Let's go pray for money at Enoshima!!
Oct 8, Saturday morning. Today, I have an appointment with my gang to go to Kawaguchiko, the 5 lakes where you can see Mt. Fuji from every angle.
Actually, we planned to leave early in the morning to avoid traffic jams because it was a long holiday in Japan. It’s like Thai people, where people tend to leave the city. But 2 weeks before that, one of the members who would be our driver received a vaccination appointment coupon at 2:30 PM at the health center near her house. So, we had to change our plan. In the morning, we didn’t go to the lakes, but headed to Enoshima and Hasedera in Kamakura instead, because they were only 70 kilometers away from my friend’s health center. We would come back in the afternoon to get vaccinated.
Actually, I’ve been to Kamakura and Enoshima many times and brought my friends to see them, as well as to pay homage to the Great Buddha. But I’ve never been inside Hasedera, so my friend recommended that I go see it. As for my Indonesian friend, he’s never been to Ainoshima, so our travel plan was settled. We shared it.
The weather on the morning of the trip was nice after several days of rain, but there were still clouds of fog that allowed Mt. Fuji to hide from people’s eyes at all times.
The entire route from Machida to Fujisawa is jammed up at intervals because there are many red lights. In addition, Japanese people are required to drive no more than 80 km/h. The distance of more than 70 kilometers took more than an hour.
A friend told me that traffic laws in Japan are very strict and strict, especially at crosswalks. We often see that as soon as drivers see pedestrians' feet touching the crosswalk, they will stop immediately because they have been taught that pedestrians are more important than cars. Cars must give way to pedestrians. And if you don't stop at a crosswalk, drive through without stopping for pedestrians, the police car will honk its horn and run after you immediately. The result is that you will be very embarrassed and will be fined a lot. Most importantly, you will also lose points on your driver's license. If you do it often, all your points will be confiscated. Getting a driver's license in Japan is not as easy as in Thailand, so no one wants to take the risk. But basically, it comes from being taught traffic laws since childhood.
While chatting happily, we arrived in Ainoshima early in the morning... Today we were lucky. We could see Mt. Fuji from the island. It was beautiful.
In 2020, when Japan held the Olympics, this sea was designated as a location for marine sports competitions because it was beautiful and suitable. But it's a pity that Covid made the Olympics Tokyo was clearly lonely, and here was probably lonely at that time, but today it wasn't lonely anymore. It made me feel even better when I saw Fuji reveal itself.
Why is Fuji-san so special? Some people might say that it's just an ordinary mountain, but maybe it's a little special because it's an active volcano? That's true, but if anyone has actually seen Fuji-san, they will understand its enormousness. Its shape is perfectly proportioned to the shape of the mountain, its greatness beyond words, completely different from a photograph. Only those who have seen the real thing will understand. Plus, Fuji is a mountain that you can't see every time you go there, because it doesn't let anyone see it easily. You might not be able to experience its beauty even once. For example, I went 4-5 times and still haven't seen it in its entirety.
This time I saw it clearly, but it seemed too far away. Plus, the snow cap on the peak that had covered it the day before had melted away. But it was lucky to see it. It was beautiful from Enoshima Island. My friend took me to a beautiful photo spot, saying that tourists don't really know about this place.
We arrived at Enoshima too early. The shops along the way to the shrine were not open yet, but one shop was open. My friend hurried to buy some sambe rice crackers, an OTOP product, to give away. She ordered shrimp rice crackers, which were whole flat shrimp. Eat it, it's crispy, salty 2 Express emotions, Oishii, over the top, for a good relationship, bring smiles to your friends "Oishii Decho" (is it delicious?) "Hihi, it's very delicious 😁" 555 The performance won.
At the shrine that I went to every time, I never studied the details of how to worship and ask for blessings. I only know that it is an island with 3 shrines. These 3 shrines have 3 goddesses who protect and protect safe sea travel.
It is believed that these 3 goddesses represent Benzaiten, the goddess of the sea. Benzaiten is the goddess who bestows the merit of happiness, wealth, and development in performing arts.
This time, I was explained the correct way to worship in many places, both the place to ask for a lover, write your wishes on paper and tie it.
There is a place to ask for a job, ask for money from the god of finance. He asked me to pray and then take the coin to wash in the pond in front of the god. While washing, pray and focus. Then put the coin in your wallet. There will be money coming in continuously.
Japanese people will use 5 yen coins, yellow coins with a hole in the middle. This coin means good luck. In Japanese, 五 is used to throw into the box in front of the shrine, then clap your hands twice before praying.
I did that, washed it and put it in my wallet, but at that moment I thought I had used it already, forgot to put it away properly, I will wash it again.
We walked around the island for a while, then continued to Hasedera. My friend said it was a temple, the inside was very beautiful, which we have never been inside every time we have come here, but today we were lucky that a Japanese person took us in. There is an entrance fee, but I don't know how much, my friend paid..
Oh!!! I thought I was writing this for fun, but it got really long in the blink of an eye. I'll finish it first.. I'll come back and tell you more later.. My friends will get bored.
The picture is Enoshima. Do you miss it if you have been there? If you haven't been there, I want you to try going. Just walking around and chilling out is awesome.