On my 2nd day in Nagoya, I meet Bo Joun at my ryokan hotel. She was visiting Japan with her boyfriend but is travelling solo because he left a few days earlier for work. Bo Joun is a friendly, lively young woman. Her big personality makes her an instant friend. We decide to explore Nagoya the next morning together.
Free Breakfast with Coffee
I learn from Bo Joun that “morning service” started here in Nagoya. For a set time in the morning, certain cafés give you a free quick breakfast with a drink purchase. This is to market to those who have no time to make breakfast but still need their morning coffee. What a great idea!
Atsuta Shrine
Atsuta Jingu is a Shinto shrine that we visit in Nagoya.
Visitors can go up to the shrine, throw a coin in the wish box, clap twice (for the gods to hear) and make a wish.
Like that in the Chinese culture, one would shake a container with numbered sticks. The stick that falls out/ that you pull out (in this case) is your fortune. Use the number on the stick to exchange for the reading.
Some of the writing on the fortune slip is in kanji (漢字), Chinese characters. Bo Joun’s is a positive reading (小吉 small fortune). The rest of it is written in hiragana, so we couldn’t tell what it says. For those of us who are foreigners, it might be wise to bring a friend who can read Japanese.
Weddings Ceremonies
Many wedding ceremonies are held at this shrine. There aren’t any when we are there, but here are some photos of the wedding hall.
Afterwards, we walk along a path in the garden surrounding the shrine. It is a very tranquil walk with little stops where you can donate and pay respects to the gods.
After this marks the end of my adventure with Bo Joun, as I am meeting another friend in the afternoon.
Thank you Bo Joun for accompanying me!
