Boso Peninsula (Part 3) / 房総半島日帰りツアー（パート３）

After checking out the Underwater Sea Park, we were on our way to where I wanted to go to the most - Nokogiriyama and the Nihonji Temple. I wanted to check out this area called "The Devil's Window". Unfortunately, when we got to Nokogiriyama, the weather took a turn for the worse and it started raining even harder. The ropeway to the top of Nokogiriyama wasn't running and when we looked in the sky, there was nothing but rain and dark clouds. Even if we did make it to the top, there wouldn't be anything worth seeing.

勝浦海中展望台を楽しんだあと、最後の目的地に行きました。僕が一番行きたかった鋸山と日本寺。鋸山の上に地獄のぞきとうゆう場所があって、凄く楽しみにしてた。でも鋸山に着いた時、雨がもっとひどく降っていて最悪でした。鋸山に登るロープウェーイも止まってたし、山の上を見ると雨雲しか見えないし、登っても、何も見えないから、地獄のぞきに行くのを却下。雨がちょこっと弱まったので、日本寺に行きました。

From the English brochure, I learned that the official name of Nihonji is Kenkon-Zan Nihon-Ji. It's a Buddhist temple that was built about 1300 years ago. Founded in 725 by high priest Bohisattva Gyoki (also from the brochure). The statue of the Buddha above is the largest statue of the Buddha Daibutsu in Japan. It's 31 meters tall (sorry, the brochure only lists the metric measurements). In comparison, the Daibutsu at Todai-Ji in Nara is 18 meters (although it's sits in the largest wooden structure in the world) and the Buddha in Kamakura is 13 meters. This Buddha is an image of Ruriko Bhechadjaguru Tathagata and signifies that the whole universe is "a pure field confined in a lotus world" (also compliments of the brochure).

英語のパンフレットを読むと、日本寺の正式名は乾坤山日本寺。１３００年前に作られた寺です。上記の写真は日本寺の大仏。日本で一番大きい大仏です。高さは３１メートル。奈良の東大寺にある大仏の高さは１８メートル（でもその大仏が入ってる建物は世界で一番大きく木材で作られてるものと言われてる）、鎌倉の大仏は１３メートル。この大仏の正式名は薬師瑠璃光如来（やくしるりこうにょらい）。

We also had to check out the 15oo stone figures of Tokai Arhats. A lot of the stone figures were missing their heads while others looked like they were alive. As it was still raining and kind of dark, the place had a surreal atmosphere. Very creepy. Driving back down to the main road, we came upon a field where a lot hydrangeas where in bloom. We were moved by the beauty of it. Of course we had to take a picture there as well.

もう一つの見どころは千五百羅漢。本当に仏像がいっぱいありました。よく見ると何体もが首がないのがあったり、生きてる様な感じの物もあったり、雨も降っていたので、ちょっと暗くて不気味でした。日本寺を下ると紫陽花が沢山咲いてるところがあり、凄く綺麗で皆が感動して、記念写真を撮りました。

After enjoying Nihonji Temple, we went to Takeoka for some Takeoka ramen. Mikako said it was little too salty but I rather enjoyed it. The broth was a blend of soy sauce and some type of fish. What was interesing about this ramen shop though was the filled your bowl with soup to overflowing. I wonder if that is their policy. After eating our ramen, Yukio drove us to Maihama Station (location of Tokyo Disneyland). We didn't have the strength to walk around the large mall called Ikspiri. All we wanted to do was go home and sleep in our own bed.

日本寺を楽しんだ後、竹岡のラーメンを食べに行きました。店の名前は梅の家。美香子がちょっとしょっぱいと言ってましたが、僕は結構好きでした。ラーメンのつゆは醤油ベースで魚のだしもきいてました。ちょっと変と思ったのは、つゆがどんぶりから垂れる位の量が入ってました。それがこの店のこだわりですかね？　で、帰りは東京ディズニーランドがある舞浜から電車にのって帰りました。Ikspiriとゆうモールがありましたが、見る体力はありませんでした。早く帰って自分のベッドに寝たかったです。

幸男、玲子ちゃん、お疲れ様でした！