Kinojo, the demon castle?　　鬼ノ城

April 14^th. 2024

Michi no eki Muraoka Farm Garden

Michi no eki Muraoka Farm Garden is a good place to stay and may be good place for the people want eat high quality beef ‘Tajima Beef’.
It does, on first impression, look tacky, just an ill lit, run down yard but the facilities are in fact excellent, and it is generous in rubbish bin provision.

It is dark. The weather may provide you with a splendid star bonus, but you have to watch your step. I also recommended you not park next to or behind the adjacent ramen shop as the kitchen duct blows into the car park.

Daisen-ji to Akechi Pass　大山寺

We set off along route 9 as we plan to visit Daisen-ji Temple. This drive is dull as R. 9 in this area is a one lane quasi highway.

Daisen-ji temple is also a disappointment as it is run down and ill cared for. There is an adjoining shrine which offers a short walk on a rough stone road through mainly sugi forest. The plus is some views of still snow steaked Daisen but that is about all. One of the routes to climb Mt. Daisen starts from the temple.

Leaving Daisen, we head off towards Okayama, cutting southwest across Honshu, coast to coast, on Route 180. This rewards us with truly wonderful views descending from Daisen and again from Akechi Toge (pass)

The top of this pass is famous in autumn and winter for the spectacular view of a cloud sea across the valley to far Daisen. Today we are happy with the muted colours of the Yamazakura and the fresh foliage covering the valley sides. Across this vast landscape,  Sugi is in the minority and deciduous trees predominate. A very enjoyable route to take despite the Sunday traffic.

Kinojo

Our purpose in taking this road across Honshu is to visit Kinojo. Kinojo is a castle ruin on a hilltop, the origin of which is lost to time and myth but probably built in 7th century. The name is Demon Castle. Legend tells of a prince Ura who came from Kudara, (an ancient kingdom in south west Korea) built the castle then robbed the local population. The wall around the hill top, totals 2.8 km and encloses an area is about 30 hectares.

The approach is up a very narrow road where passing oncoming traffic is problematic. But at the end there is a spacious carpark and a surprising number of people.

The ruins themselves are of little interest to the casual visitor. The most obvious bits are reconstructions in what appears to be an ongoing project. Nevertheless, the views are stunning. On one side, the plains below, a maze of housing, industry, highways, and railways and on to the coast and islands of the Setonaikai. On the other side a sea of trees undulating away into the distance. There are walking trails of varying lengths from this spot.

For the night, we make for michi no eki Kayo. A small place that boasts a hidden Lawsons. The facilities are limited and the single washlet out of order, but flat and quiet.