Climbing Mountains ...

"Shichi-Go-San (七五三, seven-five-three) is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend."

To celebrate Shichi-Go-San, many of the schools spend a day climbing a mountain to visit a shrine at the top where the priest prays for and blesses the children. This year I was lucky enough to get to witness this definitely cultural 'field trip' if you will.

Everything I was told about this field trip prior to going just spelled disaster. Let's start with the fact that we are taking 3, 4 and 5 year olds. 3 year olds on a mountain hiking field trip? Get real. This can't possible be good.

The fact that we were taking about a hundred children with maybe 5 adults sounded insane. I took every last possible staff member with me when I took 14 kids bowling ... and I was still nervous about the like 1:4 ratio. This really isn't going to be good.

Not only are we climbing to the top of the mountain, we must first walk to the mountain. This requires walking along the side of a river (minus a guardrail), traveling down a busy street (with barely a sidewalk) and crossing a major intersection. With a 20:1 ratio & a hundred 3, 4, & 5 year olds. I almost had a panic attack walking with my 5 year olds to the park & crossing Kimball Ave. This really, seriously isn't going to be good.

Then, assuming we survive the trek there, we have to ascend the mountain. That's right ... 3, 4 & 5 year olds (almost 100 of them) are going to climb to the top of the mountain. Good one. Real good one. This is going to just be plain terrible.

THEN ... once we get to the top we are going to eat lunch (oh yea, I forgot to mention that all the while the children will be carrying back packs with their lunches in them & thermoses of tea) and then cram over 100 of us into a small shrine where we will listen to blessings, pray, and sit still for about 40 minutes. Have you ever taken a three year old to church? Essentially this is going to be about the same. Only times 100. Is anyone else thinking this sounds like a sheer disaster?

Finally we are going to make our way back down the mountain, across the street, along the river, following the path all the way back to school and make it back in time for naps. Oh yea, did I mention this was all going to be accomplished in about 3 hours? Impossible.

I shouldn't have been such a pessimist because ...

The walk there was just fine:

The kids were amazing:

And serious about getting up this mountain:
We hiked up to the top in a little under an hour and with limited tumbles. I think two 3 year olds fell down and skinned their knees, but quickly got back up and forged on. I don't even think there were tears. Unheard of. :)
Once we got to the top, everything was beautiful. I absolutely love Japan in the fall and the pictures just don't do the country justice. I wish I had a better camera. :\

We ate lunch:

Momoka & her cute cat riceball lunch:

Siho & her cute lunch ... that her FATHER made:

I'm serious when I say that this is the lunch standard. Parents spend a lot of time making 'cute' lunches for their children ... even up through elementary and junior high school. The face on the 'Anpanman' rice ball is all cut out of seaweed. A little on the crazy side if you ask me. :)

Next up, getting our 'healthy blessing' at the shrine.

The main torii gate entering the shrine:

The shrine & all it's parts:

Of course we had to take our shoes off before entering ... there are about 1/4 of them:
After being blessed we had some time to run, jump, climb, dig, discover ... whatever else it is that you do at the top of a mountain.

Like finding mimizu (worms):

Jump on rocks:

or hold hands with your friends. Aww...

Our time on top of the mountain was over and it was time to head back down. But first, this 3 year old had to check the map and let us know which way we needed to go ...

It took us about half the time to get down the mountain, but the long haul back to school was a little slow. Everyone was tired, but no one was complaining. It was almost unreal. I think the final injury count was 4 falls, 2 trips, 3 skinned knees, 1 banged up elbow, 3 whiners, 2 tears & 1 kid fell asleep on the mountain. Not bad, eh?

On the success scale of 1-10, this trip definitely gets a 12. Who would have ever thought it was possible? I sure as hell did not.

much love

-tara-

xx