Tenno Shrine and Shichinohe Castle Ruins / 天王神社と七戸城跡

A few weeks ago, I suggested to my wife about checking out the Azalea Festival held every year at Tenno Shrine in Shichinohe. It was such a beautiful day for a drive that my wife agreed. 

数週間前に妻に七戸の天王神社で開催してるつつじ祭りに行こうと提案した。天気も良かったので、朝で出発。

The gate to Tenno Shrine in Shichinohe. 

七戸にある天王神社の参道と鳥居。

Azaleas / つづじ

First, we had to walk up these steps. 

最初はこの階段を上る。

Tenno Shrine's Honden / 天王神社の本殿

Inside the shrine. 

神社の中。

We then enjoyed checking out the azaleas. 

つつじの花を楽しめた。

Side view of the shrine. 

境内から見た本殿。

I couldn't pass up having a snack called keiran with some matcha. 

抹茶と郷土料理のけいらんセットを食べた。

So what is keiran? It's sticky rice flour dumpling filled with red bean paste and somen noodles in a warm broth. The dumpling represents an egg while the noodles represents the nest that the egg is in. It is eaten on special occassions or during special ceremonies. 

Tenno Shrine Seal / 天王神社御朱印

Right across from the Tenno Shrine was the Shichinohe Castle Ruins and another temple. Of course we had to check it out. 

天王神社の向かいに別のお寺と七戸城跡があり、もちろん探索することにした。

A little history about the East Gate of Shichinohe Castle. I'm not going to translate the sign. 

七戸城東門の説明。

Shichinohe Castle East Gate / 七戸城東門

We thought the signs for the Men and Women's washroom were cute. 

お手洗いのサインが可愛いと想った。

A map of the area surrounding the castle ruins. 

史跡七戸城跡ガイド地図。

Me and my wife. 

僕と僕の妻。

A monument called "Himezuka". 

姫塚という記念碑。

The legend of the "Hime-zuka". A long time ago, the Lord of Shichinohe Castle had a beautiful princess. She was in love with a samurai of lower status. When the Lord found out, the samurai was put to death. The princess then followed her lover into death by taking her own life. As the two lovers could not be together in this life, they were buried together in the hopes of being together in the next life.

Map and history of Shichinohe Castle. 

七戸城の地図と歴史。

This was the other shrine we went to visit. It's called Shinmeigu Shrine. 

天王神社の近くにあったのは七戸神明宮。

Hand purifying basin / 手水舎

The gate and approach to Meishingu Shrine. 

神明宮への参道と鳥居。

Inside the main honden (main hall). 

本殿の中。

Honden / 本殿

Mikoshi (portable shrine) storehouse / みこし殿

Mikoshi / 神輿

Mikoshi / 神輿

Shichinohe Shinmeigu Shrine Seal / 七戸神明宮の御朱印

It looks like some type of haiku is written on the rock. I can't read it and I didn't bother asking my wife to read it. 

この岩になんかの俳句が書いてある。自分が読めなかったし、妻に読んでくれとたのまなかったし、今でも知らない俳句です。

We followed the signs to an observation point that where you can get a great view of Tenno Shrine. 

サインの表示を従って、展望所の場所に行きました。そこから天王神社が見える素敵な場所。

Tenno Shrine and the azaleas. 

天王神社のつつじの花。

The remains of the moat that once surrounded Shichinohe Castle. 

七戸城北館跡の場所。

Before we headed home, we went to one last place. It's where we had some delicious desserts but that will be for next time. 

帰る前に十和田市にある場所に寄ってみた。そこで美味しいデザートを食べました。ですが、それはまた今度。