Translated from Edo Tokyo Kaii Hyakumonogatari
Even though it is called spring, the weather is bitter cold and the rain is falling. The coming and going traffic dies down in the face of a wind that pierces the body, and the bell of the temple of Houan-ji can only be distantly heard.
On tall wooden geta a warrior stumbles drunkenly helped along with his tottering steps by a companion. While suppressing a shudder, the companion says:
“My lord, this is a desolate area…”
The lord laughs and replies:
“There are foxes and tanuki and other mysterious beings here.”
Looking ahead of them, they saw the light of a lit lantern which they attempted to follow. However, when they got closer to the light, it suddenly blinked out leaving them in pitch blackness.
This was the Sending-off Lantern.
Translator’s Note:
This print, by Utagawa Kuniteru, is called Okuri Chochin (送り提灯), and depicts one of the Honjo Nana Fushigi (本所七不思議) meaning one of the Seven Wonders of Honjo.
百物語怪談会 Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai 
Jan 02, 2012 @ 20:21:31
Sending them off to death?
Jan 05, 2012 @ 10:26:56
Hmmmm … maybe! Like most of these Seven Wonders of Honjo, there isn’t much more to the story. They are just a collection of strange phenomenon, like some sounds heard at night or spooky lights.
Jan 05, 2012 @ 16:00:46
Makes them even more evocative and fascinating.