23/08/2024 / Last updated : 23/08/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Tsubosakadera, Great Buddha in cherry blosssoms　壺阪寺

April 8th. 2024 A quiet night, michi no eki Yoshinoji Kurotaki is a good place to stay. There is an adequate if strange onsen nearby and the facilities are splendid for such a small rural michi no eki. Though I don’t recall any fresh flowers. Tsubosakadera Our first stop of the day is Tsubozakadera. We had planned to visit this temple on the off chance this past weekend but the sight of the jammed traffic trying to enter the approach road gave us an instant change of heart. The following day traffic was also insane so we thought there must be something worth seeing. Today, Monday, access is easy thought […]

14/08/2024 / Last updated : 14/08/2024 d.d Hiking / Walking

Akame 48 Waterfalls　赤目48滝

April 6th. 2024 Yoshinoyama mistake Michi no eki Kudoyama gave us an unexpectedly restful night being much less busy than anticipated. We rise earlier than usual and are soon on the way to Yoshinoyama to visit the temple and view its abundance of cherry blossom. We leave early as we expect it to be very busy, Sakura season, Saturday, and the last weekend of spring break. As we get closer still well before 9am. We hit significant traffic. This gets worse and worse, but we persevere as we were expecting the place to be busy. In the end, sitting in almost motionless traffic, on a steep incline watching the hoards […]

11/08/2024 / Last updated : 11/08/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Kamiyama, weeping cherry town　神山町

April 4th. 2024 Kamiyama Onsen michi no eki is very quiet during the night but comes alive early in the morning. Perhaps it is a meeting point for construction crews. We set off for Shosan-ji temple, number 12 on the Henro trail and the second highest (938m). On the way, we stop to take pictures of Shidare Sakura (weeping cherry) this is Kamiyama after all. Shosan-ji temple　焼山寺 The temple is reached by a tortuous, narrow lane necessitating the odd reverse to accommodate oncoming traffic. At the top, is a large car park from which you follow a track with a steep cliff face on one side and views over the […]

29/07/2024 / Last updated : 29/07/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Henro Trail Ryozenji temple　霊山寺

April 3rd. 2024 The rain in the night at michi no eki Itano was of little consequence, stopping and starting in an opportune manner but the day ahead is a wet prospect. We set off to a coin laundry so as not to waste a fine day. Ryozenji temple After the laundry, we go to see temple number 1 of the Henro trail, Ryozenji. This temple is of some interest. It has a solid wooden gate not large but elegant and immediately inside a pond across which is a view of a hall topped with gold ornamentation. The pagoda is of particular interest having a rounded mid-section. I am sure […]

29/07/2024 / Last updated : 29/07/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Negoroji (Henro 82) and Ritsurin Koen　根香寺、栗林公園

April 2nd. 2024 A second night at Takarada no Sato is uneventful but we linger and explore the shop when it opens. It has an impressive selection of local veg. The asparagus and shiitake being particularly tempting but useless to us. The bonsai were interesting, and we did buy bread from the bakery for tonight’s dinner. It has the seal of approval. Negoroji temple From the michi no eki we went to Negoroji Temple, Henro number 82. This was a well-maintained place with interesting and unusual features. Notably, a kind of rectangular corridor housing thousands of small figures dimly lit by ornate lanterns. I have never seen anything similar. There […]

22/07/2024 / Last updated : 22/07/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Iya-kei, the remote gorge beyond Kazura bashi, to Unpeiji temple　祖谷渓から雲辺寺

March 31st. 2024 Early on Sunday morning michi no eki Konoka becomes decidedly less quiet. Numerous people arrive to use the facilities, hikers, bikers, and families. The Radio Taiso (calisthenics) was also something of a shock. A good place that has, nevertheless, withstood the test of a second visit. Nikobuchi　にこ淵 As usual, we are the last of the overnighters to leave as we set off for Nikobuchi. This is a waterfall and blue pool. It has become more well known of late, but the parking is still haphazard at the top of the usual narrow, winding road. There is now a set of prefabricated steps to take you down to […]

17/07/2024 / Last updated : 14/08/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Matsuyama Castle, an original castle tower. 松山城

March 30th. 2024 Michi no eki Nakayama is very busy from early morning. I can only ascribe this to the excellent facilities. The day is warm and hazy as we set off for Matsuyama Castle by way of Unozaki Toge (Pass) and Tobe town(PR53). The pass provides an interesting, narrow, winding drive with typical Shikoku steep mountainsides and narrow valleys. We were hoping for spectacular views from the top of the pass but were hemmed in by trees. Nevertheless, a good route to choose. Dropping down into Tobe town we were expecting a village, but it is quite a substantial place warranting a dual carriageway. The central meridian decorated with […]

16/07/2024 / Last updated : 16/07/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Fukoji temple Magaibutsu (Buddha)　普光寺磨崖仏

March 28, 2024 The morning in Michi no eki Harajiri no taki is grey and overcast. Only the swallows are energetic, swooping and weaving in and out of the overhanging roofs and skimming the car park, oblivious to the various devices set to deter them. We take another gentle tiptoe though the tulips and down to the Harajiri waterfall. Here are Oriental Greenfinches, wagtails, and dippers. Fukoji Temple The intermittent drizzle becomes more insistent, and we leave for Fukoji temple to view a large Buddha carved into the rock face. This takes us on an interesting drive mostly along narrow, winding roads strewn with dead sugi foliage. Arriving at Fukoji […]