Takayama Inari Shrine / 高山稲荷神社

 A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I went on our first drive with our new car. We went to see Japan's largest gingko tree in Fukaura. I was hoping to see it in all its golden glory but we were still too early in the season. My wife noticed my disappointment and suggested going to Takayama Inari Shrine. We had been there before but it was a fairly nice day and we wanted to get an amulet for safe driving from the shrine, so that is where we headed after we had lunch. 

２週間ほど前、新車で初ドライブに出かけた。目指したのは深浦町にある日本一のイチョウ。秋になると全て黄色になって綺麗と思って楽しみしてたんですが、目的地に着いたら木のほんの一部しか黄色くなってなかった。落ち込んで見えたそうの俺に、妻が高山稲荷神社でも行こうと提案した。交通安全のお守りを買いに行こうという話になった。

Here we are at the Takayama Inari Shrine. This building is the Sanshu-dono or Gathering Hall. 

高山稲荷神社に到着。この建物は参集殿。

Now there is a gingko tree in all its golden glory. 

ここのイチョウが全て黄色くなってます。

Yes, we walked up these steps. You have to go up these stairs to get to the main shrine. 

はい、この階段を上りました。じゃなけらば、神社の本殿には行けない。

A small shrine dedicated to those who want to be blessed with children. 

子宝祈願。

You can see the ocean in the distance. 

ここから海が見える。

This is the haiden or the Hall of Worship.

高山稲荷神社の拝殿。

We are near the Ryu Jingu or Dragon Shrine.

龍神宮の近くにいます。

The main thing to see at this shrine is the senbon torii or A Thousand Gates which is why it is also called the Fushimi Shrine of Tohoku. The gates are currently being replaced and you can be the owner of one for the the some of 150,000 yen (about $1500). 

高山稲荷神社の一番の見所はなにを言っても千本鳥居ですね。これがあるから東北の伏見神社とも言われてる。現在は￥１５０，０００で自分の名前が１本の鳥居に名前が書いてもらうことを行ったる。

The following pictures are of the "Thousand Gates". 

下記の写真は千本鳥居の場所です。

An overall view of the "Thousand Gates". 

ここから千本鳥居の景色が最高。

Me and my wife. 

僕と妻です。

Currently, the arched bridge and the torii are being repainted. 

現在、橋と鳥居は新しくペンキを塗られてます。

One of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune. This would be Daikokuten, the Japanese deity of fortune and wealth. 

七福神の一人。大黒天です。

Votive hanger / 絵馬掛

On our way back home. 

帰り道です。

We encountered a few swans that are currently visiting Aomori Prefecture. 

この時期になると白鳥が良く見かけます。

Soba Shop [Kakashi] / そば処「案山子」

I think I may have featured this soba restaurant before but it is one of our favorite go to spots for tempura zaru soba. On our first drive with our new car, after we left the giant gingko tree in Fukaura, we decided to head to the Takayama Inari Shrine. The soba shop just happened to be on our way and it was lunch time. 

多分以前も紹介したかも知りませんが、僕と妻が好きな蕎麦屋です。この店の天ざるが美味しい。この間、新車で初ドライブの時、深浦町で日本一のイチョウを見たあと、高山稲荷神社を目指した。ちょうどその間にこの蕎麦ショップがあって、昼食の時間だったし、ここでランチを決定。

An old farm house was converted into the soba shop [Kakashi].

古民家が改造され、蕎麦処の「案山子」になった。

The view from our table today. 

今日の席から外の眺め。

I ordered my usual menu - the tenzaru, zaru soba with an assortment of tempura.

僕はいつものの天ざるを注文した。

Today's tempura included shrimp, red pepper, eggplant, squash, shiitake mushroom, and cauliflower. 

今日提供してくれた天ぷらは海老、赤ピーマン、茄子、カボチャ、椎茸とカリフラワー。

For the same price, my wife ordered the ebiten ita soba. We weren't sure what the ita soba was until it was delivered to our table. You can see that my wife's portion of soba was twice as large as mine. And the shrimps that came with her meal were huge.

同じ値段で妻がエビ天板そばを注文。最初二人で板そばってなんだろと思ったが、テーブルに来たときに分かった。ざるに乗ってる蕎麦はざるではなく板でした。それに、海老がでっかい！

Bon appetit!

いただきます！

First Drive in Our New Car (Part 1 Japan's Biggest Gingko Tree) / 新車の初ドライブ （パート１ 日本一のイチョウ）

Now that we got our new car, we decided to take it on its first drive last weekend. We chose to go see Japan's largest gingko tree which is located in Kita Kanegasawa in Fukaura, about an hour's drive away from our home. I was hoping to see it in alls its golden splendor. 

うちの新車がやっと届きましたので、先週末の日曜日に新車で初ドライブに出かけました。私たちの目的は深浦町北金ヶ沢にある日本一のイチョウ。秋になったので、真っ黄色になってるのかチェックして見たかった。

It looks like we were a little too early in the season. Ony a part of the tip of the three had turned yellow. My wife heard one of the locals say that the best time to see the tree is at the end of November, closer to December. We will have to come again next year. 

時期はちょっと早すぎた。ほんの一部しか黄色になってない。妻が近所の方の話を聞き、秋の見所は１１月末でした。それか１２月の上旬。また来年見に来ることにした。

Yes, that's me!

はい、それは僕です！

Ａ little history of tree. It is over a thousand years old. It is 31 meters tall (102 ft), the trunk measures 22 meters in diameter (72 ft) and is believed to have been planted between the years 1321 and 1400.

Bits of yellow.

一部が黄色くなってる。

Dragons are always cool. 

龍はカッコイイですね。

The base of the tree.

木の韓。

I was hoping the entire tree would be this color.

木が全体この色で見たかった。

Well, that gives us something to look forward to next year. 

ま、それは来年の楽しみにする。