Hatsumode at Okidate Inari Shrine / 初詣 沖館稲荷神社

Most Japanese make their first shrine or temple visit either after midnight on New Year's Ever or within the first three days of January. My wife works at a convenience store so she didn't have either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day off. We decided that we would make our first shrine visit when on a day she didn't have to work. That was Sunday, January 5. My wife and I like to go to a different shrine every year. Our first year of living in Aomori City, we went to Sakura Shrine in Hirakawa City. The following year we went to Hirosaki Hachimangu. Last year we went to Utou Shrine. This year, we decided to go very local and went to Okidate Inari Shrine, a short five-minute drive from our house.

初詣は一般的に新年が明けてから三日まで行く行事ですが、自分の妻はコンビニでバイトしてるので、大晦日と元日は仕事でした。妻の休日に合わせて、初詣に行きました。私たちは毎年違う神社にお参りするので、今年はどこに行くのかまだ考えてなかった。青森市に引っ越してから、最初の正月に迎えたのは２０１７年。私たちは平川市の猿賀神社に行きました。一昨年は弘前八幡宮。去年は青森市にある善知鳥神社。今年は超ローカルで沖館稲荷神社に行ってきました。うちの家から車で５分くらいの距離。

On the way to the shrine, my wife spotted a bank of swans in the Okidate River so I had her stop the car while I got out to go investigate. In the fall, I like spotting lone herons and egrets, but in winter, it's fun to see the swans.

沖館稲荷神社に向かってる途中妻が沖館川に白鳥の群れを見て、車を止まってぼくが見に行きました。秋ならアオサギやシロサギを探すのが楽しいが、冬になるとやっぱり白鳥を見にいくべきだ。

As soon as these swans saw me, they started swimming in formation in my direction. I felt a little guilty for not having any bread to feed them.

白鳥の群れがぼくに気づいたら、私の前に泳ぎ始めた。パンもなんにもないので、ちょっと白鳥たちにわるいなと思った。

The Okidate Inari Shrine was located just up the road.

沖館稲荷神社はここからすぐでした。

Here we are at the Okidate Inari Shrine.

沖館稲荷神社に到着。

This is the Hondo or main shrine.

沖館稲荷神社の本堂。

Inside the main shrine.

本堂の中。

The votice boards are hung near the hand-purifying basin.

絵馬掛けが手水舎にあるのは不思議。

Votive tablets / 絵馬

My latest shrine seal from Okidate Inari Shrine.

沖館稲荷神社の御朱印をゲット。

The next order of business was to get something to eat for lunch. The other day, my mother-in-law was talking about a restaurant that looks like someones house and is located very near the shrine. We decided to see if it was still in business.

次の目的はやっぱり昼食だ。先日この道の近くを通ったら義理の母が妻に昔この辺りにイタリアンレストランがあって、妻が連れてくれたと言った。普通の民家みたいな感じで、私たちがその店は現在でも営業してるのを確認に行ってみた。まだやってるなら、そこでランチを食べる予定。