Japan - Day 5: an LDS Temple and a Mountain

Sunday.

We love going to Church each Sunday at home, but we also love going to Church in whichever city, state, or country we're visiting.  We found the English speaking ward (congregation) met in the morning at the chapel right next to the temple.  This is ideal because going to the Tokyo temple was on the list of places I wanted to visit.

Back track to fall 1980.  My parents met because of this place.  My dad had been going to college in Utah and had given up looking for an American Mormon wife.  He was heading back to Japan just in time for the dedication ceremony for the LDS Tokyo Temple.  My mother had recently graduated from high school and was taking a graduation trip to visit her host family from when she came as an exchange student at 13 years old.  She also timed her trip in order to attend the temple dedication.  My parents met at the San Francisco international airport and were on the same flight to Tokyo.   By the time my mother's vacation was over, they were engaged.  Thus, not only is this place an LDS landmark, but a family one as well.

Blake and I enjoyed the Sacrament meeting that we attended.  The English speaking congregation seemed to be full of expats & businessmen families with mostly American accents.  It reminded me of the Singapore ward that I attended for a couple months when I was on my own business trip in 2005.  I'm not sure if I can speak for both of us, but it rekindled my desire to live abroad, to give my children some exposure to the larger world, and serve in areas where the Church needs people to serve.

We would have loved to stay longer and meet some members after the meeting, but we were headed to meet up with Jun again and his mother, my dad's aunt Tamiko.  Still we stayed long enough to take a few pictures on the temple grounds.

We hurried to meet Jun and he drove us to his mother's home.  Aunt Tamiko warmly welcomed us in.  Aunt Tamiko is my grandfather's sister.  As we sat in her home we learned about her late husband Mr. S Ebisawa, who was a dentist by trade but an avid astronomer, academic, and classical music enthusiast by choice.  We looked at various pictures, certificates, and honors he had received.  Aunt Tamiko also gifted us copies of two of his published analyses.  Their decorative style of their home was indicative of their travels to Europe with a classical Western influence.

As we walked out to the car I noticed the carefully tended garden and found out that Aunt Tamiko had designed and taken care of the garden herself.  I wish I had a better picture of the garden.  There were trees, bushes, rocks and gravel stylistically arranged.  I began to realize that gardening is simply in my dad's blood.

Our afternoon excursion was to a mountain village for lunch, and to take a hike on Mount Takao less than an hour outside Tokyo.  As close as it was, the village at the base of the mountain was already contrast from the big city.

 I am always impressed at the artistic attention to detail in surprising places all over Japan.

A restaurant entrance.

The whole village had this old style of architecture.  It would make a good set for a time-piece movie.

 Aunt Taiko and Jun looked forward to introducing us to local dishes only available on the mountain. The food added to the mountain experience.  Noodles here were fresh and handmade, and mountain vegetables were the focus of recipes.

 I ordered mountain vegetables with mushrooms and grated daikon and a side of mashed mountain yam over rice.  The little bottle was soy sauce, which I was glad to have to add flavor to the mild tasting yam and rice.  The vegetables were beautiful but had a very simply woodsy flavor, not overly exciting.  Still, I was happy to try new foods that can't be recreated elsewhere.

 Aunt Tamiko and Jun also ordered us whole fish battered and deep fried.  Eating a whole fish this size is not something that we are used to, but it was good after all.

 

Blake's plate had the same mountain yam over soba noodles.

 I was jealous of this bundle on Blake's plate.  Isn't it beautiful?

 Sticky glutinous rice with fish (I think) inside.

After lunch we walked a short distance to the base of the trails on Mount Takao.  The mountain here becomes very steep.  If tourists don't want to start the hike here, they can take a cable car half way up the mountain (for a small fee) and go on shorter hikes.  This was our plan.  The cable car was a fun excursion on it's own.

Hikers wait her at the bottom of the cable car track for a ride up.

There's something special about family.  I'm not sure how to explain it, but it felt GOOD to sit next to my great-aunt and attempt small chit-chat.  I had this familiar I-know-you feeling and was glad to be sharing this time together.  I can't remember if it was on our way up the mountain or on the way down the mountain that Aunt Tamiko mentioned that her health was not great and that this would probably be the last time I would see her.  I tried to tell her to not talk like that and that I wanted to bring my children back to meet everyone and see everything as well.  I'm determined to bring my kids back and I certainly hope they get to meet all these wonderful people, too.

At this point, the ride up the mountain is so steep that everyone in the car starts screeching (with delight? amazement?) and grabbing on to anything around them to brace themselves.  You basically look straight down through the back window at it's steepest points.  The Wikipedia article says this, "The funicular line, commonly known as the Takao Tozan Cable (高尾登山ケーブル Takao Tozan Kēburu^?) line, is the steepest railway line in Japan, with a 608‰ (31°) elevation at maximum."  In any case, it was a much different railway experience than commuting - especially with boisterous weekend warriors.  It was fun to see Japanese tourists enjoying their own environment.

There are short tunnels at the beginning and end of the line.  The head lights of the car turn on only while going through the tunnel. 

At the top of the line, there's a little snack shack with dongo actually roasting before your eyes!  Dongo is a mildly sweet treat, similar to mochi but more firm and roasted.  I've seen it in story books and eaten it from boxes, but this was my first time seeing it being prepared, even if the flame was gas!

Tokyo is in the background to the right.

The mountain was speckled with these Yama Yuri (Mountain Lilies).  Sometimes they would stand tall and away from the mountain on very steep inclines, sometimes in groups and sometimes a single lily alone. They are eye catching from afar against the dense greenery, and still beautiful up close.

The mountain range is beautifully layered as well.

Aunt Tamiko waited here at the tables and scenic vistas while Jun took us on a short hike around the mountain.

This tree received it's name "Octopus Tree" from the unique way the roots wrap around the base of the tree.

This sculpture was situated close to the Octopus Tree.

Certain parts of the paths were lined with these lanterns.

The trail had these stations periodically.  I seem to remember Jun explaining that a person would spin the stone wheel inside.  The kanji on the wheel were various body parts to receive blessings - such as eyes to see clearly, ears to hear truth, and mouth to speak good things.

My best ogre face.  These characters are in many folklore stories.

Here was a fun stop on the trail.  We waited in line to participate.  One first makes a wish and walks through the stone circle, then steps up to a pole with metal rings hanging on it, takes a pole, and moves the rings to make them sound.

The whole mountain is steep - even the steps up to the temple.

The details everywhere are stunning.

A small portion of the roof.

This was a metal plate in the ground.

I believe these tall stones are grave markers.  And these lilies are more and more beautiful the closer you get to them.

When we met up again with Aunt Tamiko at the top of the railway, I can tell she had time to think of questions to ask.  She asked me if I thought my dad was very kind and generous and friendly.  I had to laugh a little.  Of course I said yes, but I also said he was very strict and quiet.  I'm not sure she liked that response.  I wished I could speak better to communicate that it really depends on the situation and the audience.

We had another fun cable car ride down the mountain, packed with tourists who had enjoyed the beer garden at the top.

Jun drove us to the train station and we thanked him for being such a good guide.  We were so glad to meet him and his mother and spend the day together.  He promised that next time he comes to San Francisco we can show him around.

As a side note, on our way back to the hotel we bought a couple bento boxes for dinner.  So beautiful!