A Kindness from a Stranger in Tokyo

Travel has quite the talent for turning ordinary moments into memories—whether we are alone or in the company of others. In my trip to Japan I created a lot of memories with my best friend and, during that time, I've learned that the moments we remember the most are not the ones we've planned for, but the ones that caught us off guard. A kind gesture, a brief connection... Those are the memories that leave a quiet mark and stay with us forever. 

Today, I would like to share with you one of these memories, as it always makes me smile and which I hold close to my heart.

When Silvia and I first landed in Tokyo, we stayed in Monzen-Nakacho, Koto City—a neighbourhood we immediately fell in love with (but this is a story for another time!). 

One day, we were out exploring and we wandered into the neighbouring area of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. It's a lovely area rooted deeply in the Edo period (1603-1868), which you can feel in the architecture of the buildings and the old-fashioned streets and alleys.

We turned into a street that—at least according to Google Maps—had quite the cluster of small shrines, temples, and graveyards and we stopped at the first one we encountered. 

There was an elderly man standing nearby, and when he noticed us waiting respectfully with our phones in hand, he nodded at us and stepped aside so we could take our pictures. 

You'd think that would be the end of the story, right? It wasn't. 

Chosei-in Shusse-Fudoson Temple - Picture by @silviartsy

He actually walked back to us and started chatting. I won't deny that we were a little taken aback at first—as Westerners, a stranger approaching you when there's a language barrier doesn't always give off the best vibes. 

He simply wanted to tell us about the temple we were photographing. With a mix of Japanese, hand gestures, and very very broken English, he explained that people prayed there in hoping their business would prosper. 

He kept pointing at it and saying, "Huge business! Huge!", while spreading his arms wide, and gently urging us toward the temple so we could pray. 

He went on with his gestures and limited English, and the core of his message was something like: "Pray so you can make money. Don't do like me. I've worked all my life and now I'm just a poor old man with aches and pains". 

He then went away laughing, still mimicking his aches and satisfied that we were praying at the temple. 

It was our very first real encounter with a local in Japan, and it became one of our most cherished memories—probably one we'll carry with us forever. 

The temple is called Chosei-in Shusse-Fudoson. It's dedicated to Fudo Myoo, the deity of success and good fortune, which explains why it's a go-to spot for business professionals and students preparing for exams.

Have you ever had a tiny, unexpected memory from a trip that still warms your heart? I'd love to read about it.

次回まで。♥