Utsunomiya Futaarayama Shrine
Activity > Other Cities and Areas > Sightseeing > Utsunomiya
Had some business up in Utsunomiya today and happened to have a little extra time so took a side trip to "Futaarayama Shrine" (in Japanese; 二荒山神社)... BUT! not before stopping at the Mochi (sweet Japanese rice cake) shop! Got to have Mochi while visiting a shrine!
It was an unusually warm day so I was out in shorts and a T-Shirt while most the local folk had on sweaters and mufflers. Its a good 15-20 min. walk from Utsunomiya station to Futaarayama Shrine (I'm sure there is a bus... but just didn't want to hassle with it). Actaully, I had no idea it even existed and was just on my way to a dreaded deed when I happened to pass by the big 'ol entrance Tori. I thought, "Hmmm... wonder what this is..." so started to wander in when I realized it was a pretty big shrine and that in order to visit it I absolutely needed some Mochi! Didn't take long to find a Mochi shop (as they usually are strategically located around shrines) and purchase a Mame Daifuku (sweet beans inside soft and sweet smashed rice) and... Ah! forgot the name of the second one.
So up the stairs I went and was pleasantly suprised by a very nice shrine. It was "Shichi go san" day (when 4 year old girls, and sometimes boys, dress up in kimono's and get their picture taken) so there were quite a few cute little 4 year old girls with their parents taking pictures at the shrine. I wondered around a bit, took some pictures then sat down on a warm bench and ate up my Mochi treats... man I love those things!
