Coming to Ehime Prefecture, temple 40
It was rainy all day. However, I did not mind. The rain was warm and soft and made the vegetation vivid green.
Temple area of Kanjizaiji (temple 40), first temple in Ehime Prefecture
Buddhas in a row splashed with water by a woman for good luck.
Dainichi Nyorai, the Cosmic Buddha (Dainichi, lit. “Great Sun”), serves as a patron for people born in the Zodiac Years of the Sheep and the Monkey. He is the center of Shingon Buddhism.
Binzuru (Pindola Bharadvaja), one of the four Arhats asked by Buddha to remain in the world to propagate Buddhism. Each one was connected with one of the four compass directions. He is depicted with extremely long eyebrows. It is believed that he has curative powers. Sick people rub the part of his body corresponding to their sick part to get cured. He also watches over the health of babies (this is the reason why he wears a bib).
Three playful frogs touched by a woman for good luck. The last three syllables of prosper in Japanese sounds the same as frog –kaeru. For example, oya-ko-mago sakaeru is the wish that parents and grandchildren prosper or byoki-ga hiki-kaero is the wish that sickness recedes.
Walking along Route 56
Stormy weather
Scenes like that were not unusual
Sometimes, the trash was picturesque
A tunnel only for pedestrians and bikers – very unusual
The tunnel was decorated by colourful and humorous mosaics
A very picturesque Shintõ site
I stayed overnight in the Nishi-yūgyo Center, a little fishing village in Uwajima City. Not only were the owners extremely nice but also the food was delicious. In the photo above you see the view out of my window to the Pacific Ocean. This area is famous for oyster culture and pearl harvesting.
The place I stayed in served delicious seafood
