Ni ō mon Gate (1830) An unplanned layover at Narita Airport yielded a pleasant surprise. With a whole morning free before returning to Narita Airport for an early evening flight, we took the shuttle bus from our hotel to Narita City. We walked to Narita-san Shinsh ō -ji Buddhist temple from the drop off point. The temple is located at the end of a busy, shop-lined street called Omotesando . It was the Setsubun Festival (in late January) and the streets in and around the temple were packed with visitors and pilgrims who, like us, were distracted by the many food stalls and enticing curio shops along the way. Setsubun is the celebration of the beginning of spring (according to the lunisolar calendar). Three Storied Pagoda Narita-san was founded in the year 940. It is a lead temple of the Chisan branch of the New Shingon sect of Buddhism. Some of the buildings in the complex are designated National Important Cultural Properties including the Three Sto...
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” - James Michener