Kiyoshikojin Seicho-ji in Hyogo, Japan

Kiyoshikōjin Seichō-ji [Japanese: 清荒神清澄寺]

Location: Takarazuka city in Hyogo, Japan
It is simply called as Kiyoshikōjin [Japanese: 清荒神].
It is also called "Kojin-san [Japanese: Kōjin-san; 荒神さん] by local people.
It is loved as the Kitchen god or the Oven god [Japanese: かまど神].
It is famous to put a talisman of Kiyoshikōjin in the kitchen.
Honzon* is Dainichi-Nyorai (=Mahāvairocana) [Japanese: 大日如来] and it's an Important Cultural Property selected by the Japanese government.
*Honzon means object of fundamental respect, veneration, or devotion.

We walked the long slope from Kiyoshikojin station 

to the Kiyoshikojin Seichoji.

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We entered the entrance called "Sanmon [Japanese: 山門]".

 

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We washed hands,

then we walked to the oratory [Japanese: Haiden; 拝殿].

On the way to the Haiden, 

there was Komainu (=stone guardian dog) [Japanese: 狛犬].
Kiyoshikojin komainu guardian dog

Tomo&Chouchou did O-mikuji (=fortune slip).
 

 

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We walked the path to the main hall [Japanese: Hondō; 本堂].

 

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We prayed at the Hondo.

We touched seated figure of Buddha.

 

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We went down the stairs from Hondo to Ichigan-Jizoson.
Ichigan-Jizoson [Japanese: 一願地蔵尊] is a Jizo which makes one wish come true.

(Jizoson=Jizo;  guardian deity of children)

 

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We went down the slope and went back to the station.

Episode of Kiyoshikojin Seichoji

TOMO&CHOUCHOU went to Kiyoshikojin Seicho-ji located in Takarazuka in Hyogo. On the way from the Kiyoshikojin station to Kiyoshiojin Seichoji, there are many shops. So we enjoyed shopping on the way to Kiyoshikojin. It was the long slope to Kiyoshikojin but we didn't feel tough so much because we enjoyed shopping. We could arrive at the entrance of Kiyoshikōjin "Sanmon".
After entering and washing hands, we walked to the Haiden (=oratory, 拝殿).
On the way to the Haiden, there was Komainu (=stone guardian dog, 狛犬).
Tomo&Chouchou prayed at the Haiden [拝殿]. If we pray at Haiden, we may get the fortune, cure the disease, get conjugal harmony and get a baby. If we pray for disease elimination [除病], expiation [滅罪] and happiness [求福], we will benefit. So Tomo&Chouchou prayed strongly at the Haiden.
Nextly, Tomo&Chouchou did fortune slip called Omikuji [おみくじ] because we liked to know the lack every year. After checking Omikuji, we walked the path to the main hall / Mahavira hall called Hondō [本堂]. In front of the Hondō, there was a seated figure of Buddha called "Binzurusonjyazou" [Japanese: びんずるそんじゃぞう; 賓頭盧尊者坐像]. This statue is also called "Pindola Bharadvāja". We simply call Nadebotoke [Japanese: なでぼとけ]. If we touch the parts of the statue where we have illness, disease may be cured. So Tomo&Chouchou touched several parts while wishing the pain or illness would disappear.
Then we went down the stairs toward Ichigan-Jizoson [一願地蔵尊]. Ichigan-Jizoson is a Jizo which makes one wish come true. It is said that one wish may come true if we can sprinkle water until the head of Jizo while praying one wish.
It was difficult for Tomo to decide one wish. It was not so easy to sprinkle water until the top of the head of Ichigan-Jizoson, but we did our best and we wished.
so we hope our wishes may come true !
There are many kinds of gods in Kiyoshikōjin Seichō-ji such as god of fire, god of eyes, or god for illness, conjugal relationship or babies [夫婦円満、子宝]. We could pray our many wishes to the many gods in one place. 

Tomo&Chouchou's advice

On the slope from the Kiyoshikojin station to Kiyoshikōjin, there are about 200 shops. All shops are unique and old style. We can find many good things there. So it's very enjoyable to see and shop. The slope is long. But we can easily forget about it while shopping. We can also eat on the way. We can find a fortune teller. We can also find some white snakes at the shop. White snake is the symbol of fortune. You will surely find something interesting there.


Address
shi 1banchi, MaitaniKiyoshi, Takarazuka, Hyogo
兵庫県宝塚市米谷字清シ1番地

Transportation
By train
About 15min. on food from Kiyoshikojin station [清荒神駅] of Hankyu Takarazuka line [阪急宝塚線]
or
About 15min. on foot from Kijoshikojin station of JR Takarazuka line [JR宝塚線]

By car
Car parking is free. 380 cars are available.
Car navigation number: 0797-86-6641

Mt.Myoken New Year's sunrise hike

On January 1st.

Meeting point: Myokenguchi station 

of Myoken line of Nose Electric Railway

[Japanese: 能勢電鉄妙見線妙見口駅}

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We started to climb Mt.Myoken [Japanese: 妙見山] in the early morning.

It was still dark outside.

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We arrived the top of Mt.Myoken.

We waited for the first sunrise.

First sunrise of Mt.Myoken

[Japanese: Myokenzan; 妙見山]. 

We could see the sunrise slightly through the clouds. 

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near the top of Mt.Myoken

Nose-Myokendo [Japanese: 能勢妙見堂]

Official name: Murosan-shinnyoji-keigaibutsudō-nosemyokenzan,

[Japanese: 無漏山真如寺境外仏堂能勢妙見山]

We found "Furumai zake"(=Free sake) while we were going down.

There was zenzai too. 

Around there, there was a fire (=Takibi; 焚き火).

While eating and drinking, we could warm up with a fire.

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We went down the mountain.

We went to the station to go back.

Episode of Mt.Myoken hike

Tomo&Chouchou went hiking to Mt. Myoken 妙見山(or Myoken-san or Myoken-zan) for sunrise of New Year's Day !
Mt.Myoken is located from Kawanishi-city in Hyogo prefecture [Japanese: 兵庫県川西市] to Toyono-cho, Toyono-gun in Osaka [Japanese: 大阪府豊能郡豊能町] and Nose-cho in Osaka prefecture [Japanese: 大阪府能勢町].
Mt. Myoken hike for sunrise of New Year's Day is organized by the Nose Electric Railway Co. Ltd. [能勢電鉄].
Meeting point was at Myoken-guchi station [Japanese: 妙見口駅] of Myoken line of Nose Electric Railway [Japanese: 能勢電鉄妙見線] in the early morning on Jan. 1st..
Everybody climbed Mt. Myoken with each pace. Our walking course was along the stream. The hiking course was close to the water, so it was very cold. The slope to go up the mountain was very steep. Even it was very cold, we sweated a lot.
Hiking road was very dark. Head light helped us a lot to find the hiking road.

We could arrive on the top of the mountain before the sun rises. However,  unfortunately, we couldn't see the sunrise because of the clouds. Anyway we could see the sunrise slightly and we could feel refreshed !
Near the top of Mt. Myoken, there is a temple of Nichiren Shū 日蓮宗/Nichiren School which is called "Nose-Myokendo; 能勢妙見堂", official name "Murosan-shinnyoji-keigaibutsudō-nosemyokenzan; （無漏山真如寺境外仏堂能勢妙見山)".
Right after watching sunrise of New Year's Day, we went to Hatsumōde.
 (Hatsumōde is the first temple visit of the New Year's day.)
After praying at the temple, Tomo&Chouchou decided to take another walking course. While we were going down, we found "Furumai zake"(=Free sake)!
We were very happy to be served for free ! There were not only Amazake (sweet sake), but also Zenzai!
 (Zenzai is a sweet porridge of azuki beans boiled and crushed, served in a bowl with mochi (=Japanese rice cake).) Around there, there was a fire. While eating and drinking, we could warm up with a fire.
After our heart and body were warmed up, Tomo&Chouchou kept going down. We had to take a cable car to go down for that walking course. There were lots of people waiting for the cable car. We didn't want to wait for a long time so we decided to go down with other walking courses. Going down the mountain in the morning was not difficult. It was much easier than going up the mountain at night.

It was the first time for Tomo&Chouchou to climb the mountain on the New Year's day. Normally we stay home and visit a shrine near the house. But it was a very "New" year for us. It was refreshing . We could really feel the beginning of the year and new start. Unfortunatelly we could see the beautiful perfect sunrise but it was a good experience!

Tomo&Chouchou's advices for Mt.Myoken hike

1) Walking course is along the stream. The hiking course is close to the water, so please go with warm clothes ! But please wear something easy to dry for inner clothes. Because to go up the mountain, the slope is very steep, so that you easily sweat.
2) Please don't forget to bring a head light because it is a hike in the dark.
3) Even if you cannot see the sunrise, you can see the primeval forest of Japanese beech which is nominated as Osaka natural environmental preservation zone. It's worth to hike.
4) Right after watching sunrise of New Year's Day, you can go directly to Hatsumōde, so it's convenient.
 (Hatsumōde is the first temple visit of the New Year's day.)
5) If you don't want to wait to take a cable car and you still have energy, you can go down with other walking courses.
6) If hiking is too tough for you to see the sunrise, you can also go up to the mountain by car or cable car.
To go by cable car, 
Take a Hankyu bus [阪急バス] until the bus stop "cable mae teiryujyo [ケーブル前停留所]" -->Take Myoken Cable till "Kurokawa" station [妙見ケーブル黒川駅] -->Transfer to Myoken lift [妙見リフト] -->Walk around 300m -->you will arrive in front of Torii [鳥居前]. (torii is a gateway at the entrace to a Shinto shrine.)