This morning started slowly. I got up and read my email (of course) and found out how to sign up for next year’s health insurance. It’s something we do at work this time every year, and every year I’m usually in Japan until the last day or so. This time I’m out the whole time, so I had to get a co-worker to figure out how I can select things remotely.

Then it was off to the train station to change my tickets. Like I said yesterday, my plans have changed and so I had to get my complicated train ticket and exchange it for a ticket just to Tokyo. I was trying to decide whether to meet my sister in Tokyo or my mom in Maebashi. Maebashi seemed a lot more expensive on the train so I decided to go straight to Tokyo but then I found out that there are no hotel rooms open this weekend. So, after several calls home, I decided to go to Maebashi after all. Besides, instead of taking the Shinkansen (1:41 and ¥4,800), I can take the regular train (2:25 and ¥1,890).

So after all that, I had to decide what to do today. I was thinking of going to Myokensan up in the mountains, or Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine to the south. It was a cloudy morning, so I headed south. I got a map at the Tourist Information bureau and the only one they had left was in English. After taking an odd train to Tennoji, it was onto the Hankai Tramway (a streetcar, really).

My first stop was Bandaiike Park which turned out to have very little historic value but was interesting for other reasons. First, the houses nearby were HUGE. This first one has a FULL SIZE garage attached, unlike most places in Japan.

I don’t know if these pictures fully express the size or the unusual construction of this house.

The neighborhood was full of things that looked a little more ostentatious than I’ve seen. Plus it’s in a flat area, not too far from the poorest area I’ve seen in Japan.

The lake was pretty and lots of people were exercising nearby. They’re probably the idle rich.

You know me, a sucker for shrines. This is just something that was on the walkway in the middle of the lake.

And the other interesting thing was my lunch. I saw a place that was pretty crowded with a Mercedes-Benz idling in front. I walked by an came back a half-hour later after finding nothing else interesting food-wise. This was ¥600!

Another ¥100 and I got coffee!

I had stomach problems later in the afternoon, but I can’t really blame lunch. It seemed too quick for that.

The 30-minutes I mentioned was spent going to Tezukayama Tumulus, a tomb from the early fifth century!

Then it was off to Sumiyoshi-taisha, which i think is the oldest shrine in Japan. That, of course, means lots of temples and shrines. Like Tofukuji Temple

Or Housen-ji Temple with thirteen stone images of the Buddha which is rare in Japan according to the map. The temple itself didn’t appear to be open, but a behind some dirty glass on the left (the short roof) were the Buddhas.

I took this picture through a cracked pane.

Then it was off to find the grounds of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. By this time my stomach had started gurgling and I was trying my best to ignore it. You know, the kind of gurgling that says, “I’m glad I’m going to a tourist spot that must have public restrooms!”

And, of course, I’m going in through the back door again.

Right by the back door is the Nankun Shrine which is supposed to be lucky for business. They sell maneki neko here. There’s all sorts of superstitions about coming here every month for four years and buying the small maneki neko and then trading the small ones for a large one for greater luck in business.

This is the main shrine (the First Hongu). At this point I’m heading towards the main entrance.

Inside the main entrance is the taikobashi curved bridge. It’s pretty darn steep.

And there are lots of lanterns outside.

Here’s the main entrance.

Which leads to the bridge.

And the main entrance to the grounds, and this guy on the left who wouldn’t get out of the picture. He just kept standing around.

The Third Hongu.

The Fourth Hongu.

The Second Hongu.

And, of course this is the season for chrysanthemums!

The First Hongu is the main shrine from earlier and I believe this is when I thanked the gods that Japan has public restrooms. I should have thanked them for having CLEAN public restrooms.

On the way back I saw several wedding parties taking pictures.

There are lots of shrines on the grounds.

I’m not sure what this is.

I’m not sure what all they even are enshrining.

These appear to be “mere storehouses”.

I think this is a place to worship this side of this big tree.

I wonder if this is the famous giant cinnamon tree. The map is not very clear.

Another tree to worship?

And I feel like I’m just cataloging shrines at this point.

This definitely is a storehouse, but the sign is in complicated Japanese. One of these days I should try studying historical Japanese.

Looking at the map, I think this is Tanekashi Shrine where you’re supposed to go first. There were seats inside and it looked quite new and different than most other shrines I’ve seen.

This is Ohwatatsumi (Daikai) Shrine. I’ve seen mention that this is even older than the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. It has lots of stories tied to the sea.

It also has an interesting gate inside the shrine and a door to who knows what treasures?

The entrance to Ohwatatsumi Shrine is what I expect a grand old shrine entrance to look like.

This is the northwest-ish corner of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

There are other shrines and temples in the area, but I figured I better not push my luck and headed back to the hotel. I’m feeling better but I did take a nap. Instead of heading out to dinner, I went out to the fancy bakery below the Ritz-Carlton and had a salmon sandwich and some savory pastries.

And there it is. If I’m feeling better tomorrow, it’s up to Myokensan!