Wakabayashi Inari Shrine Autumn Festival / 若林稲荷神社秋祭り

As my wife and I had decided to move to her hometown of Aomori come November, we thought it only right to check out the Wakabayashi Inari Shrine Autumn Festival, as this would be our last time to go. Next year at this time, we will be living far up north. We were walking back from Naka Meguro and it was just getting dark so the lights really created the atmosphere of celebration.

僕と妻が１１月に青森に引っ越すことを決心したので、今年が最後になるので、近所の秋祭りに行ってきました。丁度中目黒からの散歩から近所に着いたら日が暮れ、若林稲荷神社の秋祭りが開催中。提灯や出店がいっぱいあったので良い雰囲気の祭りになった。来年の同じ時期はここはもういないだろうなと考えたらちょっと寂しいけど、青森にまだいろんな体験が待ってるからそれもちょっと楽しみ。

Our neighborhood shrine's Autumn Festival.

近所の神社の秋祭り開催中。

The torii to Wakabayashi Inari Shrine.

若林稲荷神社への鳥居。

For a very local festival, it was quite crowded.

小さな祭りなのに結構混んでった。

Mikoshi (portable shrine) / 神輿

Hondo / 本堂

Neighborhood kids purifying their hands before paying respects at the shrine.

近所の子供たちもお参りする前に手水舎で手を洗ってました。

Hand purifying basin / 手水舎

Although we already had dinner, I couldn't help but treat myself to a souvlaki - a Greek styled doner kebab. My mother often talked about eating this when my father was stationed in Greece. Unfortunately, the only thing I remember in Greek is gala for milk and vlaka for stupid. Hey, we may have been there for three years but that was when I was between the ages of 3 and 6.

夕飯はもう食べたけど、この祭りに珍しい食べ物があった。ギリシャ風のケバブのスブラキ。自分のお母さんが良くこの食べ物の話したたな。実は遠い昔私たちがお父さんの仕事の関係でギリシャに３年間も住んでた。ま、僕はまだ３歳から６歳だからほんのちょっとしか覚えてない。