The Zenkoji Tourou Lantern in Kamesei's nakaniwa garden
地元のベテランの庭師が亀清旅館の中庭を見た時に、「あの灯篭は善光寺灯篭と言う。お寺の鐘の音が届く範囲に見られる」と仰いました。今日は、旅行作家の方が見えて、戸倉上山田温泉が善光寺参りの帰りで、精進落しの湯と呼ばれているって話になって、亀清の中庭にある善光寺灯篭を思い出しました。作家に見せたら、喜んでくれました。やはり、戸倉上山田温泉と善光寺のつながりが強いです。今も、亀清に泊まりに来はるお客さんで善光寺参りの為に来た方が多いです。
善光寺。温泉。やはり、それぞれの深い効果があります。
A local veteran gardener once commented that the tourou lantern in Kamesei's nakaniwa garden is a Zenkoji Tourou. Supposedly lanterns of this shape are only found in places that the sound of the Zenkoji's temple bells can be heard.
Today, a travel writer paid us a visit. He commented on how Togura Kamiyamada Onsen is considered a "shojin-otoshi" onsen for Zenkoji, meaning people who made a pilgrimage to the temple often stopped to spend a night at our onsen town before returning to their regular lives. I recalled what the gardener had said about our lantern, so I pointed it out to the writer. It bore reference to the connection between our town and the Temple.
Praying at Zenkoji. Soaking in the onsen waters. They are both effective in their own ways.
Close-up
