Hakata Temple Tour

I’m still not exactly sure of what this festival was exactly, but it was very fun.  Masa-san takes us into Hakata to see a traditional Japanese play and see some temples.  This is a rare chance to actually go into and tour many of Hakata’s oldest temples that mostly never open their doors to the public.  So with our ridiculously large group of 15 gaijin we swarm the streets of Hakata.  The best temple easily was the first one that we entered.  Inside the temple was an enormous rock garden illuminated in blue light.  The sand combed to look like waves, it represents the ocean between Japan and China.  It’s a very symbolic and honestly awe-inspiring garden.  I sit there with everyone shoulder to shoulder on the wooden deck and slip into a state of zen. 

We later visit other temples, watch a traditional Japanese play, watch the first 25 minutes not understanding a thing but simply appreciating the strange and foreign sights and sounds.  We get bored after the first half and just explore the rest of the temple instead.  We cleanse ourselves, buy a fortune, make a wish, see the famous Hakata wall built from the ruins of original Hakata buildings, see a giant festival symbol that is carried by men through the streets of Hakata every year (it is about 40 feet but they use a smaller one now due to power lines) and watch Baptiste (literally) take a drink from a peeing statue.  Good night.