13/10/2019 / Last updated : 13/05/2026 d.d Temple / Shrine

Koya Ryujin Skyline; Gomadansan, Koyasan Okuno-in　高野龍神スカイライン

November 2018, Koya Ryujin Skyline Obviously, Ryujin michi no eki is silent as the grave with only a little more light. The 24 hour toilet is terrible. The door to the handicapped facility is broken and does not close. I cannot recommend the place for shachuhaku. Of course, it is possible to stay, just lower your expectations Koyasan is our destination for the day and we drive the Koya Ryujin skyline (R.371). This is a good road, of sweeping views, from Ryujin to Koyasan Okunoin. Gomadansan (Mt.Gomadan) 護摩壇山 Along the skyline, at Gomadansan, the second highest mountain in Wakayama, we stop to take a short walk through the beech woods […]

11/09/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 d.d Temple / Shrine

Konpira Shrine and Zentsuji　金比羅宮、善通寺

November 2018, Konpira Shrine (Kotohira-gu)　金刀比羅宮 We park in a Times parking lot. It has a maximum charge of 500 yen plus easy access to Konpira Shrine precincts by cutting through the sake brewery ‘Kinryu Museum’ area. The official name of this shrine is Kotohira-gu but it is generally known as Konpira. The street leading up to the shrine steps is lined with udon restaurants and tourist shops. Some of these are selling seriously expensive, tourist tat. Wood carvings are favourite, from frogs to Bodhisattva and all stations in between. There is, we note a sedan chair station and, on the way down we see a couple being carried up. I […]

07/09/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Oboke, Iya and Mima in Tokushima　大歩危、祖谷、美馬

November 2018, Oboke Valley 　大歩危 Our plan for the morning is to climb Mt. Tsurugi but, the forecast is cloud and we can see the mist hanging over the peaks in the distance. So, we postpone the climb for a day. As an alternative, we decide to drive the Oboke valley. This is a disappointment, as the valley is difficult to appreciate from the road and the only access points appear to be boat tour stations. Boat tours are popular, perhaps, the only way to view this valley. Iya no Kazurabashi We continue on to visit the famous vine bridge at Iya no Kazurabashi. On arrival, we decide we don’t […]

31/08/2019 / Last updated : 11/05/2026 d.d Hiking / Walking

Omogo Gorge and Iwaya-ji 面河渓、岩屋寺

October 2018, & November 2025 Imabari Yunoura Onsen michi no eki Imabari Yunoura onsen michi no eki is noisy, being on the main road, but I sleep well regardless. In the morning, I discover it doesn’t have an onsen, but it does have a Fog Machine. This is a dome of large, rough stones that intermittently puffs out steam. To invoke the spirit of an onsen, perhaps? Omogo Gorge 面河渓 Today our plan is to visit Iwaya-ji, a Henro Trail temple (no.45), but first we drive to Omogo-kei or Omogo Gorge. The gorge is very fine and it is an access point for climbing mountains. Consequently, it provides a walk […]

19/08/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 d.d Temple / Shrine

Komo-jinja, Ao no doumon and fantastic Rakanji　青の洞門、羅漢寺

December 2017, Komo-jinja and Ao no doumon　薦神社、青の洞門 Our first stop of the day is Komo-jinjya not far from the michi-no-eki Nakatsu. The shrine is not very interesting but we enjoy a walk by the large pond in pleasant morning sunshine though it is still cold in the shade. The pond is the object of worship of the shrine. After walking by the pond, we drive to Ao no doumon to walk through the tunnel. Zenkai, an early 18th. century monk hand dug this tunnel to ease movement for local people. Little of this original remains, as a much larger excavation carried out in the Meiji period destroyed most of Zenkai’s […]

03/08/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 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 […]

29/07/2019 / Last updated : 17/05/2026 d.d Temple / Shrine

Eiheiji Temple in Fukui 　永平寺

October 2017, Post typhoon, the morning is bright with watery sunshine and a lot of fast moving, ragged cloud. We set off for Eiheiji Temple arriving about 10.30. On the road there is a lot of debris from the Sugi and other trees. People are out clearing up everywhere. We note more serious typhoon damage here and there, mainly vinyl houses and advertising signs but, occasionally, bigger problems where roof tiles have been lost. Eiheiji Temple The temple is large, with numerous buildings connected by covered passages and stairs but, as it nestles in a narrow mountain valley, it is necessarily compact. There is a spacious, tatami floored hall with […]

27/05/2019 / Last updated : 13/05/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Sanjusangendo and La Collina at Omihachiman　三十三間堂、近江八幡

October 2017, Sanjusangen-do　　三十三間堂 After an uneventful and unexpectedly quiet night, being right on Route 9., we left Gareria Kameoka around 9am. for the drive into Kyoto.We follow R9 into the city and find the free car park in front of Sanjusangen-do. This parking is for the temple and free for 40 minutes but although we stayed for an hour and a half the attendants did not seem bothered at all. The temple is one of the very famous Kyoto temples and is well worth a visit. A very long main hall houses the thousand Buddhist images flanking the main large seated Kannon. Of these 1000 images 124 were made in […]