Yesterday, it was Sunday and Children’s Day; therefore, today is a holiday in lieu.
While Katya did chores around the house in the morning, I took Mariya to Takeda Shrine. It is only a fifteen-minute walk from our apartment.
We walked up Takeda Street.
We passed across the bridge over the moat around the shrine.
We went up the stone steps to pass the outer entrance. A pair of stone dogs guard the shrine at the entrance.
We proceeded to the inner entrance.
On the left was a well for purifying hands (you can drink water, too).
We arrived at the inner gate to the front shrine.
People were praying.
Tablets were dedicated on the right side.
On the left side was a shrine office.
I bought an empty water bottle, bathing powder, and a charm for Mariya.
On the way back, I went to a well to pour up the bottle I had bought.
By the well, a natural instrument was there with a bamboo horn buried into the ground to magnify the sound of water drops dripping under the ground.
It was quiet around. Mariya had some drink.
The noh theater is used several times a year.
On the back of the shrine, a forest is kept.
Near the forest, there is a coffee shop called “Jin”.
I went in with Mariya to have an iced coffee. Mariya had her own ionized drink.
After having drinks, we walked down back to the apartment.
In the afternoon, Katya, Mariya, Maya-san, and I walked to a small temple, “Daisenji“.
On the way back home, I left them and went into a Chinese restaurant, “Manpuku Roh“, for taking out plates.
The dishes were eggplants, green pepper and beef, chicken and nuts, all spicy.