They're hidden everywhere! ~Komatsu Temple in Chikura ~

  Every fall, Komatsu temple becomes a popular tourist destination, known for it's beautiful autumn colors.

毎秋、紅葉がきれいな場所として小松寺は人気な観光地になるのです。

On the way to see the Knife Festival at Takabe Shrine, Chikura area expert SR-san and I stopped by Komatsu Temple to see if the leaves have started to change.

高家神社の包丁式に行くついでに、千倉のエキスパートのSRさんと小松寺に寄って、葉の色が変わり始めたかどうか見に行きました。

They haven't.

変わってないです。

But, it's still a really tranquil, relaxing temple to visit and just walk around, or sit under on the bench on the 'mini island' and read a book.

でも、とても静かなお寺で、お散歩か「小島」で読書をするのにすごく良いお寺だと思います。

The view of the 'mini island' (my naming) and the pond from the parking lot.  Look at the lily pads!
駐車所から「小島」の眺め。睡蓮の葉をみて！

Dragon doggies!  They're actually called shi-shi or komainu; I think they're more like a mythical lion beast.

It's called "ah" because he has his mouth open.  On the other side of the entrane is "um", who has his mouth closed.  "Ah" and "Um" figured often guard entrances to shrines and temples.

The smaller of the buildings in the complex.  Can you find "ah" and "un" in the carving? 

I love the intricate wood carvings at temples.
お寺と神社の彫り物が大好き！

I found a few of these tiny straw sandals tied around the front doors to the building.  I wonder who they're for?
(please excuse my man-hand, it's there for scale)
扉に何足かの小さな草履が付けてあったんです。誰の草履でしょう？
（私の男らしい手を気にしないで下さい。小ささを伝える為です）

scariest elephant ever, not gonna lie
超怖い象、本当に

the front of the larger building.  It would've helped if I took a photo of the whole thing, huh?  I'm obsessed with the carvings.

dragon dog "Um"
吽

dragon dog "Ah"
I wonder if "Ah is always right and "Um" is always on the left
阿はいつも右で吽はいつも左なのかな？

By the way, super-expert SR-san told me a little about "Ah" and "Um". 

ちなみに、スーパエキスパートSRさんは私にちょっと阿吽について教えてくれまた。

Here's how the conversation goes:

その話はこんな感じでした：

SR: Do you know about Ah and Um?

阿吽知ってますか？

Liz: I know that they're often posted at the entrance to temples and shrines but I don't really understand    their meaning.

よく神社やお寺の門でみるけど、その意味が良くわからないです。

SR:  What do you do to a baby when it's born?

赤ちゃんが生まれたらどうしますか？

Liz: Um...you make it cry to make sure it's breathing.

えぇ。。。息が出来ているかどうかを確認する為に泣かせます。

SR:  Right.  So when we're born our mouths are open. What about when a person dies?

そうです。だから、人は生まれた時にみんな口が開いています。死ぬ時は？

Liz: Um....we have a funeral?

あのう、お葬式を行います？

SR:  Yes, and when people die we close their mouths.

そうです。そして人が死ぬと我々はその人の口を閉じますよね。

Liz: （in my head; Yeah it'd be scary if they were open.）  Oh, right...

        「頭の中：開いてたら怖いね」あ、そうですね。      

SR: Think of it as them signifying the life cycle of humans.　Or, so I've heard.

だから、人間の生死を象徴するよな物だと聞いてます。

Liz:  It's the circle of life! Wow you're like, a genius.

        Circle of lifeなんだ！（ライオンキングの歌）SRさんすごいね！

笑！

I learn something new every day :-).

Liz

P.S.  SR says this explanation isn't true, but I think it's a good story so I'm going to believe it!