Azuchi Castle and Nobunaga Museum Trip in Shiga pref.

Azuchi Castle and Nobunaga Museum Trip in Shiga pref.
I would like to inform Azuchi Castle trip.
Get off at JR Azuchi station, and rent a bicycle.



Azuchi Castle was built at 1579. 3years after, this castle was burnt down.

Entrance charge is 500yen.

Guidebook shows that climbing this castle need us 45 to 90minutes.
For sight seeing it wil be 2 hours is necessary.


Azuchi castle build vassal's house in castle mountain.
Stone steps are continueing to the Tenshukaku.


First is a Otedo street.
Hideyoshi-Toyotomi's house is left side.
It has a big area.

Toshiie-Maeda's house is right side.

Ieyasu-Tokugawa's house is upper side of Maeda house.
Current Sokenji temple is in Tokugawa house.


Street is turned left after Tokugawa house.


At Nobutada-Oda's house, street is divided two way.
I select right street to Tenshukaku.
Soon, Kurogane Gate is seen.


Over Kurogane Gate, there are 4 graves.


Climbing the street, Stone monument of Ninomaru is seen.


Nobunaga-Oda's grave is seen.



Honmaru is over the Ninomaru.

MiyukinoMa is for Tenno emperor in Gosho house, it is built near Honmaru.



After Honmaru, 5 minutes after you will arrive a Tenshukaku.

Tenshukaku area is not big.

From Tenshukaku, Azuchi plain's view is seen, but Lake Biwa is not seen.
After Tenshukaku, I go to Sokenji main temple.

Before Main temple, Nobusumi-Oda's house and Ranmaru-mori's house are seen.

I arrive at Sokenji, I can see a wonderful view of West lake.
About 400 years ago, Lake Biwa is spread to near Azuchi Castle,
current Azuchi plain is covering Azuchi Castle.


Over Sokenji temple, there is Triple tower.

Going down the triple tower, I arrive at big temple gate.
Nio statues are stood in the temple gate.

After this gate, I go down the mountains, I return to Hideyoshi-Toyotomi's house.

I go back to Ote gate.
Visiting Azuchi castle is finished.
Climbing mountain is little bitte hard.
Please prepare drink and sports shoes.

Over the Ote gate, rest house is seen.

This house has a small model of Azuchi Castle.

Next vizit is Nobunaga Museum.
This museum is South of Azuchi Castle, and South of JR Line.
Entrance charge is 500yen.

This museum shows 5th and 6th floors of Azuchi Castle.
It is real scale.
5th floor is red, 6th floor is gold, It is seen a combined structure of Shrine and Castle.



This museum has many reports for Azuchi Castlev.
Please visit after Azuchi Castle.

Nobunaga has a big power, but he likes a castle that is over the mountain.

That's it.

Kyoto Yamazaki battle field Trip by climbing Mt.Tennozan

I would like to inform Yamazaki-battle field trip.



I get off at JR Yamazaki station.
Go along JR to East, then go across JR crossings, you can see a Tennouzan Trailhead.
Uphill is starting.

You can see a Reisen tea house of Sokan-Yamazaki at left side.

Going for a while, road is divided two road.
Select right road.
Then climb 5 minutes, Honnoji battle picture is seen.
Turn left at this picture, then I arrive at Oyamazaki Sanso Museum.


Entrance charge is 900yen.
This museum shows a special Exhibition and normal Exhibition.
There is a coffee lounge at 2nd floor.
From this veranda, Yamazaki town wide view is seen.

This house is British style mountain villa, built at early Showa period.

Next I go to Mt.Tennozan.

Slope is steep, after 30 minutes walking, "Hideyoshi big return to Kyoto" picture is seen.

Sakatoke shrine's Torii is seen.
In front of this Torii, I go to Hatatatematsu Observatory.
Many travelors are waiting this observatory.
From this observatory, Yamazaki battle field is seen.

This battle is a Hideyoshi-Toyotomi vs Mitsuhide-Akechi at 1582.
This field is big.
Yamazaki battle field picture is near theTorii.
This picture shows Hideyoshi win this battle.

Near observatory, big stone statue of Yamazaki battle is established.

Walking few minutes, the grave of 17Samurais is seen.
These Samurais battled at Kinmon-no-Hen in 1864.

Climbing the mountains, I arrive at Sanshagu shrine.
Near the shrine, 'The final seen of Mitsuhide-Akechi picture' shows the Mitsuhide's
last moment.

This picture explaines Mitsuhide-Akechi in detail.
He is a clever Samurai, but he can not understand Nobunaga-Oda Policy.
Next is Sakatoke shrine.

After this shrine, climb 5 minutes, I arrive at Mt.Tennozan, 270m height.

Top of this mountain, Hideyoshi ruling Japan is started from this Yamazaki battle.

Living person inform me the good view point.
Abeno-Harukasu building is seen from this top of the mountain.
But today is cloudy, so we can not see Harukasu.

Descend this mountain, I arrive at Yamazaki Shouten shrine.
This shrine has steep stone steps, and Nio statue.

About 30minutes descending the mountains, I arrive at Rikyu-Hachimangu Shrine.

This shrine is famous for manufacturing Egoma Oil.
At Muromachi period, Yamazaki was prospering of oil.

Yamazaki battle Field is popular at Kansai area.
Please visit this Yamazaki.

That's it.

Moriyama-Jyuku of Nakasendo-Street in Shiga Prefecture Trip

Moriyama city in Shiga Prefecture Trip

I would like to inform Moriyama-Jyuku trip.
Moriyama is a Shukuba-machi of Nakasendo street at Edo period.



From Moriyama station, after 10minutes walking, you arrive at Moriyama Historical culture museum.
This museum was built by reforming Uno Prime minister's birth house at 2012.


Uno house was Sake brewery, and big house.
This museum display Prime minister Uno's goods, and Painter Moriguchi's picture.

Old house and beautiful garden are seen without charge.
Restaurant is opened at Kura house.

Mr. Uno likes to gather dolls.
He order to Artist of Hakata doll to make a famouse person's doll of Moriyama city.

Nobunaga Oda's doll is precise, cloak is also made of pottery.

Next visit is Daikoji temple.
This temple has Prime minister Uno's grave.



His grave is west end.

Moriyama city is famous of Firefly.
There is Firefly shopping street.
This street's pole has a big firefly doll.


Firefly Museum in Moriyama citizen sports park, that is northwest of Moriyama, shows all life of firefly.

Historical walking course has 30minures course, and 70minutes course.

Moriyama has Shukuba-machi, Historical culture museum, Firefly.
Please visit Moriyama.

That's it.

Gion Festival will be held on July 17 and July 24

July is a Gion Festival time.
Gion Festival is big three festival in Japan.
This festival is for Kyoto citizen's festival.

This year's festival is held two times,as primary festival reviving 49 years after.
First festival : July 17
Second festival : July 24

Yamaboko is increased from 32 to 33.

Yamaboko is called for Yama and Hoko.
Yama is 5m height.
Hoko is adding Hoko to Yama, so 25m height.

First Festival
-Pre festival: July 14-16
-Festival : July 17
Schedule and Yamabokos are below figure.


Second Festival
-Pre festival: July 21-23
-Festival : July 24
Schedule and Yamabokos are below figure.


Gion bayashi is played in the Yamaboko.
Gion bayshi is training from May.
Gion Festival's main event is Yamaboko Parade,
This year, Yamaboko parade is held two times.

Pre festival Yoiyama is at night.
Yamaboko is fixed to Machiya house.

We can enter Yamaboko through Machiya 2nd floor room.

Yamaboko location is shown attachment drawing.
Please confirm Yamaboko location.

Difficult to see all Yamaboko, please select your favorite Yamaboko.

Chimaki is selled as "except plague" and "good luck".
Near Yamaboko,Chochin lamp is started to light from 18:00, and Gion Hayashi sound is added.

At Yoiyama, young girl wear Yukata, enjoyed Gion taste.



Yoiyama is Pedestrian precinct from 18:00 to 23:00.

Yamaboko parade is started from 9:00 to 12:00.
At a time, walking streets are lots of travelers.
Please keep your sitting pon as you like before 9:00.

Changing Yamaboko direction attractions is called "Tsuji turn".
Yamaboko wheels are rigid fixed to axel.
Set many bamboos in front of wheel.
Set wheel over the bamboo with water, pull Yamaboko with 40 or 50 workers, then Yamaboko will be turned.

Finally Yamaboko is dismantled each Hoko-Machi.

This year, First Festival is bigger than Second Festival.
I recommend First Festival.

That's it.