First Shrine Visit of 2017 Saruka Shirne and Hogenji Temple / 初詣 ２０１７猿賀神社と法眼時

Where to go for our first shrine visit of the year. As we have already been to the main shrines and temples in Aomori City, we asked my mother-in-law's sister for a recommendation. She suggested Saruka Shrine in Hirakawa located about 45 minutes away by car from Aomori City. We decided to make it a family outing with the four of us.

２０１７年、初詣は何処に行こうかと迷ってました。青森市内のお寺や神社は行ったことがあったから、行ったことないところに行きたかった。そこで義理の母の妹の提案で平川にある猿賀神社に決定。平川は青森市から車で４５分くらいの距離。せっかくなので４人で出かけました。

The lake is frozen over at Saruka Park.

猿賀公園にある池が凍てる。

Hondo / 本堂

There is a small shrine in the middle of the lake as well but we will check that out later.

池の真ん中くらいに小さな神社もありましたが、そこはちょっとあとを探検します。

Hondo / 本堂

The miko-sans were very busy today.

正月だったので巫女さんたち大変忙しい。

Entrance to Saruka Shrine / 猿賀神社の入口

I cannot be sure but I believe this tree was planted as the Emperor of Japan's 50th year as the Emperor.

Dragon at the Water Purifying Basin / 手水舎の龍

It appears we entered the shrine grounds from the rear. This is the road to the main shrine.

私たちは裏から境内に入ったみたい。ここが猿賀神社の参道。

A monument to the Tsugaru shamisen.

津軽三味線の碑。

I also came upon a sumo mound on the shrine grounds.

境内に相撲の土俵を発見。

Fortunately, I didn't find an opponent for sumo!

良かったことに相撲する相手は見つかりませんでした。

I was curious about the snakes wrapped around the beams on the front entrance.

入口の蛇が気になってもっと近くで見たかった。

The snakes turned out to be very cool looking white dragons.

気になった蛇は白い龍でした。でもかっこいい。

Of course I had to check out the shrine on the lake.

もちろん池の上にある神社も気になってた。

Munakata Shrine / 胸肩神社

Me and my wife / 僕と妻

While I was wandering around the shrine grounds, my wife, mother-in-law and her sister were warming themselves by the fire.

僕が境内を歩き回ってるとき妻と義理の母の義理の母の妹は火のところで体を温めてた。

My wife is on the left standing next to my mother-in-law's sister while my mother-in-law is standing to the right.

左側は僕の妻。隣に立てるのは義理の母の妹。右側の女性が僕の義理の母。

We saw some koi too. And for some reason, one side of the lake was not frozen over.

鯉もいっぱい居た。でもなぜかこの辺の池が凍ってなかった。

We left Saruka Shrine but stopped by one other shrine that was located nearby.

猿賀神社を去ったあと近くにもうひとつの神社にお参りしました。

Saruka Shrine seal / 猿賀神社の御朱印

Hogenji Temple Sanmon / 法眼時山門

Hondo / 本堂

Hogenji Temple seal / 法眼時の御朱印

But this wasn't the end of our road trip. Nope, we then headed to a hotspring area and went to Nuruyu Hotsprings but that will be for my next post.

初詣は終了しましたが、本日の旅はまだまだ。これから温湯温泉郷に行きました。でもそのネタはまた今度。