Aki Meguri: Words and Pictures


Words-and-Pictures: Kyuenji (as seen on September 23rd, 2001, on the Old Tokaido stage of the Aki Meguri)
Note: Kyuenji is located between Kanaya and Nissaka in Shizuoka Prefecture, which are Stations #24 and 25 respectively (from Tokyo) on the Old Tokaido Highway. You can read about my visit to this small temple, and the legend of its stone, in my Logbook. You may also choose to start reading about my Tokaido journey at the beginning, or start at the top of my Aki Meguri pages.

A grumpy-looking foreign pilgrim sits in front of Kyenji's candidate for the "Night Weeping Stone." Read about the legend--and the controversy--in my Logbook

To be honest, I don't know much about this temple. Ieyasu stopped here--for tea--on his way to the decisive battle at Sekigahara. The Night Weeping Stone lives here. It's a darned purdy place. That's about it for words (with one caption). Enjoy the pictures.




	It's unusual to see this guy in a temple; he's usually found hanging out in schoolyards. He's Sontoku Ninomiya, also called Kinjiro. Born in Kakegawa, he grew up to found a Confucian philosophical movement that advocated hard work and filial piety. He is often shown thus, reading a book while carrying wood on his back. A shrine dedicated to him is on the grounds of Odawara Castle. (I have seen his statue in front of a bank in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles!)