Japan Trip 2012, Day 12 - Atsuta Jinguu

Well, my trip to Japan was on its second to last day. I arrived in Nagoya more as a stopover than anything else, but while I was here, I thought I should go check out Atsuta Jinguu, which ranks as one of the most sacred shrines in Japan (if not the most). After checking out from the hotel, I went to Nagoya Station to stuff my bags in a coin locker. Afterwards, since I got up late, I went to look for food.

Pictures: http://caelk.shutterfly.com/pictures/763

What I saw were three things: a Sofmap in Nagoya Station (which I ended up not going to), a Lashinbang just outside the station (which I did), and... a... Denny's? Whoa. Just whoooooa.

So, I shopped a bit at the Lashinbang and grabbed a few CDs, then headed off to the Denny's to see what they served. They had the usual American-esque-but-Japanese-adapted stuff on the menu, but there was one item which drew itself to my eyes: American Sirloin Steak. It honestly didn't look like a sirloin steak you'd see in America. It was served on a bed of fried onions, and came with cheap french fries, rice, and I think a single clove of broccoli. I had my choice of sauce to go with it, too... not really understanding what my choices were, I asked my server for suggestions. She said the mushroom garlic sautee (I think that's what it was called) was the most favored choice, so I had that.

Well, it sure didn't look like any sirloin I'm used to, and it sure didn't taste like one either. I'm really wondering about what's so different about beef here and beef back at home that would make the steak... not look like what I'm used to. Come to think of it, I don't even think the waitress asked for how well I wanted it done. The sauce was good though, and once I got past the fact it wasn't going to be the steak I know and love... it was actually a decent enough meal.

After packing down the steak (?), I went to the side of the JR Station and hopped on the Meitetsu Nagoya metro (not owned by JR, so I had to pay for this) and headed to Jinguu-mae Station. From there, a walk across a pedestrian bridge and I was at the east gate of Atsuta Jinguu.

First off... Atsuta Jinguu is huge. Like, really huge. There are multiple shrines within the shrine grounds, in addition to the one big shrine here. When you enter, you'll be in a wooded area, and only when you make it to the main shrine do the trees part into a fairly large courtyard.

The main deity of Atsuta Jinguu is Atsuta no Ookami, though the shrine is said to be where one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan is kept. This is the sacred sword, Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi, and as this is the place where it is supposedly stored, a multitude of other kami related to that sword are enshrined here as well. One of them is the head of the entire Shinto pantheon, the sun goddess Amaterasu no Oo-mikami. Another is her brother, Takehaya Susanoo no Mikoto, god of storms. The original wielder of the sword, Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, is also enshrined here. However, the actual sword has not been publicly revealed... ever, so there is some speculation as to whether or not it still exists.

There are multiple roads on the grounds, which will lead you to multiple shrines where more kami are enshrined. Some are on the way to the main temple, some are secluded in the back of the grounds.

I stopped by a counter to get an o-mamori and an o-mikuji. The o-mamori I chose was blue in color - maybe I should've gotten red since that's more the color of the sun, but blue looked better. As for my fortune, I drew dai-kichi - great luck, and the highest form of fortune you can get. Strangely enough, I'm now three for three in drawing dai-kichi.

Before leaving, I made sure to pop my head into the Treasure Hall here, which functions as a museum of sorts. Admission is 300 yen, but there's a variety of Important Cultural Assets on display there. The amount of swords there is nothing short of amazing, and it's surprising how some of these survived centuries (as in, seven or eight of them) with barely even a scratch to show for it. In addition, there was a copy of Japan's second oldest chronicle, the Nihon Shoki, displayed in the Treasure Hall as well. Photography isn't permitted, though, which is a little bit of a shame.

Having seen the shrine and tossing money into its donation boxes, I headed back to Nagoya Station... taking the Pokemon train. Grabbing my bags at Nagoya Station, I hopped on a Shinkansen to Tokyo. I would arrive at around 18:00, later than I had planned to get there, but with late sleeping and a Lashinbang in the morning, I couldn't have expected anything less.

Pictures: http://caelk.shutterfly.com/pictures/763