Kiba Park and the Daiyoko River

I had a little trouble finding the place I wanted to visit. So I followed the Daiyoko River back past the train station. It must be nice to have a house with a view of a river like this.

Along with a view of something else.

Because I don't know of too many things that are prettier than sakura blooming along a waterway.

The last stop on my journey that day was to see more kawazu-zakura, or early blooming cherry blossom trees. It was worth the trip.

I noticed that when looking up at a clear sky through sakura, the color is a shade of blue so intense and not like any blue sky elsewhere.

Sunosaki Shrine in Kiba

So on that day, I went from one side of Tokyo prefecture to the other side. 

To a place called Kiba. Another one of those not a tourist places. Which is fine with me. I enjoy seeing things like this lovely florist shop.

Seeing the waterways of Japan that wind through neighborhoods.

And coming across the local shrines and temples. This one is Sunosaki Shrine.

The chozuya.

Red torii means these are Shinto shrines. The banners add a bit of festivity.

Red torii also means it is likely there is an Inari shrine here. Yes, along with cute kitsune.

Although this one looks like it is growling.

There are komainu here. It's been noted that the crouching position of these komainu is a little unusual.

The main shrine. I could not find much on the history of Sunosaki Shrine, but apparently it was once located on the coast, or this was the coast of the area. There is a connection with fishing and the ocean. It seems to have been around for a long time.

Unusual for it to be open like this, and please pardon my taking a photo of it. But I know people wonder about what is inside shrines besides the kami who is enshrined there. Various sacred objects, often a statue, and offerings. This one appears to have many bottles of sake. As to the kami enshrined in Sunosaki shrine, from what I could find online, it is the goddess Ichishimahime. A protector of sea passages and the ocean, she is sometimes worshiped as Benzaiten. 

One last ume (plum) blossom photo. My next post will be about why I traveled to Kiba that day.

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.