I visit Arai-Yakushi every year, just as I do Ōkunitama Shrine. I usually go by car, but this year I decided to take the train. Arai-Yakushi is said to offer blessings for eye health, and ever since I suffered a retinal detachment in my thirties, I’ve made a point of praying there annually. The shopping street that developed as the temple’s gate town feels neither truly retro nor charming—more like secondhand goods that never quite became antiques. The temple grounds were fairly busy in January. After praying, I bought an eye-health amulet and a talisman, then stopped by a ramen shop near the station, where I was surprised by the large portion. The real reason for taking the train, though, was practical: I needed fish food. With local aquarium shops gone, I visited a well-stocked aquarium store near Shinjuku-sanchōme station—an irresistible place for aquarium lovers, and one I hope to return to when I can expand my tank again.