Konpira shrine trip in Kagawa pref.

Konpira shrine trip in Kagawa pref.
This time I would like to inform Konpira shrine trip.

Start is from Okayama station.
Okayama -> Sakaide -> Kotohira

From Sakaide 25minutes riding, you arrive at Kotohira station.
JR Kotohira station house is a national important cultural properties.

20minures walking to approach road, stone steps starts to Hongu.
First area of stone steps has many shops on both sides.
Firtst Torii is seen and approach full-fledged starts, stone steps are followed by 30 minutes.

Saterday and Sunday, lots of worshipers are walking.
Please care not interfere with other worshipers.

60% worshipers have stick for climbing for easy climbing.
Bur I can climb without stick.
After climbing 785 stone steps, you arrive at Hongu.

Konpira shrine at Kotohira is a headquarter of Konpira shrine.
This shrine is a god for marine traffic, Ema hall has lots of Emas plates for Wish of marine traffic safety.


I worship Hongu, and buy amulet, then go to observatory.
We can see the Kotohira Plane, and Setonaikai see.

This time I have a good condition, I try to go to Okugu.
1386 stone steps are existing from entrance to Okugu.
Starting area is a flat road, after Shiramine Shrine, we have to climb lots of stone steps.
I am tired for climbing.

Sugawara shrine is existing after Shiramine Shrine.
Sugawara shrine is a god of learning.
I worship this shrine.

After 20minutes climbing, you arrive at Okugu.

There are not so many worshipers at Okugu, you can worship in relax.
I buy amulet. This amulet is different from Hongu amulet.
You can see a splendid view at Okugu.

Please take a rest and then walk down this shrine.

For worshiping this shrine, we need 2 hours to Hongu, 3 hours to Okugu.
Office of Hongu and Okugu is closed at 17:00.
I recommend you arriving at Hongu or Okugu, before 17:00.

That's it.

Shinshu Suwako Trip

I would like to inform Suwako trip.

I get off JR KamiSuwa station.
Go to Takashima castle.
15 minutes walking, you arrive at this castle.

Takashima castle was built 400 years ago.
It was surrounded by Suwa water.
Current Tenshukaku was built 43years ago.
In the castle, Japanease garden is exisiting.

Next is Katakura spring.
Katakura spring has a big luxury marble bathroom.

The bottom of the bath has the gravels. Gravel has also acupressure effect of the sole.
This spring has a deep bath room.
We have to stand up in this bath.

At 2nd floor, big rest room is existing.
Going to veranda, we can see beautiful overview of Lake Suwa.

Supper is cold soba noodles with Tempra at Yasu soba shop.
It is delicious.

Lake Suwa has a Fireworks for a long time from August to middle of September.
Big Fireworks is held on August 15 and early of September.
Except these Fireworks, short time fireworks are held from August 1 to early September.
Abou 15 minutes fireworks is beautiful but enough.

　Shimosuwa town hold lunch event till end of this ear.
For instance Happy Shimosuwa Donburi.
Please eat this lunch menus.

Suwa has a good Japanese Sake, Masumi.
Masumi has a taste with the depth.
Masumi is the most popular Sake in Nagano pref.
It is made at Kami Suwako.

I stay at Shimo Suwa spring.
Next morning I go to Spring shrine and Autumn shrine.

First is Spring Shrine.
It is 2km distance from Shimosuwa station.
Black shrine is big and powerful.

Next is Automn Shrine.
Automn shrine is 1km distance from ShimoSuwa station.
It seems to like a Izumo Taisha straw festoon, it is characteristic thick straw festoon.

Suwa shrine is a shrine on behalf of Japan.

Around Lake Suwa,
Autumn leaves of maple is from end of October to Middle of November.

Autumn leaves, spring, shrine, castle satisfy you.

That's it.

Tsuyama in Okayama pref. and 1300 year's celebration of Mimasaka

I would like to inform Tsuyama city in Okayama pref.

Tsuyama city flourished at the Edo period as Tsuyama Han.
Han is same as prefecture at Edo period.
Tsuyama was one of Mimasaka area at 713 year.
This year is a 1300 year's celebration of Mimasaka.

Going to Tsuyama by train, ride a JR train at Okayama station to Tsuyama by Tsuyama line.
Tsuyama is a castle town.

First to go to Tsuyama castle.
15minutes walk, you arrive at Tsuyama castle.

Tsuyama castle:Tenshukaku is Five-storied castle.
This Tenshukaku was broken at Meiji period.

Now we can not see this Tenshukaku.
But gate house Ro is rebuilt.

Please enter this Ro.
From this Ro, we can see the overview of Tsuyama.

Next is townscape preservation district at the south of castle.
This erea flourished at the Edo period.


First is Danjiri house.

Danjiri is a Portable shrine.
This house keep three Danjiris.
We can see this Danjiri at Tsuyama festival Octover 20.

Next is Western studies museum.
This museum was built 3 years ago.
This museum shows displays that scholars from Mimasaka research Western medicine and spread it to Japan.

The scholars read lots of books and use knowledge to western medicine.
This museum shape is pentagon.

Next is Old house at east castle.
This house is president's house of Kajimura.
It has big house, tea house, ware house.
We can hear detail information from description employee.

Tsuyama festival
This festival is held at Ohsumi shrine, Tokumori shrine, Takano shrine.

Ohsumi shrine festival
It is held Octover 19 and 20.
11 Danjiris are moving on Octover 20 from 12:00 to 15:00.
This festival has resplendent atmosphere and has a 400 years history.

Tokumori shrine festival
It is held Octover 26 to 27.
22 Danjiris are moving on Octover 27 from 11:30 to 15:00.
This festival is more brave than Ohsumi festival.
Lots of shops are existing at shrine approach load.

Mimasaka has a women hoot bal team Yunogo Belle near Yunogo spring.
The team has a big ground. Please see this ground and stay Yunogo spring.

Tsuyama has a lots of traveling spots.
Please go to Tsuyama.

Kyoto Jidai Matsuri

I would like to inform Kyoto Jidai matsuri: Era Festival.
It is one of three major festivals in Kyoto.
Octover 22, it will be held.

This festival starts Kyoto Imperial palace, threw Karasuma street, Oike street, Sanjyo street, to Heian Shrine.

Schedule
Kyoto Imperial Palace(12:00) → Karasuma Marutamachi(12:30) → Karasuma Oike (12:50)
→ kawaramachi Oike (13:20) → Kawaramachi Sanjo (13:30) → Sanjo Jingumichi (14:10)
→ Heian Jingu Shrine(14:30）
(Time stated above will be sometimes a little behind schedule.)

Pay seats will be prepared at near Imperial palace, Oike street, in front of Heian Shrine. It is 2000yen.
This festival is celebrated establishing Heian shrine.
This is Era parade festival.
Parade is from Meiji Restoration to Heian period.

Octover 21 is Previous day festival.
Octover 22 is main festival.
Octover 23 is Festival at a later date.
Jidai Matsuri is a main festival.

Number of parade is 20 parades.
Popular parade is Hideyoshi, Nobunaga Samurai parade.
Hideyoshi parade is 5th,Nobunaga parade is 6th.
Please enjoy Jidai Matsuri Parade.

Parade will cause a traffic jam.
Traffic control will be done.
Recommend you to use Public transports.

That's it.

Uji Byodoin, Fushimi Saka Kura, Teradaya Ryokan

Uji Byodoin, Fushimi Saka Kura, Teradaya Ryokan

I would like to inform Uji and Fushimi.

Going to Uji by Keihan Train.
Getting off Uji station, cross the Uji bridge, go to approaching road to Uji Byodoin.
At approaching road, you find lots of shops for Uji tea, Uji tea soft ice cream, Dumpling, Buckwheat.

I eat buckwheat of tea.
About 15 minutes walking, you arrive Uji Byodoin.

Unfortunately Uji Byodoin is repairing now, you can not see Uji Byodoin.Renovation is from 64 years ago.
Finish of repairing will be August 2014.

But Museum in this temple has a lot of Buddha statue.
Imitation of Buddha statue is available to touch.
Buddha statue on the wall is made of Japanese cypress.
When you see lots of Buddha statue, you understand that Fujiwara family hope peace life after death.
I would like to see new Byodoin after repairing.


I go to cross bridge, Uji shrine and Ujigami shrine.


Ujigami shrine is World heritage, but repairing now.
Finish of repairing is end of 2014.

Next is Museum of Genji tale.
Entrance fee is 500yen.
It's main thema is Ms.Musasaki Shikibu.
It shows movie and puppet shows and exhibitions.


Return to Uji station, go to Chushojima station.

Getting off this station, you can see Sakagura of Japanese liquor : Sake.


About 10 minutes walking, you arrive at Ohkura Memorial hall.
This is meseum of Sake factory of Gekkeikan.
Entrance fee is 300yen, with Sake gift 180cc and Sake tasting.
It shows how to produce Sake.
Sample drinking is only 10cc, so we don't understand the taste.
I buy original sake, and go to other Sakagura.

Next is Kizakura Sakagura.This company shows Sakagura and spring water.
Spring water is available to drink and no charge.
Spring water is good taste.
Around this area, you can see Sake restaurant and Sake bar.
These restaurant are good taste, but little bit expensive.

Walking around this area, I find Teradaya Ryokan.

Exmplainer inform Ryoma's accident in detail.
Ryoma's accident was occurred at January 23 1866.
Tokugawa police attack Teradaya for killing Ryoma.
Ryoma is a enemy for Tokugawa Bakufu.

He would like to introduce European government instead of Tokugawa Bakufu.
At that attacking, Ryoma use pistol and he escape death.
Ryoma's room has a trace of pistol bullet and Japanese sword, a picture of Ryoma, Ryoma's pistle.
Teradaya Ryokan is available to stay.
Staying without breakfast is 6500yen. This is reasonable charge.
You hope to stay Teradaya, please reserve to Teradaya Ryokan.

South of Teradya, branch river of Uji river is existing.
Small boat : Sanjyukkoku boat is operating.

Sakagura in Fushimi is a town that left the atmosphere of the Edo period.
I recommend to walk this area, you find Edo period town and good Sake.

Aout 10km distance from Sakagura, Fushimi Inari shrine is existing.
Please visit Fushimi Inari shirine.
This shrine is a god for merchant people.
That's it.