A Walk around Gotokuji / 豪徳寺の散歩

It sure was hot and muggy today but we still went for a walk. Today's goal was Gotokuji Temple. We once again, walked along the "green path" from our home to Gotokuji where the temple is located. It's said to be the temple where the maneki-neko originated which translates to the "beckoning cat". It's also known as the "Lucky Cat", "Fortune Cat" or "Welcoming Cat". The most popular legend goes something like this. There was a poor monk in a poverty stricken temple who would share what little food he had with his pet cat. One day, a feudal lord (Ii Naotaka - I had to look that part up) was taking shelter underneath a tree during a thunderstorm when he saw a cat beckoning him to come in to the temple. As soon as he followed the cat, the tree he was sitting under was struck by lightning. Afterwards, Ii Naotaka became a patron of the temple, which then became prosperous.

今日も蒸し暑い一日でした。それでも散歩に出掛けました。今日の目的地は豪徳寺。またうちの近くの緑道を豪徳寺方面に歩きました。豪徳寺は招き猫の発祥の地という説があります。日本人は多分誰でも知ってると思いますが、一様その説を教えますね。ネットで知らべたところ、こうゆう風に書かれてました：「井伊直孝が猫により門内に招き入れられ、雷雨を避け、和尚の法談を聞くことができたことを大いに喜び、後に井伊家御菩提所としたという。豪徳寺では「招福猫児（まねぎねこ）」と称し、招猫観音（招福観世音菩薩、招福猫児はその眷属）を祀る「招猫殿」を置く。招猫殿の横には、願が成就したお礼として、数多くの招福猫児が奉納されている。ちなみに、招福猫児は右手を上げており、小判などを持たない素朴な白い招き猫である。」

The pictures above are the views of the "green path". We even came across a maneki-neko here as well.

上記の写真は緑道の風景です。ここでも招き猫と会いました。

Entrance to Gotokuji Temple / 豪徳寺の入り口

The "Beckoning Cats"! / 招き猫いっぱいおります！

Pictures of the temple and surroundings.

As we were making our way home, we stopped by Miyanosaka station and checked out the old Setagaya Line train that's on display. The old cars had more atmosphere with their wooden flooring and all. The new cars just don't have that something special about them.

帰り道に世田谷線（通称世田線）の宮の坂駅に展示されてる旧世田谷線の電車を見に行きました。やっぱり旧電車のほうが味あったな。今の世田線なんとも思わない。

All that walking made us a little hungry so we bought ourselves grilled scallops on a skewer.

歩くと小腹が減って、帆立の串焼きを食べた。