熱田神宮や熱田秋葉山 (Part 1)

熱田神宮 (Atsuta Jingu - shrine) and 熱田秋葉山 (Atsuta Akibasan - temple) are two places that you should definitely visit if/when you come to Nagoya. Yesterday I decided, would be my day to visit the shrine and also the temple on the way (which I initially forgot was there).

Arranged to meet Remi at 10am then travel to the shrine from there, though I woke up a tad late (10 minutes) and informed Remi I would be a tad late.

迷子　（the lost child)

Caught the bus to Hongo (just past Higashiyama- coen) before changing onto the subway line.

In green is the route I should have taken.

My 1st mistake : While preoccupied with myreflection (as I was wearing cat ears) I missed the stop to change trains in Motoyama.

My 2nd mistake: Rode until Sakae where I again had a chance to change onto the purple line, though I go onto the train that heads out to the Port of Nagoya instead of continuing the loop once it hits Kanayama. Did not realize until Tokai-dori.

10:45 I arrived at the station for Atsuta Jingu. Remi was waiting patiently and we headed to the shrine.

 仲良しへ, I know many of you have interest in Japan and thus I recommend flicking between the blog and the Official Atsuta Jingu page.

熱田神宮や熱田秋葉山

First up was Kamichikama Shrine which is within Atsuta Jingu next to the main shrine. It's dedicated to knowledge and commerce. As always the architecture and detail were amazing and after watching some people first, Remi and I figured out how to pray. Two bows, two claps, pray then bow.

 We then walked down to the main shrine and on the way we saw all these sake kegs. Those historic Japanese figures really knew how to drink. Just shows how important celebrations of important events are to the Japanese.

Remi managed to spot one with her surname on it. Toyo-da. (Pictures below in the smaller image).

 

The
1,300 year old tree

Next to the sake kegs is this very impressive aesthetically interesting tree . Because of it's age the tree is honored as a god. This is why it has the belt with the white shapes. According to the Official Site..

"This tree is 1,300 years old and is said to be planted by Koubou Daishi, a famous Buddhist priest."

It is a symbol for long life at the shrine and I prayed before it in the hopes of achieving just that. 

結婚式　Wedding

 Seems we arrived just in time to watch a traditional wedding at the shrine. Finally I was able to see the Japanese traditional wedding gown in person.

Seeing the wedding made me dream of my own wedding (if I have one). If I do get married, I have decided it will be in a ceremony exactly like this one.

祈るPray

There are three main ways to pray in Japan. The first is that which you do before a temple, the second is to write your wish as people do each year at the Nara candle festival, then attach it to a tree or special wish stand (bottom left)..

... the third is to receive your fortune from the temple, then tie it onto the string to let Kami-sama know that you have read it.

I got the 3rd best fortune.
 

Again with the gorgeous architecture. Please click the images for a better look at those above.

Here is me in-front of the main hall where people could pay to receive a blessing from the Atsuta god. It was rather expensive ($60) so I made do with my "omamori" for happiness.

I love how each temple has a different symbol and that many use that beautiful royal purple.

 

Taught Remi how to wash her hands at the hand washing bason provided at the temple. First left, then right, then you wash the cup itself.

庭鳥や庭の鳥居

 

  終わり The End...of this Part. Please move onto part two of my day for more adventures. 

One, two or skip a few.

Now the semester seems to be in in full swing already. Sorry for the missed day yesterday, there was just too much homework. Though I shall give you a catchup now. Firstly my assignments..

Assignments include
 - 4,000 character report (roughly 15,000 words)
- 5 minute speech
- LOT of exams

Here is a picture of my usual classroom and where I like to sit for lunch.

満月　Full moon.
 

You all know I love the full moon. I saw it while walking home from the post office after withdrawing money for rent and doing some shopping.

Was my first time walking to the post office in the next suburb, but I was so lucky to catch this sight.

After I got home I completed all my homework so today I have none and cooked baked potatoes with cheese and capsicum. Yummy.

                                This is Paw's favorite  ---------->










Also, I met with my friend Chiharu (middle) from Ohka Gakkuen (the school I went to in 2009) in the lunch room. She recognized me and we have agreed to meet each week for English/Japanese practice. Chiharu told me all about what the other students from school are upto and I hope to go visit them with her sometime.
 We ate dango on the rooftop dining area.

正月の事　About New Years

Next I had my final class which was about Japanese culture. We learnt about New Years traditions and played games people would play for New Years in the past. 

One of the games was to put all the features on the face while blindfolded, though we turned female the face around and It looked like a man with a beard.

 狸様のこと

狸様のほうがすごく格好良いけど、普通の狸と写真とった。

There is still lots of homework and assignment I should be thinking about, though this afternoon I'm glad  for a short break and time to relax and read manga. Tomorrow I have an early kanji class, but will finish early. Tomorrow I will also have my photo taken for the yearly pamphlet that the University Prepares to send to other Universities to promote exchange, so I shall wear my cutest hair clips.

Went shopping and bought 

- new hair clips 

-razor (never again)

- jacket for new years (horse)

- cold weather pjs

Have already had dinner and a shower. Might sleep early (was up until 4am finishing homework last night). Hoping you are well well and sending love and happiness your way.
                                                                                                   Love from Lord Kitsune.

たい焼き

たい焼きは日本には大人気な食べ物だ。ピアゴで買って来た。美味しかったよ！日本に来れば、ぜひ食べてみて下さい！

新入生 New Student.

 J4 and　漢字

Today was my first day at University in Japan. Level 4 is going to be fine I think, though I missed my kanji class in the morning and the teacher was not very happy. Received lots of homework for Kanji class which is due tomorrow. >.<

狸様, I shall send you my kanji homework once it's marked so you can make pretty flash cards to test me on. Also the kanji have been written in my Kanji book with plenty of room to practice writing them for future tests.

 華道

Today was also my first day of Kado (ikebana - flower arranging. The teacher was super impressed with my flower arranging skills and asked me to make a second arrangement as we had extra flowers. Usually there would be 4 people in the class, but all but myself thought they had a different class instead, thus the extra flowers.

熊 (Alex), I shall send you the information sheets about how to arrange the flowers in a letter soon and look forward to kado classes with you when I get home.

やらなければならない事

Still waiting for the money to go though to my cash card, though mum called them for me today and apparently the money should be loaded on tomorrow. Hopefully all will go well so I can pay rent.

Here is a worried tiger cupcake that looks a little like a storm trooper. Enjoy. 

Dear dear deer

Dear dear deer, 

You were tasty. 
                                                  
                                   Love Senti 

  First roast in Japan and possibly my last. Roast deer was delicious. I made the potatoes (which tasted amazing by the way) and John (from Norway) roasted the deer that he received from his friend up north.

Quiet day so here are some pictures of my University.

Gardens besides the paths and adorable drain coverings.
The brown building is the library and the big square silver/white one is the "Bekka" building where the exchange students study. These are where most of my classes will be held .
There is also what looks like a shrine near the area for primary school teaching.

 

 The university also has a tennis court and a golf range very close to it. Fairly sure the tennis court is owned by the University and used for clubs, though not sure about the golf range.

 This concludes our brief tour of my University. Now let's eat some custeira cake.