Visiting a local shrine

My dad went to a local ski resort to snowboard and my mom had a Japanese flower arrangement lesson that I had to go to the gym the first thing in the morning. Probably because I had not eaten breakfast prior to the work out, I felt a little tired, but I did my 1.5 hr work out consist of cardio and strength work out. I wanted to do a longer strength work out, but since I wanted to walk home, which would take at least 45 minutes or so, I decided to leave at 12:30pm. On the way home, I took some photos of the Inaka (suburb neighborhood) and a shrine.

Shiba-ken (such a cute dog, aww):


Housing by the mountains:

There are a few Sengen Shrines around Mt. Fuji dedicated to Princess Konohanasakuya, the Shinto deity of Mount Fuji. Fuji-Yoshida (my home city)'s Sengen Shrine, formally known as Kitaguchi Hongu Sengen Jinja (North Entrance Sengen Main Shrine), is the main Sengen Shrine on the north side of Mount Fuji. In the past, most pilgrims approaching the mountain from the north side, would commence their ascent from this shrine. Fuji-Yoshida's Sengen Shrine stands in a dense forest of tall cedar trees. The current shrine buildings date from 1615 and are dedicated important cultural properties. I visited this Jinja on Feb 1st, and cleaned the public washroom with my mom as a volunteer work. I was meaning to bring a camera with me, but since I forgot to do so, please view this page, which I found online, where you get to see some nice photos of the area. Since there is one of the Sengen Shrines on the way home from the gym, I visited it and took some photos to share with you guys :)

Notice: the red structure is called "Torii (to-ri-i)" that marks the approach and entrance to the shrine. Beside the shrines, you see "komainu", a pair of guardian lions (or dogs), on each side of a shrine's entrance.

Before you make your prayer, you are supposed to wash your hands and ship water from this Purification through (ritual purification). I believe that the water @Sengen Jinja is natural spring water melted off from the snow on the mt. fuji, which takes hundreds of years to reach the area. Just so you know, our house gets the same water as spring water in our property, so we get to drink the most delicious tap water in the whole world!! (seriously!!)

As you approach the Haiden (Hall of Worship) an offering box Saisen Bako, this is what you do to pray: Toss some small change into the box, Make two deep bows, Clap loudly, twice, Make one more bow and make your wish.

If the haiden has a huge bell like this, you can shake it before you throw in some change in the offering box.

This is the stage for Bugaku:

I saw a horse inside in this haiden, and I assume that it is dedicated for a god of horse of some sort. Since I am a year of horse, I also made my prayer for this god.

On the way home, I saw a couple doing some farm work by the rice field:

See, this is the Fuji I get to see from my home. Can you believe that I was on top of it in August 2003? :)