I have been looking for a shrine that a friend of mine recommended that I see but so far I haven’t been able to find it. Instead I keep finding these delightful little shrines – I love exploring my new area. Today’s discovery was the Mori Sengen Shrine, built at the beginning of the 1300-es with the Fuji-san kami (divine spirit) enshrined in it.
I loved its bright red color, the dragons at the purification fountain and its beautiful Ema votive tablets (in Japan every temple and shrine have their own Ema.)
The shrine is nestled in a grove of trees on a top of a hill overlooking the harbor in the distance. There are three paths going up the hill that lead to the shrine, symbolizing the three paths that lead to the summit of Mount Fuji. One of the packs goes by the Fudo Waterfall – Fudo is the Japanese name of Akala, the protector of the Buddhist teachings. I loved the little relief of Akala carved in the rock and the pretty goldfish swimming in the pool.
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What a beautiful shrine! Favorites include the koi and goldfish pond, the lush trees, the views of the bay, and of course the details of the shrine like the stone carvings and the guardian statues with pups. The sights and sounds teleport us there. Thank you for taking on all those steps!