Sawayaka Walking in Mori-machi (5) - Koshoji Temple with cute little statues

Finally, I came to Koshoji Temple. As in Gokurakuji Temple, the participants of Sawayaka Walking had a discount for the admission fee to enter the Chinese bellflower garden. This year, it is opened from June 8 to July 25. I paid 450 yen (normally, 500 yen) and got this envelope with a luck-bringing coin in it. I was told not to open it for a year. According to the description on the envelope, the language of a Chinese bellflower is abiding love.

In the garden, there was a small stage beyond these flower beds where two people were playing popular songs from 1980’ with flutes. They played my favorite melodies such as Subaru by Shinji Tanimura beautifully, and I was very glad to hear them. I was more surprised to find that they were playing the vertical and transverse bamboo flutes, old Japanese musical instruments. The vertical flute is called shakuhachi and was often played by wandering monks in former days. Somehow, I wondered if they had played (or would play) Amazing Grace though we were in a Buddhist temple, not in a church.

In Hamamatsu, I haven’t seen Chinese bellflowers so often except at flower shops. I had liked their star-like shape and violet color but hadn’t known the existence of white flowers.

The garden spreads on a hill. Before I climbed to the top, I rang this divine bell,

and made a prayer in front of the statue of Kannon or Guan Yin or the Goddess of Mercy. As a bellflower is a symbol of abiding love, this Kannon is said to help you succeed in love.

On the hillside, you can have a view over the town,

and a tea plantation.

After climbing down the hill, I looked for little statues of Jizo (a bodhisattva originally known as Ksitigarbha) placed here and there in the garden. Each of them had a priest's monolog board with a funny (useful?) message, for example, “Don’t eat too much”,

“Work, earn, and then spend”,

and “Let others make a fool of you.”

I thought the last one was one of the funniest of tens of messages. It seemed to be the most popular, because this little Jizo had got many coins from visitors.

I wanted to take time to stroll in the garden because the concert by the duo was continued. I could hear Amazing Grace as I expected, and Silk Road by Kitaro. Their selection of music was very good, enhancing the relaxing mood in the garden. In addition to Chinese bellflowers, this temple had some lotus flowers in bloom, creating a dreamy atmosphere.

After enjoying the garden to my heart’s content, I had one of the two frozen desserts that are specialties of the temple. At this time of year, they have black currant milk ice cream and red currant sorbet. Both contain Chinese bellflower root that is said to be good for your throat according to Chinese medicine.

I chose the vegan red currant sorbet. It also contained sugar and wine. I didn’t know how red currant and Chinese bellflower root taste when eaten as they were, but the sorbet was delicious. It was rich, sweet, and a little bit sour.

The stand was also selling corn on the cob and shiso (Japanese basil) juice. In Sawayaka Walking, you can sometimes have a chance to taste rare kinds of food and drink that are not seen supermarkets. Maybe I’ll try shiso juice next time.

When you visit a temple, you mustn’t miss seeing the main building. I found a cute little monk in front of it, with a broom in his hands and a towel around his head. Cleaning is one of the most important exercises in a Buddhism temple to keep the mind clean.

I had a very good time in Koshoji Temple. The path to the gate had pots with lotus on both sides, which was unusual to see in other temples.

In front of the gate, there was another statue, which was holding his hands together. Good-bye, little monk! I’ll come back next year.