Off to Japan tomorrow
Posted: April 2, 2010 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Buddhism, General, Hosso, Japan, Jodo Shinshu, Jodo Shu, Shinto, Travel | 7 Comments »Hi all,
This is a quick announcement from the management of the blog (i.e. “me”). I am about to embark on a three-week trip to Japan, so our little one can visit her grandparents and relatives, and finally get to celebrate Shichigosan among other festivities. My wife and I are excited to visit various Buddhist temples in Kyoto, Tokyo and Nara as part of the trip as well.
Among the “action items”1 we hope to do while there:
- Celebrate the Buddha’s Birthday, Hanamatsuri, at the wonderful Jodo Shinshu temple of Tsukiji Honganji.
- Visit one of my favorite temples too in Tokyo, Sensōji.
- See the Nishi Honganji temple in Kyoto (our hotel is very close by).
- See Todaiji temple in Nara again. I want to see the famous Nigatsudo Hall (February Hall) this time around.
- See the head temple of the Hossō (Yogacara) Sect, Kofukuji, and the many wonderful things found there.
- Visit one of the three famous Tenmangū Shinto shrines in Tokyo. I hope to pick up a nice charm for my future JLPT studies among other things.
- If possible, I want to see the Jodo Shu head temple of Chion-in again. I believe that’s where I first awakened to the Pure Land Buddhist path.
As for the blog, I am trying to keep things on schedule, but things may get crazy over there depending on schedule, jet-lag and other issues. If I miss a few posts, fail to respond to comments, or the schedule gets more ad hoc, please know this is temporary until I get back to the US.
Thanks everyone in advance and see you soon!
–The Management
1 This is one of those corporate phrases I hear all the time. Scary when I unconsciously say it outside of work too. :-p
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the 
Hi Doug! Sounds like you will have a great trip. If you need to contact me for any reason in Japan, look me up as John Tsuzumi in Facebook. I suppose your dance card is pretty full, but feel free to contact me if the occasion warrants.
Also, for reference of other readers, here is the English web page of Tsukiji Hongwanji:
http://www.tsukijihongwanji.jp/tsukiji/index_e.html
Re: Sensoji
Here is a suggestion for those interested in the Lotus Sutra. The temple is having a shakyo campaign to help pay for the new roof of the main hall. The entire building is covered by a special structure–this seems to be a really big deal, costing lots of money. There is a helpful poster on display that explains the processes with diagrams, and there is one in English! Anyway, one way you can participate is to buy a shakyo set at the temple desk. It costs 500 yen. It is the verse part and final section of chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra–this chapter is sometimes referred to as the Kannon Sutra. It is the very easy kind of shakyo, where it is printed in faint gray, and all you do is write over to darken it. It is 600 some-odd characters. It took me about six hours or so to do it. Then, you can send it back to the temple by mail. They will send you a card impressed with the temple chops, acknowledging your contribution. I think the copies are being stored in a special sutra library. You get sutra study and kanji writing practice at the same time! What a deal!
You mentioned Tokyo. If you visit Zojo-ji make sure you see the third floor Dojo, which probably means talking to someone and gaining permission. It is little known there is a room above the main Building (literally in the roof) which houses an Amida in a very rare hand positioning, and a Nehan-e comprised of the entire larger Sutra written in minature by St Yamazaki Bennei.
Anywy safe trip, and best wishes,
Stephen
Hi guys,
Stephen Do you think they’d just let anyone off the street go visit that part of the temple? Where is Zojoji anyway? If I can, I’ll definitely go.
Johnl I’ll send you an email once I get there. I won’t be that busy until the 2nd week when we’re off to Kyoto, but it would be nice to visit readers in the Tokyo area (if anyone else is there, let me know).
Zojo-ji is beside Prince Hotel, and Shiba Park, at the base of Tokyo Tower. The land for Tokyo Tower was gifted to the country by Zojo-ji (because they couldn’t afford the land taxes anymore.) Behind Zojo-is the graves of half the Tokugawa Shogunate. The third floor Dojo is used for training sessions and Shakyo and the like, I don’t think it is ever locked.
It wouldn’t be much of a bother to ask and it wouldn’t take much of their time to show you an elevator, why not try.
Anyway, have fun with the family is most important.
Stephen (ウィズフォード法道）
Have a safe trip Doug!
what a great schedule, Zojo-Ji sigh, sounds fabulous. I’d love to go & bring back a ton of omamori for everyone:) And I will too.
have a wonderful time with your wife, little girl and relations, that’s what its all about…
Rory
Hope the trip is going good. Sounds like a lot of fun. I hope to visit again one day. Not sure what areas I would go to, but I’m sure I would enjoy it. I just hope my Japanese will be good enough to get me around.