. The scene would change constantly. It was quite marvelous when I got there. I should have stayed and photographed, but a bus was waiting and, foolishly, I got on. It was packed and I stood for the entire trip. No consideration for old ladies. Worse yet, all those people were going to the same place I was going. Bad news.

Temples and shrines always seem to have long avenues leading up to them lined with vendors. This was no exception.

My favorite vendor

Prizewinners

For the most part they always sell the same stuff: food for immediate snacks like ice cream and octopus balls, pickles and various souvenirs to take home, and always those ubiquitous sweets. I have a feeling all those beautifully wrapped sweets are given as gifts and wind up in peoples closets and finally in land fills. I can’t imagine anyone eats them. They wouldn’t be so thin if they did.

The first temple, Sanzen-in, was packed with people, coming and going.

Some of those people

I kept on walking and it got much quieter. That first temple was the goal for most of the visitors. The third temple, Hosen-in, was quiet. There was a wonderful garden with aa 700 year old pine tree. Of course, I loved it. I would like to take pictures of every wonderful tree, and I feel like I would like to photograph every branch with red leaves. I’m glad I’m no longer paying for film and developing.

Hosen-in zen garden

700 year old pine tree, shaped like Mt. Fuji

Tree supports

Next to it, Shoren-in, had an interesting temple building with a beautiful Buddha but could have had a better garden.

I walked back to Sanzen-in praying for rain, but it was not to be. The weather had improved and the crowds were worse. I decided it was time to leave. If I have a chance I will return; I love looking at the mountains that were particularly interesting with mist and bits of clouds floating around them. As I was returning on the bus, seated this time, a tiny part of a rainbow appeared in the clouds. It was a wonderful, Japanese kind of expression; a whole rainbow would have been just too much.

Just a tiny rainbow