Shinobazu Ike in July

Walking across the bridge to Bentendo, one sees a vast surface of large green leaves.

If I had never been here before, I would not realize that there was a large water filled pond below those leaves.

It's an impressive view in all directions. Included seeing people walk across the bridge that is in the Ueno Zoo. They almost look like they are walking on the leaves.

A closer look reveals something pink amongst those leaves.

Large tight petals buds of pink.

Some have opened to reveal that they are lotus blossoms.

Stunning to see like this. Something I had not seen before, a floating sea of flowering lotus.

Underneath were plenty of koi and turtles.

I spent time admiring the view and taking photos. Including a couple with mini acrylic Mana.

Part of Shinobazu Ike (pond) is free of lotus plants and open to people who want to rent boats.

It also allows space for birds like this egret.

Shaking off the rain. Since it started raining a bit more, I decided it was time to head to the next place I wanted to see.

Back to Benzaiten

That place in the distance was the Bentendo Temple at the Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park. It is a Buddhist shrine dedicated to the Goddess Benzaiten. As at other Benzaiten shrines, the water spout for the chozubachi (water purification basin) is a dragon. It's Gozoryu, the dragon that Benzaiten subjugated. If you were wondering about Gozoryu, I wrote about him in my posts about Enoshima.

Another thing that relates back to Enoshima, the three triagles on the chozubachi. That is the emblem for the Hojo clan, which also appears on many shrines on Enoshima. They were the shoguns during the Kamakura period.

I have been here before in 2018. Similar weather, but more people this time.

This statue of Ugajin, the god of water, agriculture and good fortune, is new. It is reminiscent of the Ugajin statue at Inokoshira Benzaiten shrine. Again there is the three triangles of the Hojo clan.

After visiting with Benzaiten and making my offering, I walked to the back of the shrine.

Here is the honden, the building where Benzaiten is enshrined. It is octagonal like the Hoanden at Hetsunomiya Shrine on Enoshima.

I spent a bit of time walking around the shrine. There is a small shrine behind this locked gate. Unfortunately I do not know what it is. It may be Shinto.

One of several monuments around Bentendo Shrine. Someone mentioned this is a monument in memory of fugu fish. If I am ever here again, I will try to confirm this. Since usually there are monuments to fishermen at a number of Benzaiten shrines, and I wonder if this may be what this is dedicated to.

Jizo, dedicated to children who have passed away.

The front of Bentendo and the sun is shining!

The finial on top of Benzaiten's shrine, shining gold in the sunlight. 

Along the bridge going to Bentendo were a number of food booths selling a variety of items. The shaved ice was very popular.

Chocolate covered bananas reminded me of fairs in America.

Of course there was yakinuki of all kinds.

I wanted to try something, but was a little hesitant because of the hot weather. I don't know if the different meats were being kept cold. So I went with the "crab" sticks, since they would have been pre-cooked.

It wasn't bad. The view here made it a nice place to eat. In fact, that view was why I came to Bentando in the middle of Shinobazu Pond. Because there was something I had not seen before. And that will be my next post.

Visiting with Benzaiten in Ueno

I wasn't done with visiting places in Ueno Park. Even with the bad weather. Because I wanted to see the island. Which is in the middle of Shinobazu Pond. To get there one has to cross this long bridge. As you can see, preparations for the Ueno Sakura Matsuri were happening. 

 The bridge led to this. Bentendo Temple, a Buddhist temple dedicated to Benzaiten.

The prayer ema were in the shape of biwa, a type of lute, for Benzaiten is a goddess of things that flow. As in music and water. Which is why you will find a water feature at her shines, or surrounding them like this temple located on a man-made island Bentenjima in Shinobazu Pond.

The back of Bentendo Temple. It really is a remarkable building, rebuilt in 1958 after the war. I'd like to see it again someday in better weather and without all the festival stuff around it.

Near Bentendo Temple is another Buddhist temple,  Ooyukadendou. Now this may be related to Benzaiten because she is one of the Seven Lucky Gods and this temple is dedicated to Daikokuten who is also one of the Seven Lucky Gods. Daikokuten is a god of fortune. 

Even with the inclement weather, Shinobazu Pond still had lovely features. This sakura floating on the water.

Reeds that would become green and bloom with lotus flowers.

Birds like this lovely Little Egret. It was exciting to see another one after seeing one at Hibiya Park. Even more so because this bird came even closer to me, standing just below me in the water.

Also on the island were sakura trees.

Beautifully blooming behind Benzaiten's temple.

As it was still raining with snow and ice, it was difficult to take photos without spots from the rain. But I had to try.

I did go in and make an offering and a prayer and bought a little charm for myself. I don't know if Benzaiten-sama answered my prayer. I hope so.

There is still one more place I went to in Ueno. I hope to get that post up tomorrow. Thank you for reading!