Hiraizumi Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Hitoshi

What Is a Private Guided Tour of Chuson-ji and Hiraizumi Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests asked about the meaning of the Chinese character "dai" (大) used in the Daimonji Festival on Mount Tabashine, which can be seen in the distance from Takadachi. At the main hall of Chuson-ji, the guests sat before the principal image and meditated for a while. At the Mine no Yakushi-do hall, one of the guests stood before the principal image and prayed for some time. At the stone frog statue, the guests asked about the connection between the Japanese phrase "buji kaeru" (returning safely) and the animal "kaeru" (frog). A gravestone behind the sutra repository caught their eye, and they asked what it was. At the old covering hall, they looked with great interest from the ceiling to the walls. At the Hakusan Shrine, which enshrines the twelve zodiac guardian deities, I explained that the twelve signs represent the year of birth, direction, and time of day, which sparked their interest, and each of the guests paid their respects at their own zodiac sign. They bought omikuji fortune slips, drawing "kichi" (good luck) and "daikichi" (great luck) respectively, and I explained each of the fortunes written on them in detail. The guests seemed particularly interested in matters of love and business. Since the autumn foliage had begun to turn, they took photographs many times. At the monument inscribed with a poem by Nitobe Inazo, they asked whether the spirit of bushido still remains among Japanese people today. They showed strong interest in the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, such as the fact that the principal image of Benkei-do is identified with both Jizo Bodhisattva and Atago Gongen, and that the Jogyo-do hall enshrines not only Amida Buddha but also the hidden deity Matarajin. I also explained how to pass through a torii gate. During the tour, I made sure they could explore at their own pace, and I also included some jokes so they could relax and enjoy themselves.

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Tour Report by Hitoshi

My name is Hitoshi Ohata. I’ve been an interpreter and guide for about six years since I retired. I live in Takizawa City which is at the foot of Mt. Iwate, the highest mountain in Iwate Prefecture. My hobby is playing table tennis once a week. I’m not a competitive player, I’m just having fun. I also play go, a board game. The main guides are a guide to Hiraizumi’s cultural heritage and a guide to cruise ship tours in Aomori and Iwate Prefecture. I’ve experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, so I can talk about things like that. I try to convey Japanese culture and society to people overseas in an easy-to-understand way as much as possible.