An almost vegetarian lunch at Haduki on Mt Shosha

Buddhists believe in doing no harm to any living creature  that's why most of them do not eat any  meat, poultry or fish.   In Japan,   Buddhist monks prepare vegetarian cuisine or shojin ryori --
it's served in temple restaurants or in temple lodgings.

Engyo-ji has both temple lodging or shukubo and a restaurant.  The Engyo-ji Kai-kan, just past 

the Nio-mon is a shukubo where  guests and visitors to the temple can also enjoy a shojin ryori meal.  

For day visitors, reservations for lunch are sometimes necessary, particularly during the temple's 

busy season.  

However, there was no one in the reception area of Kai-kan when we walked in so regretfully we were not able to try the shojin ryori lunch. 

 Meiko san promised a more casual and just as delicious meal just a little further on.  Across the Maniden is this cafe cum souvenir shop called Haduki.  According to Meiko san, the cafe served simple vegetarian meals but its specialty was oden.  That perked me right up!

Haduki looks like a Japanese home converted into a restaurant.  There were just seven items on the menu -- mostly hot udon or soba with either mushrooms, vegetables or yuba (tofu skin). 
Except for the oden, which came with chikuwa or  fish sausage and one of the noodles that used a
fish broth,  all the other dishes were vegetarian. 

Souvenir items such as amulets, charms and specialty foods are sold at Haduki.  If you want something else to drink aside from the free green tea,  there is a cooler stocked with bottled water, 

juices and surprise, surprise --  cold beer.  Does this mean that Buddhists are not alcohol averse?  

Jay opted to go full vegetarian with his bowl of udon noodles with seaweed and yuba. 
The heart cut-out was a kawaii touch.

Meiko san and I split an order of plain onigiri (rice balls).  One was sprinkled with sesame seeds
and the other was topped with dried shredded akajiso or Japanese red shiso leaves. 

Naturally we had to have the oden and yes,  Meiko san was right -- it was superb. 
Every ingredient in that oden was made right in Haduki's kitchen.  The chikuwa  and
the egg were the only non-vegetable elements on this plate. 
Beer is made with barley, hops and yeast so it definitely counts as vegetarian fare!

P.S.

Right outside Haduki is a small pond stocked with vari-colored koi.  For 50 yen, you can buy a 

small tray of fish food and treat them to lunch.  

Gomen nasai, I whispered.  I'm sorry for eating the chikuwa in my oden.