Narita : Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple

Ep.32

“Be an explorer. World is filled with wonder and magical thing.” – Flavia.

NRT – Narita, Japan.

26^th-27^th January 2012.

Me at Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple.

It was still the coldest time in winter and I hate winter already. I used to adore all the winter fashion collection (it looks cool) and those layering. But to live in one place that have winter, I hate winter! I love summer (I’m a typical person that never satisfied). This time I got another Japan flight! Yeay! I knew it would be chill (read: freezing) by the time we arrived there.

Big lantern

Reading through my schedule, I would be arrived at Narita at about 3-4 pm. And the next day I would have to operate back to HK at around 12 pm. So with that time slot, it would be too tight if I’d like to go to Tokyo (and I didn’t intend to). I planned to visit the nearby attraction just myself. What’s around Narita? Narita-san temple! We arrived at Narita a little bit late, and by the time we arrived at the hotel, the sun was almost set. I thought it would be such a waste of time to visit the temple right away as the view would not be so good without the presence of the sunshine. It was 5°C at that time. the whole set of crew was, as expected, not eager to visit Narita-san temple (am I weird or what?), but they would like to go to the Aeon Center, the largest shopping center around the area. Well, as I have nothing to do at that afternoon, I will just follow the crowd.

my dinner, my breakfast, my snacks

ready to enter

It wasn’t a multi nationalities flight. I was the only Indonesian and the rest of them were HK. I didn’t mind and fully understand that they’d love to talk in their mother tongue and I’m happy with my own thought. We shared 2 taxis to the Aeon Center (900 yen per person, sharing basis of 3), and separate ourselves into groups with same interest. I separated myself alone. I said that I was looking for a particular item. I was not in the mood of shopping nor did I to eat. So I looked at the next shuttle bus service to my hotel, which is around 8 pm. I strolled around Aeon Center. There were many local brand shop, Daiso 100 yen shop and many other Japanese local shops. I only stopped to buy the tako crackers and walk around the Aeon convenient store to buy some food for dinner and  next day’s breakfast (spent about JPY 2400). And spent a lot of time looking at the jigsaw puzzle store. Jigsaw puzzle is one of my hobbies, I could sit days and days just to finish my jigsaw puzzle and put it in a frame. I finally dragged my feet out of the jigsaw puzzle area and stand in the queuing line for the shuttle bus to the hotel, but it seemed that I came too early.

Three-storied Pagoda

I saw a Taiyaki (fish shaped cake) booth just across the street and one hot Taiyaki would be nice in this cold weather. I walked across the street and bought myself a Anpan (redbean filling) Taiyaki for JPY 120. I waited for the shuttle while eating my Taiyaki and finally the bus was there, ready to take me back to the hotel. I gave myself a good rest and woke up pretty early the next morning. I woke up at 6 am, ate my onigiri breakfast (JPY 110-175 depend on what flavor), drank my chocolate milk and took a bath. I was down at the lobby at 8.30 am and ready to take the shuttle bus to Narita Station. I took a map from the lobby and ready for my own trip. Worried to miss the briefing time? I even already did my bun for the flight. So I got like 3 hours for my little trip to Narita-san Temple.

The signage.

The shops.

As soon as I got off from the shuttle bus at Narita Station, I opened up my map, asking the shopkeeper in the nearest Lawson convenient store for direction and he said that there were a lot of signage to Narita-san just at the other side of the station. So, I walked to the other side of the station, and followed the map, to the right. Along its way, I felt like I was in Doraemon movie or Sailormoon or even Cardcaptor Sakura. Why? The miniscule of Japanese houses were around me. The urge to take more and more pictures arose. I found myself lost of direction when I looked at the old lady, a shopkeeper of dango shop. I asked her about the direction (I felt blessed that I can communicate with them in Japanese, at least to ask for direction), she gave me the direction and I continue walking.

Along the right and left hand side of the road, the shops, restaurants and some stores were just open. The whole road were full of many many things to buy; snacks, souvenirs, food, t-shirts, and many more. I took it as the sin that I was in the right track. Because in everywhere, when you found a souvenir shop, it must be near to the place of interest or tourist attraction. I was right. The Narita-san Temple was on the left hand side of the road. Its gate was massive and it was crowded already.  

Me at the Daito

It was actually more or less the same as the Asakusa Temple I visited in Tokyo, but this one is a little bit smaller. There was no admission fee to the temple so I let myself explore the temple ground all by myself (along with my camera). Once again, Japanese culture made a thud in my heart. I fell in love again with Japan. It was sooooo beautiful, and excites me in a thousand ways. The building, the tower, the shrine, even it has a waterfall inside the temple ground. There were also an omikuji board, where you write your wish in a piece of board and you hang it in the space that was provided by the temple. I was busy with my timer camera and asking people around me to take a picture of me. People might think that I was a lonely traveler. Haha! Never mind, as long as I got the best picture.

Omikuji board.

I finished my little trip to Narita-san Temple on schedule. I was about to go back to the hotel and I saw a dorayaki stand in front of the temple. I stopped and bought 2 dorayakis for JPY 175. Happy with my foods, I walked back to the shuttle bus stand at Narita Station. I reached my room ahead of the pick up schedule, so I could manage a 45 minutes power nap before I retouched my make up and changed into my uniform.

the waterfall.

I love my short trip to Narita-san Temple. Once in a while, you should travel only by yourself, then you’ll know deeper about yourself. I called it a quality time with me alone. Sounds weird? Never mind! I just simply love to (sometimes) travel alone.

“I live like there is no tomorrow. I don’t want to waste any minute of it and regret it afterwards.” –Me.