Happy Lunar New Year 2022
梅（Ume, Japanese plum)
Although the days are still cold, I can feel the signs of spring little by little in Japan.
Happy Lunar New Year! This is Youkou.
Before the day, I went to 石清水八幡宮(Iwashimizu Hachimangu) for the first time this year.
Iwashimizu Hachimangu at Yawata, Kyoto
Iwashimizu Hachimangu enshrines 神様(Kami-sama, ≒deity) that was transferred a piece of spirits from 宇佐神宮(Usa Jingu). This shrine is located at 裏鬼門(Ura-Kimon, the southwest (unlucky) direction) of Kyoto.
石清水八幡宮
http://iwashimizu.or.jp/
八幡総本宮 宇佐神宮
http://www.usajinguu.com/
Incidentally, 比叡山(Hieizan) is located at 鬼門(Kimon, the northeastern (unlucky) direction) of Kyoto.
HIEIZAN & BIWAKO tourism & convention Guide
https://www.hieizan.gr.jp/en/
宝満山(Houmanzan), the stage of 東風, is located at 鬼門(Kimon, the northeastern (unlucky) direction) of Dazaifu.
八幡様(Hachiman-sama) is very famous as 神様(Kami-sama, ≒deity) of protection from bad luck. This is 前厄(Mae-Yaku, a year before an unlucky year) for me, so I received purification and bought some 福豆(Fukumame, Lucky Beans) for 節分(Setsubun) at Iwashimizu Hachimangu.
福豆（Fukumame, Lucky Beans)
On the way home, I bought some 走井餅(Hashirii-mochi, rice cakes with red bean paste), a local specialty. It was delicious!
走井餅(Hashirii-mochi, rice cakes with red bean paste)
The world of 鬼門(Kimon, the northeastern (unlucky) direction), 裏鬼門(Ura-Kimon, the southwest (unlucky) direction), and 厄除け(Yaku-Yoke, against bad luck) is very interesting for me. I would like to continue visiting various shrines and temples to deepen my understanding of that.
