You see, Osaka leaves an impression of this contemporary, vibrant and a bit boisterous city. It has a reputation for being a food mecca and entertainment central with tons of great restaurants and the famous Universal Studios attracting lots of crowds. Compared to its neighboring Kyoto and Nara there seem to be less culturally and historically significant landmarks. I mentioned it before that I personally prefer Tokyo over Osaka, but I need to give the city a huge credit: both times I came here I discovered shrines that left me spellbound and amazed to an extent that I was on the brink of not sharing the treasures I found with anyone (but I’m not a mean blogger like that).
In addition to being associated with good luck, the daruma represents future goals. With the New Year approaching, which is the biggest winter holiday in Japan, it was a perfect reminder that I should commit to my resolutions and aspirations for 2017. Many people buy a new daruma for the new year with a certain goal in mind, and at the end of the year they bring back them back, with both eyes filled in, and they burn them in a big New Year’s bonfires that many shrines perform.
Sweet smell of incense, the sound of the priests chanting, vibrant foliage colors, breathtaking grounds and views, mist atop the pond, colorful koi, daruma planted everywhere. The place is incredibly atmospheric and charming. It was so much fun to wander and take it all in, definitely one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in Japan. I bought a little daruma statue for myself to take home. It will go on a shelf by my computer desk and remind me to keep working on my goals.
xoxo, nano
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