03/08/2019 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Daisen-ji temple　大山寺

October 2017, Daisen-ji Temple As we drove out of Shinwa no sato Shiro Usagi michi no eki this morning, I noted that the sea was on the other side of the road but it was not the most picturesque spot. The michi no eki was busy early, but quiet enough during the night. Daisen, or more specifically Daisen-ji Temple, is our first objective and we steadily drive towards and up the mountain. We are surprised, on arrival, that such a famous spot is so run down. The temple is rather sad and stands in not perfectly raked gravel but in what looks like the car park of a roadside ramen […]

19/05/2019 / Last updated : 12/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Izumo-taisha, stone rabbits　出雲大社

Day 93, December 2016, A night marked by heavy rain and thunder but the morning brings pale sunshine, even if the thunder is still rumbling around and the western sky fantastically dark. I make a trip to the toilet, thinking I have time before any serious rain arrives. As I emerge, the hail is sheeting down. This doesn’t last long and, after a short chat to the lady cleaner, I make it back to the car. We drive across the road to a Lawson car park for breakfast as, uniquely, this michi no eki has no vending machine for coffee. Izumo-taisha　　出雲大社 Our next stop is Izumo-taisha. Its big hall, immediately, […]

24/04/2019 / Last updated : 11/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Mt.Yoshino – Kinpusenji and a walk up to Mikunari Shrine 　吉野山

Day 82, November 2016, Yoshinoyama Kinpusenji Temple　　吉野山金峯山寺 Another chilly, damp morning and the rain, despite a contrary forecast, starts before we set off for Mt.Yoshino. We decide to walk in rain suits, if necessary, but when we arrive, the rain has stopped though it is still decidedly chilly. We park in a huge, empty car park and set off uphill for Kinpusenji Zaodo. Kinpusenji Zaoudo is the second largest wooden building after Todaiji temple. It is just as impressive as I remember it from our first motorcycle journey, in cherry blossom season, well over 30 years ago. D. is struck by the huge, wooden pillars that are labeled as wood […]

29/03/2019 / Last updated : 11/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Tamaki Shrine and Tanize Suspension Bridge　玉置神社

Day 80, November 2016, Another damp, chilly morning, the hills are draped in mist but the higher peaks are in sunshine. Unfortunately, we are deep in shade in a river valley. The river itself is mostly lost in the sea of gravel that forms its bed. We depart, heading for some elusive shrine up the hillside. Tamaki Jinja (Shrine) When we arrive at the spot where the footpath to the shrine begins, the road is very narrow and there is absolutely nowhere to park so, we give up. As we descend, we pass a local bus going up and realize that the only way to access the shrine is by […]

29/03/2019 / Last updated : 11/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano Kodo Nakahechi – Kumano Hongu Taisha　熊野古道中辺路

Day 79, November 2016, A quiet night but a chilly morning. The sun is up but, shining on the front of the building we are behind. We set off in search of a coin laundry and find one conveniently located next to a supermarket, where we buy food. Heading deep into the mountains finding supplies is always a problem. The choice is limited but, I am not feeling my best, so my interest in food is scarce. Kumano Kodo Nakahechi After picking up the washing we head to Kumano Kodo michi no eki Nakahechi where we have lunch. This is a small road station but it has a restaurant and […]

17/03/2019 / Last updated : 11/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano Kodo Trail-Nakahechi, Daimonzaka 　熊野古道中辺路大門坂

Day 77, November 2016, After another warm night and a cloudy morning, with only a hint of sunshine, we make directly to another kodo (Nakahechi), Daimonzaka. This trail heads up to Kumano Nachi Taisha and Seigantoji temple. The latter being the Buddhist temple attached to the Shinto shrine. Temples and shrines used to be more aligned, especially the Shugendo sect of mountain ascetics which bridged the two beliefs. This alignment was suppressed after the Meiji Restoration though some twin arrangements survive. Daimonzaka (Kumano Kodo Nakahechi) After a short walk along the road from the car park, we find the entrance to the kodo. This is marked by a couple of […]

17/03/2019 / Last updated : 11/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Ise JIngu -Ise Grand Shrine　伊勢神宮

Day 75, November 2016, A very warm night, we had no need of sleeping bags or extra blankets. We arrive at Ise Jingu around 9:30 or 10. There is a free car park, with space available, though there are a lot of people around for a Monday morning. We realize later that our navi, as usual, has delivered us to the back gate. Ise Jingu Geku　伊勢神宮外宮 The shrine itself is so plain as to be an exercise in boredom. The style is simple. Some large trees, some very large trees, a lot of open space, plain, newish, wooden buildings with neat, newly thatched roofs and loads of gravel. At the […]

01/03/2019 / Last updated : 07/09/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Izushi – stork revival 出石

Summer 2018, Tajimarakuza, michi no eki, does not improve with familiarity. In mitigation, I should mention that the old building is undergoing refurbishment. So, it may be better in a few months, say Spring 2019. Izushi – stork revival From Tajimarakuza, we take a look around the nearby town of Izushi, famous for porcelain, sara-soba, an old clock tower ‘Shinkoro’ and storks. Here, some traditional buildings remain plus the foundations of the castle. These castle foundations are jumbled with an Inari (fox) shrine. Interesting enough. Izushi is only a half hour drive from the famous Kinosaki hot spring, and 2 hours from Himeji and its famous castle. As we […]