Itoman Peaceful Illumination - "Lights of Peace"

The 15th annual Itoman Peace Illumination took place at the Itoman Tourist Farm in Mabuni, Itoman.
This year’s theme was "the prayer of light to connect people".

This is one of Okinawa’s most popular winter events, drawing some 50,000 visitors each year. The venue, located in Itoman City, which experienced a fierce ground battle at the end of World War II, is beautifully decorated with 1.3 million lights, representing the approximate population of Okinawa, and carrying the people’s hopes for peace.

A special event called Starlight Wink, in which all the lights at the venue go out for one minute, is held every evening at 20:00. There are only 400 parking spaces available at the Itoman Wine Farm. When the parking lot is full, visitors may park at the Peace Memorial Park. A free shuttle service is provided between the Peace Memorial Park and Itoman Wine Farm during the event.


Place: Itoman Wine Farm (Itoman City)
Admission: 250 yen for persons aged 16 and over, free for children under 16.
For more information: Tel: 098-840-8135 (Business and Tourism Division, Itoman City Hall)

Now that the basic event premise is set, let me briefly tell you of our experience at this illumination.  We were directed to a parking spot by security with glow sticks and then walked to the ticket tent.  We had to pass through all of the festival food and games in order to get to the actual illumination.

The illumination itself was in two main sections.  I'm calling them the circus tent and the castle area. Everything that wasn't light viewing cost extra... which was disappointing but it is what it is.



The circus tent was composed of lights hung in a tent-like structure with rides off to one side .  One could also pet or ride a horse in this section.

The castle area had a blow-up castle in the middle and lights hanging all around.  A small animal train took riders around the castle periodically for a small fee.  O wanted to go in the castle and ride the train but we only had enough extra yen for one since she needed to be accompanied.  She chose the train (1000 yen for 2) and we rode in the monkey car.  She had so much fun.  Each car had two steering wheels for riders to pretend they were driving.  We turned and cried wee the whole way around the castle...  Unless she was petting the monkey and yelling at daddy to look at her, lol.

Blow up structures were found throughout the illumination that people posed for family pictures in front of.  You could also walk through a small conservatory building that was decorated with lights and had a mini-market for foods, crafts and trinkets inside.

Overall we really enjoyed the illumination and it was nice to be able to just let O run around as she pleased.  I think she was a little obsessed with the shark though. :D

We also paired this trip with a visit to the Peace Prayer Park Memorial Museum and a short walk around the grounds.  I think this made the trip even more worth the drive down there and filled out the evening nicely.  (And we got fantastic soba from a very sweet, little old man who runs a shop right next to the parking lot before going to the illumination.  Yum!)

Oyama Mayagama (Futenma Cat Cave)

Took the in-laws to a quick stop-off on our way to Kakazu Tadakai Park.  Oyama Mayagama is just outside of Futenma Gate 1 on 58.  If you're into local folklore, it's worth the ten minutes it takes to look around.

As all of the signs were in Japanese, I took the following info off of Okinawa Hai.

The legend of the Mayagama: 

“Maya” means “cat” in the Okinawan dialect. There is a legend that an evil spirit used to live in this cave a long, long time ago. It transformed into a cat and hid the local children. Local people beat the cat and it ran into a pot that was inside the cave. The people tied up the pot with rope so it could never escape, and they never saw it again.

In the same area, there are plaques showing the people that have lived here throughout history. The oldest picture is of the Azamabarujin people who lived about 600 to 6,000 years ago.

The men hunted wild boar while the women and children collected fruit. They caught fish, sea turtles, dugong and shells. They ate those sea animals by either boiling, cooking or just eating them raw. They commonly wore jewelry made from shells.





The picture of the village is a recreation of the same people. The food and tools were all from nature, such as, animals, dirt, stones and bones. The dwellings were 13×29 feet wide and were surrounded by stone or tree walls.

Please note that this is amidst family tombs, which are very sacred (no photos) and are private property. You will not be disturbing anyone as long as you stay around the cave ruin site.

Directions: From Foster’s commissary gate, turn left to drive south on 58 towards Futenma. There will be a stone sign for MCAS Futenma at the light, turn left and follow the road as it winds up the hill. When round the curve and you see the gate for Futenma, pull over and park on the side of the road.  You will see a picture of a cat next to some stairs on the left hand side of the road (when facing the gate).   

Nenpou-ji Temple

Continuing our adventure with my in-laws, we stopped by a pretty awesome temple near Kakazu Tadakai Park.  We got a little lost on the way, as we were following typical Okinawan directions we got off Okinawa-Hai.  (Altogether these directions were adequate but a little off... I tried to do a revision at the bottom of this post... but due to the nature of the temple's location I make no guarantees that they're not still confusing or a little hard to follow.)

We also spent a good five minutes debating where to park because we didn't know if you could drive through the temple gates.  We ended up parking outside the gates at the apartment building next to it just to be safe, but once inside realized a ton of parking was available for temple users.

This particular temple is for a religion known as Nenpou Shinkyou. 

It was founded by Reigen Ogura in 1923. The spirit of Nenpou Shinkyou proclaims that all people throughout the world, regardless of religion, nationality or cultural background, should join hands in fellowship to build a world without conflict. 

Nenpou Shinkyou teaches the True Way in which we should live – the Goseikun. Nenpou Shinkyou’s mission is for people to bring these teachings into their lives, to practice them, and thereby create a better world for everyone, a world where each day is filled with joy. 

The temple workers were kind enough to show us around and help us say a prayer while we were there.

To pray,you kneel in front of the pot filled with clay then light three incense sticks and place them in the clay. Each stick has a purpose:

• To know your ancestors
• For yourself, community, country and international relations; that there will be peace
• For yourself and your daily life; that everything will go well.

After the incense is placed, you say a prayer and then stand to the side, face the alter and bow.

Directions: Heading south on the 330 from Foster, you will pass gate 3 of Futenma & the 32. If you see the sign for Kakazu Park & Kyoto Monument, you have gone too far.  You will see on the right side of the road a Yoshinoya and a Docomo at a stop light. Make a right u-turn at this stop light. The "road" is small and between theYoshinoya & the Docomo. The "road" comes to a T intersection. Go left and you will see the Temple.

http://www.nenpoushinkyou.jp/eng/index.html

Hamagaa Ugan Ruins (Chatan Worship Site)

So the in-laws and I had some extra time between Christmas shopping and meeting up with Z, so we decided to check out some hidden sites I found on Okinawa Hai while the kid was sleeping in the car and they were in the PX purusing merchandise.

One of these sites was the Hamagaa Ugan Ruins.  It was a nice 5-10 minute stop right next to Kadena Gate 1.  A surprisingly peaceful spot right next to a very busy road.

The following information is from a sign posted at this prayer site:

The Hamagaa Ugan Ruins were designated as a Cultural Asset / Historic Site located within Chatan Town on March 26, 2004.

The Hamagaa Ugan is a place of worship made at the foot of a limestone rock.  It is called Shimamori Yoriage no Taki (holy name: Ishi no Oibe) in the Ryukyu-koku Yuraiki, 1713 (Historical records of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus).

A tomb of a fuedal lord is located to its east.

The worship area and a large Akou tree (Ficus superba Mig. var. Japonica Miq) are found to the south.  In the worship area, there is a small house-shaped limestone shrine with a Yosumune-style hip roof and three incense burners.

The Shimakusarasaa, a ritual held in lunar February to prevent evil from entering the community, and the Kami-Ushiimii, a ritual to pray to gods held in lunar March, were held here before the war.

The Twun no Kami and Ryuuguu Shin deities are also enshrined in the south side of the premises.

A shell mound dating from the 8th to 10th centuries is found north of the Hamagaa Ugan.  It is believed that refuse was di

scarded from the top of the hill, presenting the possibility that a worship area might have existed on the top.  Excavation of this site is considered required.  A similar ruin known as Agigitara shell mound is found in Izena Village.

Directions:

This location is at the intersection of the 58 and 23. right before Kadena Gate 1. At that intersection is a store called “Music Lab”. In the back is a parking lot, and if you park there, you can’t miss the tree. You can see the tree from 58.

If you are traveling north on 58, simply turn into the Music Lab parking lot and go to the back.

 If you are traveling south on 58, turn right at the light right past the 23. Then take your first right and drive down the road a little bit. You’ll see the back entrance of the music store and the tree on your right.