Tamagawa Daishi Temple (Gyokushin Mitsuin Temple)

Earlier this week we had a typhoon move its way through our area.  Most of the clouds and rain cleared out by early Tuesday morning.  So, we all jumped in the car and headed to Tokyo for a couple days.  We didn't hit much traffic on the way there, so we ended up in the city early enough to get a full day's worth of sightseeing in.  First up:  Tamagawa Daishi Temple, also known as Gyokushin Mitsuin Temple.

So...a couple weeks ago I sat at the computer for half a day and researched directions, maps, prices, which trains to take and which attractions to see in which order to minimize our time spent on the train around the city.  Yeah...we got about halfway to Tokyo before I realized I left all my information at home.  Ugh!  I tried my best to remember.  From there, I used the concierge at the New Sanno to help me get the rest of the (re)planning done.  

With new maps in hand, we headed out to find this unique temple.  This is a temple I saw on the internet somewhere in a very short blog.  Basically, what the blogger said was that it looked plain on the outside, was hidden in a little neighborhood, and is supposed to simulate walking through Buddha's intestines.  Hmm...sounds...different...              From Hiroo Station we rode for about 20 minutes to Futako Tamagawa Station.  The temple is about a ten minute walk from here.  We ended up going too far up the road, the construction threw me off a bit.  On the map on the left, the circle with the check mark in the center is Futako-Tamagawa Station.  We  walked out of the station and headed to the right, up the main road.  Don't make our mistake and try to take the main road all the way to where the red line goes off the main road...the construction prevents this....and, I think maybe there is no way to get off the road that way.  There is a way to get off the main road and head on the side streets.  My best advice...google Futako-Tamagawa Station and then zoom in close enough to find the temple sign on the map and drop a pin.  

Once we found the temple, I must admit, we thought we had the wrong place.  It looks very small and it doesn't look like anything special.  We walked to the steps and made a right turn to walk through the little garden.  Kris wandered off to find out how to get to the tunnel while Dave and I took pictures.  The garden has several little dragon fountains and a lot of statues.  

This statue is huge!  The pamphlet we got from the temple was all in Japanese, so I have only my guess on what each thing is.  This guy is probably 30 feet tall.  Ha ha...I'm so bad at guessing measurements....don't even believe that guestimate for a minute.

Finally, Kris came out of the temple and said, come this way and take off your shoes.  So, we all took off our shoes and put them in the racks (the kids took off their shoes, but took them into the temple to put them on when they got to the tunnel).  Once inside, information got a bit overwhelming.  The lady that was explaining everything to us was doing so at a rapid pace.  And, it was very fragmented, so I was trying to decipher her speech as well as put it all back in an order that made sense.  She did explain that the tunnels represent Buddha's intestines and it is supposed to give us enlightenment when we make it all the way through.  She said it is very dark and we are supposed to put our right hand on the wall and always follow that wall.  Always go to the right (I'm having Game of Thrones flashbacks now).  She also said that there was something hidden in the wall...she pointed to a foot long cylindrical object on a table nearby.  I can't remember what it was called, but she said if your hand runs across it in the tunnel then you will have very good luck.  Finally, she asked us all our ages and told us she had to teach us the kanji for that number.  I'm not quite sure why....I'm guessing that some of the writing on the walls in the tunnel corresponded with our ages and would tell us something about our lucky year.  Not sure though.

We left all of our backpacks at the top of the stairs, dropped 100 Yen apiece into a basket, donned slippers (the kids put their shoes back on), and headed down a dozen steps.  Immediately we were plunged into darkness.  I'm not afraid of the dark by any means, but I took a few steps, went around a little (tight) curve and thought, "maybe I don't really want to do this.  Maybe I should just turn back around."  Then, I actually had to tell myself to take a couple deep breaths.  It seemed like the darkness was making it hard for me to breathe.  Garytt started whimpering and I heard Mackenzie telling Kris that she didn't want to do this.  But, we took their hands and told them to put their right hands on the wall and just take one step at a time.  After a few dozens steps in total darkness we came around a corner and saw a little light ahead.  When we came into the light we were greeted by rows and rows of statues.   There are 88 statues that represent the 88 holy sites of Shikoku.  (Pictures aren't allowed inside the temple, so the two pictures below are from the temple pamphlet.)

Next, we walked through more darkness, more tunnel, more turns.  We entered another chamber.  This one has 300 statues of Buddha.  I think this is the first time I've seen a sleeping Buddha, or maybe its called a resting Buddha.  Dunno...but, it was cool.  Again, we walked through more darkness, more turns, and then found the final chamber.  This chamber had the 33 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.  At this point, Garytt was SO over the darkness.  I ended up carrying him through the last section of the tunnel.  Oh...and, that cylinder that was hidden in the tunnel...I found it!  The temple lady told me I would have very good luck!  

Once we were upstairs again Dave and I were getting our goshuinchou (stamp book) stamped and signed, the lady that greeted us asked where we were from.  She was so surprised to find Americans on the temple steps.  

From here, we decided to head out to O'daiba and have a little look-see.  And, as a special treat, we decided to take the train across Rainbow Bridge!  

Once across the bridge, we got off at Daiba Station and walked to the Gundam Statue.

Not sure what the deal is with this needle, but it makes a pretty picture.  

Gundam is just as cool each time we see him!

The Fuji TV Building

Side view of Fuji TV Building

After walking around for awhile, we decided to head over to Deck's for dinner.  The plan was to watch the sunset from the deck of a restaurant.  Well, all of a sudden the wind kicked up like crazy!  Strong enough to blow us around a bit.  So, we decided to go to Deck's and eat inside instead.  But, up first....sunset pictures of Tokyo!

After the sun went down we headed on in to the King of the Pirates restaurant.  It was pretty dark in the restaurant so most of my pictures did not turn out.  Kris had a hamburger steak, Dave had fish, Mackenzie and Garytt had chicken and fries, and I had an avocado burger and fries.  Yummy!  Dave's meal was a blast to watch!

While we waited for our food I ran outside to snap a few pictures of the night skyline.

After dinner we caught a train to take a gander at Tokyo Tower.  

The view from the observation deck was beautiful.  The typhoon cleared out the skies enough for us to see quite far.  Something we learned today...when the winds are a-blowin' the top observatory closes.

From here we all hopped back on a train and headed to the New Sanno for a good night's sleep before our next big adventure!

Monkey Island with Uncle Dave

Thursday night Dave got into Haneda around 1015. We all went to the airport to greet him and managed to make it home around 1145. We promptly put the kiddos in bed-well, after Garytt gave him a tour and he opened his welcome bag. 

With typhoon Vongfong expected to arrive Monday or Tuesday, meaning we would lose a travel day, we decided not to give Dave a day of rest. :D W hopped right on in with a day at Sarushima, otherwise known as Monkey Island. While we waited for the boat to arrive we took a walk over in Mikasa Park. 

As soon as the boat, Sea Friend Zero, arrived we hopped on and headed over.

Once on the island we found a picnic table and had ham and cheese sandwiches with chips. 

We've been on the island before, so I was trying not to take the same pictures I did last time. My artistic eye only lasted for a couple hours before it was exhausted. 

I forgot how many steps were on this little island. 

We saw a lot of wildlife this time. 

I agree with Mackenzie, spiders creep me out!  But, this one was so pretty!  It looks like she has a lipstick kiss on her side.  I found a few pictures of it on the internet, but nothing with the actual name.

Walking down to the tide pools. 

Garytt was trying to catch a fish swimming in that hole. 

Almost...

Caves and lots of rocks to climb on. Kris and Garytt decided to take a walk on the rocks to the right of this picture. He got halfway across the first section and slipped on a slimy rock and fell into the water. Of course... Maybe a mini Clayton in our Havens family...if there's water, he falls in it. 

A future rock climber....she worked and worked here until she found just the right hand hold to pull herself up so she could look into that crevice. Once she got down, she joined the boys on the other side. She managed to get across without falling in. They found a little beach over there and my awesome beachcomber found several pretty pieces of sea glass to add to our collection. 

While we waited for the boat to come get us we walked on the main beach for a bit. Mackenzie found more sea glass and Garytt had fun trying to see if the waves could catch his shoe. 

The next day we had two soccer games starting first thing in the morning. The kids played great! Then, that night we went to CoCo's Curry for dinner. After that we went back to Mikasa Park to see the light show. 

Garytt tests for his Green Belt

Garytt and Alyssa praciticing

It's that time of year!  Karate Testing time!  Boy has been in karate now for a year and a half.  This is his third belt test and is up for a Green Belt.  Before the test, he said to Kris and I that he was nervous about this test.  I think this is the first time he's ever been nervous about a test.  I guess this is what happens the higher he goes up the ladder.  We've seen him practice over the last few weeks and we had total confidence in his abilities.  He just had to get over the nerves.  

We arrived at Fleet Rec about fifteen minutes early, just to give him a few minutes to get in the zone.  One of his friends, Alyssa, was testing for her next belt and was nervous as well.  So, they went off to a corner and did a little practicing.  

Alyssa and Garytt

At just before one, Sensei's Grandpa (the man who taught Garytt's Sensei) started warming the kids up....all in Japanese.  They all managed to follow along pretty well.

Warm up...Boy in center, blue belt

Waiting for the activities to begin

And, now he's up!  

These three kids are in Garytt's class.  All testing for their Green Belts.  I think Garytt is the youngest, by almost two years.

Garytt's kata.  Usually, he is on the front line and I have an unobstructed view.  This time, not so much.  The video is a bit shaky because I was trying to find the right spot to see him...I never found that spot.











After that part of the test, the kids had to sit on the side and do a written examination.  For the last two tests he only had to draw pictures of fists, feet positions, and hands.  This year he had to actually write words.  Oh my!  He's pretty good at sounding words out, but I'm not sure he really knows how to spell 'musubi dachi'.  That paper ought to be interesting.

The testing ran a little long, so Grandpa Sensei couldn't do his normal demonstrations for us.  He did a quick little speech (in Japanese) and then bowed to us all.  He told us that he will continue karate until the day he stops breathing.  I think this year he is 92 years old.  Impressive!

This season's testing class.

We should know in two weeks if he passed his test.  And, then he will get his next belt.  We are incredibly proud of this little martial arts master!  He works hard and listens to his Sensei and it shows in his moves.