I failed in my attempts today to visit two Shinto shrines and a Buddhist temple. Like a total newbie too Japan, I was caught in the rain without an unbrella…at a temple that was a 15 minute walk from the train station. Talk about a walk of shame.

Before that, though, I was able to visit the Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine. A garden area with five different shrines, all centered around a centuries old tree. The main shrines are where people go to pray for blessings for their buisiness. In fact, there’s a cat figure you can purchase for this purpose.

Instead, I prayed to one of the smaller shrines that was actually outside the protected walls and appered to be off the property (though it is still a part of the map). This shrine is Asazawa-sha, a shrine to a diety that initially gave blessings for the performing arts and ettiquite, but became more known for blessing for the protection of women.

Naturally, as I am embarking off on my own journey, I asked for a blessing from this temple. It also is, when in season, surrounded by a field of Irises, the flower associated with this diety and temple. The iris happens to be my favorite flower as well, so I felt a real connection with this shrine.

The map (which was available in English via a QR code that was much appreciated) explained that a poem about this shrine and this area in ancient times revealed that irises were plentiful here. I will leave you with that poem:

The Rabbit ear Irises blossom on Suminoe’s Asazawa feild.

Oh for the day when I shall don a kimono that has been dyed with their petals.