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Around Narita
The centerpiece of Narita is Naritasan, a Buddhist Temple which attracts millions of Japanese visitors each year as well as thousands of travelers waiting for connecting flights. The Temple grounds include ancient structures, modern replicas and replacements, meeting halls, a five-story pagoda, and a wooded park. There are also many little stalls selling snacks and souvenirs, as you saw in the first picture on this website. We have visited Naritasan numerous times over the years, and we always see something new or different. This year was our first time to see it with vivid Autumn colors. Thanks to our new friend, Masao Saito, for this lovely picture!
We are looking forward to returning to Narita this New Year's. It seems that it is considered particularly auspicious to visit this Temple at the start of the year--and most Japanese consider that the coming year is the first year of the new century as well. Saito-san is a volunteer guide at the Temple. He has offered to give us a tour of the compound and explain to us the history and the meaning of the various structures and statues. We are also looking forward to sharing the holiday with some of our friends in Japan.
Interestingly, most of the establishments on the road to the Temple are either restaurants or sell snacks of one sort or another. Want some freshly baked rice crackers or some pickled daikon? Lots of shops are waiting for you! There's also a shop with herbal and traditional medicines and another one featuring bamboo household items and the most wonderful fly-swatters you've ever seen.
We thought he'd be introducing them to an esoteric facet of American culture. When he asked their mom, Akiko, if the kids knew about Halloween, she said, "of course. They've seen 'E.T.'" Like families the world over, Grandmother Akiko does a lot of babysitting. Now Mari stands outside the restaurant to greet customers, and Tutu entertains the little one in the back. We hope you have enjoyed this virtual introduction to some of our friends in Japan and some of our favorite places! Aloha and sayonara!
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The
quaint town of Narita contrasts sharply with bustling metropolis of
Tokyo. Both are vibrant, but in very different ways.
This
large lantern hanging at the top of the first flight of stairs at Naritasan
is a familiar landmark. Perhaps you noticed it in the background of
the first picture on this website. We were amused to learn the meaning
of the prominent inscription; of all things, it says 'fish market."
It seems that it has long been a tradition of the fish market to contribute
the lantern. The current lantern was given in 1968. The Temple was founded
in 940 A.D., by the way, but none of the original structures still stand.
Perhaps
our first friends in Narita were Akiko and "Spud" Ishibashi.
Years ago, Spud took delight in teaching Ann to speak English with a
pronounced Japanese accent. The couple are the 11th-generation owners
of a wonderful restaurant, Chrysanthemum House. Just a short walk from
Naritasan, the restaurant building is about 125 years old--older than
some of the major sites of Naritasan itself. 
Meet
Ryunosuke--Dragon Boy! Born May 2000, Year of the Dragon, he just might
be the 13th-generation owner of Chrysanthemum House. His mother, Mari,
was a schoolgirl when Al first met the Ishibashis while flying trips
for United. One of our warmest memories is the time he brought Mari
and her brother, Kojun, Halloween masks and toys.
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