Learning Japanese Culture : Easy Japanese Listening Immersion N4 N5

Hello everyone, this is Misa. Today I'm at Jikaku-ji Temple, located in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Do you know Kusadera Temple? There are many temples in Japan. Temples in Kyoto and Nara are well known, but today I'd like to introduce a slightly different temple. This is Grassland Temple, located in Tsurumi. It is a very large temple. It's a quiet and peaceful place. I like this temple. Today, I'd like to talk about Grassland Temple while taking a walk with all of you. I'll briefly introduce some temples and shrines in Japan. Let's walk together now. First, I walked from Tsurumi Station. It's about 10 minutes on foot from the station to 草地寺. The path is easy to understand, so first-time visitors can feel at ease. As you walk, you'll come across large trees. And there is a large gate. When you see that gate, you feel as though you've arrived at a temple. Kasadera Temple is a very large temple, with numerous buildings. When I came here for the first time, I was really surprised—I thought, "I didn't know there was such a large temple in Yokohama." Today, I'll introduce the charm of this temple while walking slowly. Now, I'd like to talk a little about the history of Grassland Temple. Do you know when Grassland Temple was established? Grassland Temple is a very historic temple. It was built over 700 years ago; it's a very old temple indeed. It was not in the current Kanagawa Prefecture at first; it was located in a place called Ishikawa Prefecture. Later, a major fire occurred, and the temple was relocated to Tsurumi, Kanagawa Prefecture. Nowadays, many people come to pay respects, visiting as tourists. Some people come here too; locals often visit as well. When I first came to Grassland Temple, I was amazed by how vast it was. I thought, "I didn't know there could be a temple this big!" It's a very quiet and peaceful place; just walking here calms the mind. Cao Di Temple is a Buddhist temple belonging to the Zongtong Sect. Have you ever heard of the term "Zongtong Sect"? Sōtō Zen is one of the largest Buddhist religions in Japan, and places great importance on zazen meditation. Zazen means sitting quietly and calming your mind. You breathe slowly without thinking about anything. I also one day would like to experience zazen. At Grassland Temple, there are monks who are practicing meditation. I practice reciting sutras and cleaning every day as part of my spiritual discipline. I hear they wake up very early in the morning and maintain a correct lifestyle every day. It looks very difficult, but it's an important part of Japanese culture. Now, please look ahead. There is a large gate. This gate is called the Gate of the Reference Official. This is a very impressive gate located at the entrance of Grass Temple. Anyone seeing it for the first time is surely bound to be amazed. When I saw it for the first time, I was also amazed by how huge it was. It's made of wood and very beautiful. It has been cherished and used since ancient times; upon seeing the gate, one feels a distinctly Japanese atmosphere. When I step through the door, I feel the air change slightly. The streets inside were a bit livelier. But once you enter through this gate, it becomes very quiet. You can hear the birds singing, and the sound of the wind. It feels wonderful. I like this quiet atmosphere. When I go to a temple in Japan, my heart calms down. Even when I'm tired from traveling, walking around a temple helps me relax. When you come to Japan, please visit not only famous temples, but also quiet ones like this. Just walking slowly is enjoyable, and taking photos is nice too. The scenery changes with the seasons. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom. In summer, the greenery is very beautiful; in autumn, you can enjoy the fall foliage. Winter air is clear and very quiet. No matter which season you visit, you can enjoy different scenery. I particularly like spring and autumn. In spring, the cherry blossoms are very beautiful. In autumn, you can see leaves in red and yellow, and simply by walking around, you can feel the season. The shrine's grounds were very extensive when it was originally established, and first-time visitors might get a little lost. But walking slowly is really enjoyable. I like the time I spend walking through the temple. It's so quiet here, you can really relax. Take a look around you. There are many large trees here, including some that have been growing in this place since ancient times. What a tall tree! Looking up at the sky, the leaves are swaying in the wind. I feel calmer when I hear the sound of the wind, and I can also hear birdsong. It's a sound you don't often hear in the streets, so whenever I come to a temple, I feel deeply calmed. When it was first established, there were many buildings, each with its own specific role. All the buildings are large and magnificent; many of them are made of wood. When viewed up close, it's incredibly intricate. The craftsmanship of traditional Japanese carpenters from old times is truly amazing. I also like looking at buildings; the shapes of their roofs are very beautiful. Please look slightly upward. The roof is large and beautiful, isn't it? It has the typical appearance of a Japanese temple, with a spacious garden in front of the building. The garden is also very beautiful; stones are placed there. Trees and flowers are planted here, and the scenery changes with the seasons. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom; in summer, the greenery is very beautiful. In autumn, you can see the fall foliage; in winter, the atmosphere becomes quiet. I like the scenery of autumn because the red and yellow leaves are very beautiful. Which season do you like? There is also a place where you can offer incense at the time of founding. People who have come to pay their respects are offering incense and quietly folding their hands in prayer. In Japan, many people join their hands in prayer when visiting a temple, and some even pray for their family's health. Some people ask for safe travels. When you all come to Japan, please visit a temple and quietly pay your respects. You can feel Japanese culture; when walking, there are very spacious areas. Events are sometimes held here; during New Year, many people visit the temple. I will pay my respects so that the new year will be a good one. At that time, it will become very lively. But usually it's very quiet, so I like coming here regularly. There are few people around, so I can walk slowly. It's also enjoyable to take photos. When I travel, I often take photos of buildings and scenery. When I look at the photos later, I remember the memories from that time. Do you all take photos when you travel? I also like taking photos of nature. In Kusakuchi City, seasonal flowers bloom. In spring, you can see not only cherry blossoms but also various other flowers. Seeing flowers lifts your spirits. Japan has four seasons, so you can enjoy different scenery throughout the year. That's also one of Japan's charms, walking through Kusakawa City. It feels as if time is moving slowly; there's no need to hurry while walking. It feels wonderful to walk slowly, take in the scenery, and breathe deeply. Even people who are busy every day. I think it becomes a bit more relaxed when adults come around. I really enjoy such moments. Then next is Zen and I would like to talk about zazen. Kōjishū is very famous as a Zen temple. Let's explore Japanese Zen culture together. Have you ever heard the word "Zen"? The term "Zen" is somewhat well-known abroad, but I think many people don't actually know what Zen really is. Zen is a way of thinking aimed at calming one's mind, and it highly values quiet moments. And right now, at this moment, I focus. Grassland City is a temple that holds Zen in high regard. Buddhist monks here practice every day. "Practice" means studying or training diligently. The monk wakes up early every day; he reportedly gets up while it's still dark in the morning. I wake up early and recite sutras. Sutras are important words recited at temples. The sound of monks chanting sutras in the quiet temple is truly beautiful. I have heard it once myself. I felt very quiet and strange. After that, I'll clean up. You know, temples are always so clean, aren't they? That's because the monks clean them every single day. The hallways and the garden are both very beautiful in Japan. Cleaning is considered one form of practice; it is not merely about making a room tidy. There is an idea that while cleaning, you also cleanse your mind. I like this way of thinking. Cleaning your house makes you feel refreshed, doesn't it? Have you all had such an experience? Monks are not only engaged in cleaning; eating is also part of their practice. We express gratitude before meals and cherish our food. I eat slowly and make sure not to leave any food behind. That's a wonderful habit. I also want to cherish food more. And the monk also practices zazen. Zazen means sitting quietly. Sit with your legs crossed. Straighten your back. And I breathe slowly, trying not to think of anything. But not thinking about anything at all is surprisingly difficult; as soon as you try a little, all sorts of thoughts start coming to mind. I might find myself thinking about today's schedule or work, so zazen is not easy. But if you continue, your mind gradually becomes calmer. Lately, people from foreign countries have also become interested in zazen. Some people come to Japan on a trip specifically to experience zazen. I too would one day like to sit in zazen slowly and peacefully. It's also important to create time when you don't look at your smartphone. Just looking at your smartphone every day can make you feel a bit tired. I think we sometimes need quiet moments where we do nothing at all. During cleaning, such quiet times are available. Just walking around calms my mind. I can hear birds singing. I can hear the sound of the wind, and the leaves of the trees are swaying. It's very soothing to listen only to natural sounds. In my busy daily life, such moments are I think it's very important. When you feel stressed, what do you do? I go for walks in nature, and sometimes I go to the sea. I sometimes go to the mountains, and I sometimes go to a temple. When I'm in a quiet place, I feel calm. Cleaning is such a place. When I come here, I feel time flowing slowly. There's no need to hurry; walk slowly. Just taking a deep breath can change your mood. Japan has many temples like this. There are also famous temples, each with its own unique atmosphere. When traveling, we recommend visiting at least one temple. Not only enjoy looking at the building, but also take in the quiet atmosphere of the place—it will surely become a wonderful memory. Finally, I would like to talk about my favorite scenes during cleaning and the seasonal charms. I love Japan's four seasons. Japan has spring and summer. There are autumn and winter. The scenery changes significantly with the seasons. You can see different scenery in the same place depending on the season, and I think that's one of the charms of Japan. When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom. There are also beautiful cherry blossoms during cleaning time. When I see cherry blossoms, I feel that spring has arrived. I really love spring. It feels pleasant to walk outside as the weather warms up. Spring is also a season when new lives begin. School starts, new jobs begin—this is a season that brings a little nervousness, yet also excitement. When summer comes, the tree leaves become a very beautiful green color, and the sky turns blue. I can hear the sound of the ears, and although it's very hot, I can see a summer-like landscape. Walking under the trees feels a bit cool. I like taking a break in the shade during summer. When autumn comes, the leaves begin to change color. The red and yellow leaves are very beautiful. The autumn foliage during cleaning is especially stunning. Autumn is neither too hot nor too cold; it's the perfect season for walking. I like taking walks with my camera in the fall. When I see beautiful scenery, I feel like taking lots of photos. When winter comes, the air feels very heavy. Although mornings are a bit cold, I like this quiet atmosphere. There are few people here, so it's very peaceful. I like taking my time walking and thinking. I like going to quiet places like this, not just famous tourist attractions, when I travel. While places with many people can be fun, in quiet places you can relax and take your time. When cleaning, time seems to move slowly. Even on busy days filled with work or studying, coming to such a place calms my mind. It's also good to create time when you don't look at your smartphone. Just watching nature or listening to the sound of the wind is enough. My feelings have changed. I think Japanese temples have a special atmosphere. The building is beautiful, and the garden is lovely as well. There are many trees and flowers, and it is very quiet. That's why I like temples—during cleaning times, they're not temples crowded with tourists. That is precisely why you can walk slowly here. This temple is highly recommended for those who wish to enjoy a calm and peaceful time. If you ever come to Yokohama, please visit us during our cleaning hours as well—I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Yokohama has famous tourist attractions such as Chinatown and Minato Mirai. Of course, those places are also very fun, but let's stretch our legs a bit further. You can see a different side of Japan when you come during cleaning time, its culture and history. You can truly feel the atmosphere of Zen, and I would like to visit many temples in Japan in the future. There are still many temples I haven't visited. I like temples in Kyoto and Nara, but I also love these quiet temples. Have you ever been to a temple? If you could visit just one temple in Japan, which one would you most like to go to? Please let me know in the comments section. Today, I introduced you to a cleaning spot located in Tsurumi. I would be truly happy if you could feel as though you're taking a walk together with me. Thank you so much for watching the video until the end. I will continue to introduce Japan's scenery and culture, as well as travel, in gentle Japanese. I would like to create many videos that make it enjoyable for everyone studying Japanese to learn. See you in the next video. Bye for now.