New family members

Hubby and I have been quite busy this month because we adopted two cats from a cat cafe located near our home on 18th March. Both of them are adult tabby cats. One of them is a two year old male named Hanao and the other is a three year old female named Joshie.

We had a trial period of one week before formally adopting them. During the trial period they were a bit nervous because of the change in their environment. The photo below shows Hanao and Joshie on the second day of their stay with us.

Gradually they have started getting used to us. Here hubby is playing with Hanao and Joshie.

Hanao enjoys relaxing at the top of the cat tower.

And Joshi loves to sit like a queen on our work chair.

Hubby enjoys spending time with the cats. Here he is holding Hanao.

In the photo below hubby is enjoying playing with Joshie.

Nowadays the cats have almost got used to and familiarized themselves with their new environment. Both are very relaxed and settled into a usual routine of eating, sleeping, and playing. In the photo below Hanao is fast asleep.

Here Joshie is sleeping after a heavy meal.

We are enjoying having new family members. We hope to stay as a family for a long long time.

Bentenjima Beach, Kanzanji Temple, and Atago Shrine

As I wrote in the previous post, hubby and I visited Hamanako Garden Park on 2nd December 2020. After that we visited two more places (three spots) in Hamamatsu city. First we visited Bentenjima Beach. Bentenjima Island is located in Maisaka in Hamamtsu city of Shizuoka prefecture. The beach along Lake Hamana is well known for an 18-meter tall red Torii Gate in the lake. The beach is a famous sunset spot. During a period of about a month in winter, it is possible to see the sun setting right into this red Torii Gate. The gate is also known to be a spiritual and mystical ‘power spot’. We just wanted to enjoy the beach area, so visited in the afternoon.

We noted that Bentenjima Beach area has a wonderful resort. In the photo below, hubby is posing along the beach.

We enjoyed looking at the wonderful red Torii Gate that seemed to be floating on the surface of Lake Hamana.

Another view of the Torii Gate

Yet another view of the gate from a slightly different angle

I am posing at the beach along with the red Torii Gate and Lake Hamana in the background.

Hubby and the Torii Gate

I am too slow for the self timer of our camera.

After enjoying our visit to Bentenjima Beach area, we visited a Buddhist temple in Hamamatsu city itself. The temple named Kanzanji is a Zen Soto sect temple located on the slopes of 50-meter-high Mount Tateyama. The temple is situated on the northeast side of Lake Hamana facing Uchira Bay. The temple is said to have been established by Kobo Daishi Kukai in 810. In the photo below, hubby is standing in front of an information board of Kanzanji Temple inside the temple premises.

We loved the architecture of the wooden Hondo Main Hall of Kanzanji Temple.

I am standing in front of Hondo Main Hall of the temple.

It was interesting to note that due to Covid-19 pandemic, the temple organization had started the ‘2021 New Year’ prayers in December 2020 itself. It was called ‘Saisakimairi’ or ‘Saisakimode’, which literally means praying for good luck. It was done to avoid people gathering in large numbers during ‘Hatsumode’, which is the first visit to the temple in the New Year. The photo below is a banner explaining about Saisakimairi prayers.

This is another banner appealing to the visitors about Saisakimairi prayers.

The interior of Hondo Main Hall was gorgeous. A deity of Fukuichimangankokuzo Bosatsu, a Buddha of infinite wisdom and compassion, is enshrined inside the hall.

The photo below shows another view with interesting artifacts inside Hondo Main Hall.

Next to Hondo Main Hall, we saw many votive tablets with written prayers from worshippers hanging from racks. It was so interesting to see rows and rows of votive tablets. In the photo below, to the left are votive tablets hanging from the outer wall of a wooden pavilion inside which a deity named Enmusubi Jizouzon is enshrined. Here only one wall of the pavilion with tablets is seen on the left side of the photo. Visitors worship here to fall in eternal love with their partners and for divine blessings in their relationship.

Next, to the north of Kanzanji Temple, we saw a historic shrine named Atago. It was established during the Nara period (727 AD). Legend has it that it was initially established as a Buddhist temple but the temple was abolished and replaced with this Shinto shrine during the Meiji era. A principal statue of Hinokagutsuchi, the god of fire, is enshrined inside. The photo below is the wooden Honden Main Hall of Atago Shrine.

Hubby is standing in front of Honden Main Hall of the shrine.

The photo below shows a stone statue of Komainu lion-dog guarding the entrance of Honden Main Hall of the shrine. In fact, there was a pair of Komainu on either side of the pathway leading to the hall. In addition, the stone lanterns on either side of the pathway looked so beautiful.

We enjoyed visiting Bentenjima Beach, Kanzanji Temple, and Atago Shrine in Hamamatsu city.

Hamanako Garden Park

On 2nd December 2020, hubby and I visited Hamanako Garden Park. The park is located in Hamamatsu city of Shizuoka prefecture. It is a lush city park built on the site of ‘2004 Pacific Flora Garden Exposition and the 21st National Urban Greenery Fair Shizuoka’. Hamanako Garden Park has an area of 560000 square meters, and hosts colorful floral displays, an observation tower, and spacious open lawns. The park is located on the shore of Lake Hamana, where we can relax and enjoy the seasonal scenery with different plant life all year round. The park is family friendly and popular with people of all ages. It offers winding paths throughout the site to walk around and enjoy various features.

On reaching Hamanako Garden Park, we realized that the park was huge and spacious. We enjoyed the nature while walking along the open green space in the park. In the photo below I am walking near the entrance area of the park.

We also clicked a few photos of us standing on a bridge over a waterway near the entrance of the park. Here I am posing for the camera.

Hubby is standing on the bridge over the waterway.

Beautiful waterway in the park

We saw several kinds of blooming flowers in the park. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll while viewing the vibrantly colored flowers. It was so relaxing to see the wonderful nature. The photo below is one of the flower beds in the park.

Me along with flowers

Next, we saw a 50-meter tall observation tower which is considered to be a symbol of the park. The tower commands a panoramic view of the vast park and Lake Hamana. The photo below is of me posing in front of the tower.

Observation tower as viewed from another angle.

This is the entrance area of the observation tower.

We took an elevator and headed to the topmost viewing area of the observation tower. From there we got beautiful panoramic views of the lush green forest. The vivid scenery of the park underneath simply took our breath away. The photo below is of the immediate surroundings and faraway mountains.

Lush green forest as viewed from the observation tower.

Beautiful green surroundings along with the brilliant Lake Hamana as viewed from the tower.

Hubby is enjoying the views from the top of the observation tower.

Lake Hamana and a bridge

Fantastic view from the tower

Beautiful view

Yet another photo of the park below

I am posing at the top floor of the observation tower

We left the observation tower after enjoying the wonderful lush green views and Lake Hamana from the top of the tower. While leaving the park, we saw a raft of ducks in a waterway.

A duck in the waterway

We enjoyed visiting Hamanako Garden Park. Afterwards, we visited two more places in Hamamatsu city about which I will write in the next post.