Day 6 (17/12) - Narita, Narita Temple (Narita-san) (Part 1)
Instructions on pets. The best bit: "Whether intentional or unintentional, when the Guest checks out leaving the pet inside hotel property, the possession of the pet changes over from the Guest to the Hotel 7 days after check-out."
We were given potato wedges at most breakfasts. The Japs seemed to be fond of them (or maybe it's the Koreans). Meanwhile, cold soft boiled eggs which we got on two mornings (they crack them into cups after cooking) are disgusting (and amusingly called "温泉蛋").
After checkout, while most of the rest of the group extending went to Aeon shopping mall for yet more shopping, we went to the Narita temple.
There were Christmas carols playing in Narita town also.
Map of the area
Even Jap construction signs are act-cute.
"Lotion tissue". Uhh.
"After the corner was turned, the trash was tossed away. It was a blind spot in the city." (Complete with diagram explaining how the foul deed was carried out); won't this encourage improper cigarette disposal instead?
"Soaking in the rain, a cigarette butt grows, and grows." (Complete with diagram illustrating disintegration). I thought this was a gracious society. Maybe tobacco makes people take leave of their senses (time to ban it!!!)
Jap monk
Street in the old part of Narita. Helpfully, there are lanes to walk.
"May Peace Prevail On Earth" in 6 languages. In a restaurant display. Go figure (maybe it's a subtle way of saying "We speak your language")
Dried/preserved stuff
Street
Public toilet outside temple complex entrance with strange opening hours - opening at 5:30 in the warmer months and 6:00 in the colder ones?!
Carvings outside entrance
Entrance
Through the gateway
Statue through the grilles in the building at the top of the staircase in the photo 2 spaces prior
Plaques (?)
Smelly urn
Inhaling the fumes is supposed to give you good luck. Here, you can see me choking on the miasma.
Pagoda
Information in English was pretty much non-existent (I have a pamphlet in Traditional Chinese but it's as good as useless for my purposes), so most of the following photos will not be labelled.
Stairs
Carvings. The rock carvings were almost exclusively in Kanji, since it's used for formal occasions.
View from top of stairs
House with bell (attached to the rope) which you ring for good luck (or something like that)
Interior of one temple
