Hakozaki Shrine flea market, temple visit & the best ramen

The Hakozaki Shrine flea market - a very special experience

Today I started my day with a visit to the Hakozaki Shrine Flea Market. It was fascinating to see how the traditional atmosphere mixed with modern curiosity. I strolled between stalls with two friends, admiring the handmade goods and enjoying the lively, almost magical atmosphere. The people were nice and I even had a little conversation with a Japanese man at the stall. I didn't understand much, but it was still nice. The highlights of the flea market were on the one hand the nice little things that were for sale, but above all the fact that some katanas (Japanese swords) were on sale. And of course, there was a little treat at the end of the flea market for 80 cents a piece. A small rice ball filled with red beans, which are very sweet and made the whole thing a delicious snack. But see for yourself:

A spiritual moment at the temple

After the flea market, we made our way to the nearby temple.The visit was more than just a place of interest - it was an oasis of calm in the middle of the bustling city.

The harmonious architecture, the soft light and the quiet rituals gave me a feeling of inner peace.We took our time to soak up the scenery and take lots of inspiring pictures and let the sun warm us up a little on the cold day.

There were also two rituals you could do there.You could wash your money clean at a small water dispenser/water fountain built for this purpose.I washed my lucky coin there.

But what should be done often or at every temple is at the entrance to the temple: you queue up, as most visitors do, and throw a 5-yen coin, a golden coin with a hole in the middle, into a wooden box at the front.Then you bow twice and clap your hands twice.

After the second clap, you keep your hands closed, close your eyes and can make as many wishes as you like. Then you open your eyes and bow in gratitude to the shrine or temple.

There was something magical about it, something peaceful that I can't describe. The weather suddenly seemed so calm, so peaceful and the sun was shining a little stronger. It was simply a beautiful moment. Here are a few pictures of the shrine. Including a picture of small plaques with the visitors' wishes written on them, which they hung up there.

Culinary highlight: the best ramen in Japan so far

The crowning glory of the trip was lunch in a small ramen shop. For just €2.70, they served us the best ramen I've ever had in Japan. The shop was quite inconspicuous and the ramen would only have cost €1.90 if we hadn't ordered eggs. And the portion wasn't small, it was a proper lunch that would fill you up.

The soup was aromatic, the noodles perfectly cooked - a flavour experience that immediately won me over. It wasn't just the price that impressed me, but also the fresh preparation, which showed me that even simple dishes are prepared here with a lot of heart, or at least a lot of skill.

On the way to the restaurant, however, we walked through a neighbourhood that was very nice and I wouldn't want to reserve it here:

Conclusion - An unforgettable day in Japan

The day showed me once again how diverse and surprising Japan can be.

From the colourful flea market to the peaceful temple visit to the enjoyable ramen lunch - every moment was a small step towards a deeper understanding of this fascinating culture.

Although it was challenging at times, I learnt an incredible amount and will certainly revisit the impressions in my future reports.

And if you want to learn more about my experiences, check out my article about my first restaurant experience in Japan.