Inokashira Benzaiten Shrine

Things that flow. Something you might find at many of the bodies of water in Japan is a shrine to one of the Seven Lucky Gods.

Benzaiten is connected with water. So here in Inokashira Koen (park), there is a decent sized shrine to the Lucky Goddess Benzaiten.

Something to notice at Benzaiten shrines are the details. Like the wave carvings on this toro, stone lantern.

There are a couple well worn komainu. This one looks a little happy.

While the other looks a little sad.

Of course there is a chozuya here. This one has a more elaborate roof than most.

The use of vermilion on the various building is quite striking.

With pale blue surrounded by black, it gives the building a look of importance.

Behind the main building there is another chozuya. However this one may have a different purpose. It may be a place where people wash their money in hopes that it will increase or to purify it. 

Benzaiten is often paired with a dragon, a creature who is also connected to water. 

There is another small shrine on this tiny island in Inokashira Ike (pond). This is the Nanai Fudosuno Shrine.

Jizo on a lotus, which are sometimes found around Benzaiten shrines. She is also often shown sitting on a lotus. The stones at his feet may be placed there by worshipers who have children who have passed away. They do so in hopes of lessening the time their child may have to suffer in the underworld.

A closer look at this shrine with what appeared to be seashells left as offerings. Nanai is an older name for the pond.

One of the more unusual statues here is of Ugajin, a human headed snake, god of water, agriculture and good fortune. Some statues of Benzaiten have Ugajin on her head.

Not a photo by me but a print of a 1838 painting by Utagawa Hiroshige. Titled "Snow Scene of Benzaiten Shrine in Inokashira Pond" (Inokashira no ike Benzaiten no yashiro yuki no kei). Both the large Benzaiten shrine and part of the Nanai Fudosuno shrine can be seen. It is believed that there has been a shrine on this island since the early 800's.

Inokashira Park

 One day in March I decided to head to Kichijoji to look at a ring. I didn't buy the ring, but I had noticed there was a very large park nearby. So I headed over to it.

Even though most of the sakura trees were waiting to bloom, there were still pretty flowers to be seen as I walked through the park. 

Inokashira Park is known for a few things, besides being a bit of an oasis in the vast concrete area of Tokyo. Inokashira Pond is one of the two primary sources of water for the Kanda River. 

There are a number of monuments through out the park, as any good Japanese park has. 

Including this, Ochanomizu. As the name implies it was a spring fed source of water, including water used for a tea ceremony by shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa.

The water now comes from a well but it still goes into the end of the pond and then into the Kanda River at the other end of the pond. It was a really nice water feature.

Various flowers were blooming through out the park.

Including some in the ume or plum tree garden. 

Hidden behind some branches and a couple spraying fountains were the buildings of Inokashira Benzaiten Shrine. 

There were magnolia trees also showing off. 

I think there is a monument to shogun Iemitsu Tokogawa up there. I didn't go up to look. I had a bit of walking to do this day so going up more stairs wasn't in my plans.

One of a couple long bridges that stretch across the pond. This one is near the Inokashira Park Zoo. 

I didn't go in there but there was plenty of wildlife to see outside of it. Like this Large-billed Crow. 

The park is actually a great place for bird watching. 

Including swan boats. 

There really are a lot of birds there. Like this Eastern Great Egret. 

And these Grey Herons. 

Inokashira Park is also known as the place where the Ghibli Museum is located. But this day I had dedicated to looking at flowering trees. Some other time possibly I will visit the museum.

So this was a little bit of my walk around Inokashira Pond in the park. But there was something I did visit there and that will be my next post.