A Walk around Yutenji / 祐天寺の散歩

Last Sunday, my wife and I walked from our apartment to Yutenji Temple and back.  It takes about an hour to an hour and a half one way.  There wasn't really anything of interest before reaching our destination so most of the pictures are of just Yutenji Temple.  I have actually been here once before.  I visited this temple with my mother as one of her good friend's family tombstone is located here.

この間の日曜日、妻と一緒にうちのアパートから祐天寺の散歩を実行。うちから片道で一時間か一時間半くらい。目的地に着く前になにもなかったため、写真はほとんど祐天寺だけ。結構昔ここ以前にも訪れたことがあった。その時は自分のお母さんの一緒。お母さんが行きたかった場所。この寺にお母さんの友人が眠ってるからです。

This is the entrance to Yutenji Temple, the Omote-Mon or the Front Gate.

祐天寺の表門です。

This is the Nio-Mon.  You can see Nio-sama on both sides of the gate.

これは仁王門。仁王様が量側に居る。

Kasane-zuka / 累塚

Temple bell / 梵鐘

Buddha's Feet / 仏足石

Mizuko Jizo / 水子地蔵

Hondo / 本堂

Temple details

Shoin / 書院

Temple Office / 寺務所

Yutenji Temple Seal / 祐天寺御朱印

We didn't want to walk back the same way we came so we followed Yutenji Street to Yutenji Station and was heading back to our apartment by a different route.

帰りは同じ道通りたくなっかたので、祐天寺の商店街に歩きました。

And being a fan of steam locomotives, I had to take a picture of this. It may not be the entire steam locomotive but a part to the C57117 series.

鉄道ファンの僕なので（鉄男ほどではないが）SLかSLに関連するものが展示されてるなら、つい写真撮りますね。これはC57117号蒸機関車主動輪。

It is the property of the Curry Station Niagara which used to located along Yutenji Street but I believe they moved to a new location.  I will have to check again.  The owner of the curry shop is a hardcore railway collector and railway fans from all over the world visits his restaurant.

所有者は昔確かに祐天寺の商店街にあった店、カレーステーションナイアガラ。店は近くに移転した。鉄道ファンには有名な店です。店のオーナー（じゃなくて駅長）が大の鉄道ファン。一回くらいは行ってみたい店です。

After our long walk from apartment to Yutenji Temple, we decided to stop at a little shop for a short break.  I enjoyed myself a cola float while my wife ordered a shaved ice with azuki and topped with vanilla ice cream.

うちのアパートから祐天寺は結構の距離だったので祐天寺商店街に一休み。自分はコーラフロートを飲んで、妻は好きなあずきかき氷を注文。

However, on our walk back to our apartment we did make a discovery.  We came upon the residence of Dr. NakaMats.

祐天寺から帰りの散歩で新たな発見がありました。ドクター中松の家の前を通った。

The house is quite large.  And there is a sign on the corner that calls this place Dr. NakaMats Square.  And if you check out the street signs, one says Dr. NakaMats Ave. while the other says Dr. NakaMats St.

家はかなり大き。豪邸でも言って良いかな。角にドクター中松スクアと書いてある。あとドクター中松街とドクター中松通り。ま、勝手付けたんじゃないのかね。

Then back at home for dinner.  It was a rather nice day but a little too humid for a walk.  The first thing we wanted to go when we got back home was to take a shower!

そして無事アパートに帰りました。天気は良かったが、やっぱり散歩日和ほどではなかった。暑くってジミジミして、帰って最初にやりたいことはシャワーを浴びることだった！

A Walk around Shinganji Temple / 森巖寺の散歩

After lunch at the soup curry shop in Shimokitazawa, we were walking home and decided to check out one of our local temples.  So we dropped by Shinganji Temple in Daizawa.

下北沢でスープカレーを食べたあと、近所にあるお寺にお参りしました。行ったのは代沢にある森巖寺。

Hondo / 本堂

Enma Daiou / 閻魔大王

And yes, it doesn't matter how large or popular, or how small a temple or shrine is, most of them do offer a seal.

はい、どのお寺や神社でも大体御朱印は貰えます。

Shinganji Temple Seal / 森巖寺の御朱印

I think its always great to explore and discover little treasures in your own neighborhood.

自分の近所でこういう素敵なところを発見するのも散歩の楽しみだ。

Soup Curry [Ponipirika] / スープカレー 「ポにピリカ」

Yesterday as my wife and I went for a walk, we decided to have lunch in Shimokitazawa at a place called "Ponipirika".  A few months ago we were having lunch at the Butcher's Bar located below and couldn't help noticing all these people going upstairs for curry.  My wife and I were not huge fans of soup curry as we prefer are curry roux thick but with so many people lining up for this restaurant, we decided we had to check it out at least once.

昨日、妻と散歩したら、行き先が下北沢に決定した。ランチを食べてそのあとは近くでブラブラ歩く。今日はスープカレーの店「ポにピリカ」に決定。以前は同じビルの１階にあるブッチャーズ・バーに行ったとき、上に行く人の数が多すぎて、なんだろうと思ったら、スープカレーの店。うちはいままでスープカレーとはあんまり興味になくけど、この店が行列出来るほどなら一回は行ってみるべきと思った。

Today was no different than others.  There was already a line formed and we had to wait a good thirty minutes before we were shown to our table.

今日も相変わらす混んでました。行列に並び、３０分後に席に案内された。

We were already checking out the menu while standing in line and have already decided what we are going to order.  The chicken and vegetable curry.  At this curry shop, you can choose from three different curry sauces - tomato, shrimp, or fish extract.  My wife chose the shrimp while I chose the tomato.  You can also choose the spicyness 0 to 7 (0 being the mildest).  However, spicyness above 2 costs a little extra so my wife and I decided that 2 would be fine.  We did not choose extra toppings which is also an option.  You can also choose the size portion of rice that comes with the curry. Small - 120g (4.2 oz), Medium - 180g (6.3 oz), and Large - 250g (8.8 oz) with free refills if you so desire.

並びながらメニューを見て、注文するカレーを検討。この店のスープカレーのスープは３種類から選べられる。 トマト、海老、か和風。妻は海老を選び、僕はトマト。選んだカレーはチキンと野菜。辛さも数字の０から７まで選べられる。でも２以上は有料となります。初めて来た店なので、僕と妻は２の辛さを選びました。メニューにトッピングもいろいろもありましたが、私たちはほかのトッピングは注文してません。ご飯の量も小（１２０ｇ）・中（１８０ｇ）・大（２５０ｇ）も選べるし、おかわり自由。

This shop's style for eating their curry.

1. First taste the soup with a spoon.

2. Scoop up a spoonful of rice.

3. Dip rice into the curry and eat.

4. Enjoy the taste of the ingredients in the curry.

Or you can just add all the rice into the curry.  It will be delicious that way as well.

テーブルの上でスープカレーのおいしい食べ方の可愛いサインが描いてます。

１．スープをひとくち味わう。

２．ライスを適量すくう

３．すくったライスをスープにひたして食べる。

４．具材を楽しむ。

最後にライスをスープに入れておじや風で食べてもおいしいよ。

Chicken & Vegetable Curry Set / チキンと野菜カレーセット

The chicken is simmered for a few hours so the meat slides right off the bones.

チキンは何時間も煮込んでるので、骨から簡単に落とせる。

And I believe they use organic rice at this shop which is topped with half of a boiled egg. 

ご飯も玄米と思います。ゆで卵乗せです。

It also looks like Shimo Kitazawa will be having their annual Curry Festival from Oct. 7th through Oct. 16th.  This festival which started only 4 years ago in 2012 with 43 shops has grown exponentially and this year will feature a total of 133 shops.  From standard curries to soup curries, Indian curries, bar curries, new wave curries and quite a few others.  Mini portions and takeout service will be available to get many people to try many different curries. We may have to check out a couple of new curry shops during the festival.

今年も下北沢カレーフェスティバルが開催される２０１６年１０月７日～１０月１６日、１０日間もつづきます。たったの四年前の２０１２年で４３店の祭りが今年はなんと１３３年も参加します。もしろんスープカレーを含む、バーカレー、インドカレーマトンカレー、ニューウェイヴ、等のカレーが味わえる。ミニカレーやテイクアウトも実施するのでいろんなカレーが食べられる。フェスティバル開催時にまた下北沢行ってみるしかいないね。

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！