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 A
temple town with a rich history, now a gateway to JapanNarita City, with the Tone-gawa River running on its north side, was first developed as a temple town of Naritasan Shinsho-ji, which was founded in 940. Now, it is a gateway to Japan, hosting New Tokyo International Airport (Narita Airport), which has been growing since its opening in 1978. While 50 airline companies use this airport, 25,410,000 travelers use it in a year and the largest amount of cargo of any airport in the world is handled there. Terminal 2 was newly open in 1992. At present, the project of parallel runways is proceeding with a target of completion in the year 2000. The city, thus, has two different faces: one as a scenic town with a rich history, encompassing Lake Imba-numa, a prefectural nature park, and Boso Fudoki-no-oka, where about 120 big and small ancient tombs are found, and the other as a modern town with an international airport. Narita is expected to keep growing in various aspects as an international cultural city. In 1998, Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple will celebrate the 1060th anniversary of its foundation and the 1000th anniversary of its founder Priest Kanjo's death. There will be several events, from April 28th to May 28th, including the memorial unveiling of their treasured Buddhist image. There is a tourist information center in JR Narita Station. Since they have tourist maps and various brochures and you can get kind advice, it may be wise to go there first to make a plan for the day in Narita before you start sightseeing. Open 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. throughout the year / 0476-24-3198 Transportation By train Keisei Dentetsu Line Keisei Ueno - Keisei Narita: 51 min. by Skyliner, 63 min. by limited express, 80 min. by express JR Line Tokyo (Sobu-honsen line - Narita-sen line) - Narita: 60 min. by limited express, 75 min. by rapid train Ueno (Joban-sen line - Narita-sen line) - Narita: 76 min. By car Tokyo (Ginza) (Metropolitan Highway "Keiyo or Wangan Road" Higashi - kanto Highway) - Narita interchange: 67 kilometers Places to Visit Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, attracting people's strong faith for a long time The temple has been close to people, for more than a thousand years since its foundation by Priest Kanjo in 940, as the head temple of the Chizan Branch of Shingon Sect and also as 'Fudo of Narita.' The principle image of the temple is the statue of Fudo Myoo, which was carved by Kukai (founder of the Shingon sect). Being famous for having a large number of visitors on New Year's day, the temple is visited by many people throughout the year. There are important cultural assets, museums and a library scattered around in the spacious precincts and the Naritasan Park located next to it, and they are all worth seeing. / 0476-22-2111 * 20 min. walk from JR or Keisei Narita Station Sanju-no-to (the three storied pagoda) Going through the main gate of the temple and up to the top of the steep steps, you first catch sight of the gorgeous three-storied pagoda standing to the right of the main building. There are cloud and water patterned engravings at the back of the eaves of each story, which were restored in 1977 by precisely following the colors and the method of lacquering shown in the color use manual of 1803, which was kept in the Naritasan Buddhist Library. The restored engravings are precious as they retain the visage of how it used to look in the mid Yedo Period (1603-1867), and they are designated as national important cultural assets. Shaka-do Hall It was built in 1858 and used to be the main hall of the temple before the present one was built. The principle image here is Shaka Nyorai (the historical Buddha). The wooden walls of the hall have marvelous engravings of five hundred rakan (Buddhists who attained the highest rank of religious wisdom equal to the Buddha's). It is a designated national important cultural asset. Komyo-do Hall It was built in 1701 and was a main hall of the temple before Shaka-do Hall was. Its principle image is Dainichi Nyorai (the great sun Buddha), who expounded the teachings of Shingon Mikkyo (esoteric Buddhism). The building has a thatched roof of the Irimoya-style and vivid vermilion walls. It is a designated national important cultural asset. Gaku-do Hall The hall is for displaying votive tablets and pictures. The present building is the second one which was built in 1861. The first building was dedicated by Ichikawa Danjuro VII with a tablet of his figure on the stage, but it was burned down in 1965. The present hall is an Irimoya-style, tile-roofed building and is designated as a national important cultural asset. Naritasan Shotoku Taishi-do Hall It was built in 1992 to throw light on the virtue and the great achievement of Prince Shotoku, a distinguished statesman of the Asuka Peiod (593 - 710). Dai-to Pagoda The awe-inspiring pagoda, standing at the back of Komyo-do Hall, was built in 1984. It expresses the world of mandara, a symbolic diagram used in esoteric Buddhism, which represents the fundamental doctrines of Shingon Mikkyo, mutual respect and dedication. Issai-kyo-do Sutra Hall Inside the hall, there is a huge revolving storage chest in which a whole set of Issai-kyo sutras are stored. Although it is no longer permitted to spin the chest for fear of damage, it is said that if you turn it around three times, making wishes, your wishes will come true. Sogo Reido Sanctuary (Meishozan Tosho-ji Temple), the family temple of Sakura Sogo Tosho-ji Temple, now famous as the Sogo Reido Sanctuary, was originally an old temple of the Buzan Branch of Shingon Sect, which was built for the repose of fallen soldiers' souls when Sakanoue-no Tamuramaro, the Barbarian-subduing Great General, conquered Boso (the present Chiba Prefecture).  In
1652, Kiuchi Sogoro, the headman of Kozu Village (the present Narita
City) made a direct appeal to the shogun, which was prohibited by law,
in order to save peasants who had been groaning under a bad crop, heavy
taxes, and oppression by the domain governor. He had no other choice.
As a result, he and his four children were executed. This was the so
called, 'Sakura Riot.' Since then, he has been called 'Sogo-sama,' and
the incident has been dramatized under the name 'a righteous man, Sakura
Sogo,' which moved many people to tears.In Tosho-ji Temple, the family temple of Sakura Sogo or Kiuchi Sogoro, there are not only the graves of him and his sons but also the memorial hall of Sogo (Sogo Goichidaiki-kan), where articles left by him and materials are displayed. The temple is also famous for its cherry-blossoms and it is thronged with people in cherry-blossom season. / 0476-22-2111 * 15 min. walk from Keisei Sogo Sando Station New Tokyo International Airport (Narita Airport), used by more than 300 million travelers in total since its opening in 1977  As
the access from central Tokyo is becoming more and more convenient,
the airport is being improved year after year as a gateway to Japan.
More than 330 planes and 600 thousand travelers come in and out every
day. The amount of international cargo handled here is No. 1 in the
world and the number of travelers No. 6. The airport certainly plays
an important role as an international airport while creating various
scenes of people's meeting and parting every day. From the observation
deck, you can see, close at hand, the take off and landing of planes
of fifty airline companies from thirty-eight countries. (Free of charge
for observation. An ID such as driver's license or passport is necessary.)
/0476-32-2802 * Get off at JR or Keisei Narita Airport Station or Airport Terminal 2 Station Acitivities Naritasan Park This park, extending at the back of Shinsho-ji Temple covers an area of 165,000 square meters and has three ponds and various trees and flowers. While you can enjoy different kinds of flowers and greenery according to the season, it is especially famous for its plum-blossoms. From the late February to early March, plum festival is held here, when tea ceremony is performed in the open air. Boso Fudoki-no-oka This extensive park of 300,000 square meters, located in Hokuso Plain, is a place of historic interest. Iwaya ruins is in the park as well as 120 big and small tumuli. There is also a reference hall, where archaeological, historical and folk materials are stored. Hundreds of clay images and a model skeleton of a Naumann elephant are exhibited here. Moreover, the former auditorium of Gakushu-in and an old house from Boso have been brought and reassembled here for preservation. There are more than enough things to see in this park. Admission: free / Open from 9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. Closed on Mondays and the beginning and the end of the year (closed on Tuesdays when Monday falls on a national holiday) / 0476-95-3126 Boso-no-mura Museum  This
museum, located next to Boso Fudoki-no-oka, presents old rows of merchant
houses, a warrior residence and a peasant's house exactly as they were
from the late Yedo Period (1603 - 1867) to the early Meiji Period (1868
- 1912). You can experience customs practiced then and technical arts
such as paper-making and straw work. You might feel as if you were transported
back to the old age.Jinbei crossing, Lake Imba-numa It is the remains of a ferry where Sakura Sogo is said to have crossed the lake on a boat when he went for direct appeal to the shogun. Jinbei is the name of the ferryman who took Sogo to the other side of the lake and later threw himself into the water. It is now a part of Prefectural Imba-numa Nature Park, and there is a memorial pagoda and a stone monument here. The lake is well-known as a fishing spot for carp and other fishes. Festivals & Events Hatsu-mode (January)  An
incredible number of people visit Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple every
year for hatsu-mode, the first visit of the year to a temple or shrine.
The temple is always ranked as one of the most visited temples and shrines
on New Year's day. Trains connecting Tokyo and Narita operate all night
from New Year's Eve to New Year's day, and the main pathway from the
station to the temple is filled with people who visit there to wish
for health and peace for the year. The temple is crowded with people
coming for hatsu-mode throughout January, being most crowded for the
first three days of the month.Setsubun-e (February) It is a ceremony held on the eve of Risshun, the first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar, in front of the main hall of Shinsho-ji Temple. Wishing for good to come out of evil and for a rich harvest, some sumo wrestlers become men of the year and scatter soybeans to the chant of fuku wa uchi, fuku wa uchi ('In with good luck, in with good luck!'). Although the common chant is oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi ('Out with demons, in with good luck!'), it is the tradition of this temple not to say oni wa soto. Kando Narita Theater (mid April and mid October)  It
is an event started in 1994 for the purpose of letting people enjoy
the new aspect of Narita. The main pathway to Shinsho-ji Temple becomes
one big theater and various performances, Japanese drum performances
as main ones, are carried out. The event is held twice a year, spring
and fall, and the shops along the street have a sale during the period.Naritasan Takigi Noh (the third Saturday of May) A Noh play and kyogen (a form of comic drama) are performed by the Umewaka Family of Noh on a special stage set up outside in front of Komyo-do Hall of Shinsho-ji Temple. In the evening darkness, the performance begins in the light of a bonfire, which will transport you into the world of mystical beauty. Gion Festival (July 7 - 9) It is the biggest festival in Narita, which is held along with the Dainichi-nyorai Festival of Shinsho-ji Temple. Starting with the passage of mikoshi (portable shrine), ten floats from each area of the city are drawn around through it for three days. The highlight of the festival is 'sobiki' on the last day, when the floats are drawn along the main pathway to the temple. Otaiya Festival (September 2 and 3) It is the grand festival of Sogo Reido Sanctuary, which is held in honor of Kiuchi Sogoro (also called Sakura Sogo), who sacrificed himself to help peasants. Street stalls are set up in the precincts, and floats are drawn through the town. Narita Jidai-emaki Festival (November) People wearing the gorgeous costumes of famous people in the history of Narita, including Ichikawa Danjuro and Priest Kanjo, walk along the street from JR Narita Station to the main hall of Shinsho-ji Temple. The performers are people of Narita who apply to participate . Osame-Fudo Fire (December 28) It is the last ceremony held at Shinsho-ji Temple on December 28 every year. Goma-fuda or talismans which gave us divine protection through the year are piled up in the precincts and burned to make all the evil spirits go away. |
The above material are taken from All Travel Japan Tourism
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Search Engine Submission © January 5th, 2006 E-Biz Travel Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Central Reservation Office, Bangkok operating hours : Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (GMT+07:00) Office Close on Sunday & Thailand Public Holidays Bangkok Office : 31 Phyathai Building, 9th Floor, Room No. 916, Phyathai Road, Phyathai, Ratchthevi, Bangkok, Thailand 10400 Tel : +66 2246-1400 to 2 Fax : +66 2246-1403 USA Office Tel : +1 603-670-3276 , +1 603-821-4556 Please contact us for any suggestions or comments |