[Nagano Trip in My 50s Part 2] I Secured Peace of Mind for My Old Age at Zenko-ji Temple (...or so I hope lol)
Click here for Part 1
Day 3.
We left the hotel early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Since my 80-year-old mother was with us,
we took a taxi to Zenko-ji Temple.
The first thing that caught our eyes was the large incense burner.
"That thing you always see on TV!"
Of course, we bathed in the smoke
as much as we possibly could (lol).
After that, we prayed properly at the main hall.
I also prayed that the toenail I injured at the hotel
would heal quickly...🙏
And what I was looking forward to most this time was
the Okaidan Meguri (underground passage pilgrimage).
It's that thing where you walk through a pitch-black corridor
to find the "Key to Paradise."
My sister and mother told me,
"You go first!"
And while thinking, "Why me? 🤣"
I ended up going down the stairs in the lead.
Both of them always push things onto me
at times like this.
I couldn't see anything, and it was truly scary...
But the person walking in front of me went
clatter, clatter, clatter (lol).
"Oh, so that's where it is 😂"
Thanks to that, I found the spot right away.
Since I successfully touched the key,
my old age is now secure.
......probably 🤣
After that, we climbed the Sanmon gate,
looked at the sutra repository and the history museum, and bought amulets.
We fully enjoyed Zenko-ji.
On Nakamise Street, we bought Yawataya Isogoro's shichimi spice and
apple pie, so we successfully got our souvenirs too ✨
Then, lunch.
"What should we eat?"
All three of us answered immediately.
"Soba!"
Believe it or not, that's 3 days in a row 🤣
But, it really was delicious.
In the afternoon, we took the Limited Express Shinano to Matsumoto.
Everyone was a little tired,
so for dinner, we got takeout of Matsumoto's famous sanzoku-yaki
and ate at the hotel.
We also went to the hot spring at the affiliated hotel,
which really soothed our travel fatigue.
Zenko-ji was what I was looking forward to most this trip.
It exceeded my expectations.
If I go again, I'd like to go during the year of the Gokaicho (temple unveiling),
and I'd also like to participate in the morning service.
Well, next time is the end of the trip.
Will my 80-year-old mother make a surprise big appearance?
A story about being surprised at Matsumoto Castle.
To be continued.