Setsubun Festival at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto

Setsubun Festival at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto
I would like to inform Setsubun Festival at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto.

I ride Hankyu train or Keihan train from Osaka to Kawaramachi/Gion Shijyo station.
Walk east trough shopping street 10 minutes, I arrive at Yasaka shrine.

Yasaka shrine was built at 656, is famous for Gion Festival.


Setsubun festival is held at Feb 2 and 3.
Setsubun festival main events are Japanese dance dedication from 4 pleasure districts,
and Sowing beans.


Geiko and Maiko dance and sowing beans are held according to below schedule.

Feb.2
13:00～　Pontocho dance institute's dancing and sowing beans
14:00～　Yasaka Gagaku Society's dancing and sowing beans
15:00～　Miyagawa dance institute's dancing and sowing beans
16:00～　Sando shopping town society's dancing and sowing beans

Feb.3
11:00～　Japanese modern dance institute's dancing and sowing beans
13:00～　Gion Kobu dance institute's dancing and sowing beans
15:00～　Gion East dance institute's dancing and sowing beans
16:00～　Sando shopping town society's dancing and sowing beans





Geiko・Maiko Japanese dance is beautiful and glittering.
Many travelers and photographers are gathering in the morning.
I recommend you for seeing Japanese dancing to arrive at Yasaka shrine in the morning.

Attending sowing beans festival needs ¥300.
Please visit Setsubun Festival at Yasaka shrine.

That's it.

Explore the streets of Hakata Taihaku-street, Hakata Port, Nakasu town

This time, I explore Kyushu Hakata.

Depart from JR Hakata station from the east side of Hakata-Kuchi station.

Taihaku street is the main street connecting Hakata Station and Hakata Port in nearly a straight line.
I walk this way to the port northwest.
In about 5 minutes, I arrive in Tochoji temple.


This temple is a temple of Shingon sect which Kobo-Taishi built in 806,
It is a temple which Mr. Kuroda warrior extended to the era of Fukuoka lord.
In this temple there are the Great Buddha statue, Main Hall, Rokkakudo, Taishido, Five-storied pagoda.
The five-storied pagoda is a new one that was built in 2011.
Main hall is made of concrete.


I will head to the Great Buddha.

The Great Buddha is made of wood and is a solid seat statue without painting carving cypress trees.
This Great Buddha is called the Great Buddha of Fukuoka and is a Buddha Buddhist sitting of with a height of 10.8 meters and a weight of 30 tons completed in 1992. A height of 10.8 meters corresponds to the number 108 of human annoyance.

It is said to be Japan's largest as a wooden seat.
Because the Big Buddha is in front of you, you can see it well.
Believers are seriously worshiping.

Next I go to Hexagon temple.

Hexagon temple is influenced by China and its appearance is like a Chinese temple.
Usually it is closed, but it will be opened on the 28th of the month when immovable garland is provided.

Next, I head to the five-storied pagoda.
The five-story pagoda is a new one in 2011, the vermillion paint is brilliant.

Finally, I go to Kuroda family tomb of Fukuoka lord.
Tombs of the second generation, the third generation, the eighth generation are lined up on the north side.
There are three large tombs of 5 m x 10 m.

Next, I go to Shofukuji temple.

This temple is a Zen temple erected in 1195.
I go to Temple gate, Gate, Main gate, and the Buddha, but after that it is a closed temple that is not allowed off limits.

This temple is a temple with the same Buddhist temple as Kyoto Zen temple.
There is a gold-colored Buddha statue in the Buddha, but as the monk approached, the monk panicked and closed the door, so I could not see what it is.

Because it is a sort of unhappy temple, I will cancel my visit and return to Taihaku-street for the port.

In this street, palm trees are planted in front of the intersection of Kuramoto.

After a while walking I arrived at Sunpalace, Fukuoka International Center.
I arrive at Hakata Port.


You can see Hakata Port Tower from the park in the harbor.

I will look at the history of Hakata Port at Hakata Bayside Museum of Port Tower.
It is free.


I go to Nakasu from now.
Nakasu is in Nakagawa.
Nakasu starts from Suzaki Bridge.


Although Nakasu is an entertainment district, there are many stores related to sex shops. In Hakata 's entertainment district Nakasu we believe that reducing the number of sex shops and making its propaganda less prominent will improve the image of Hakata.


You can see CanalCity on the east side of Nakasu.

CanalCity is a complex commercial facility opened in 1996.
Because it is already twenty years, the former bustle ceased to exist, the present bustle has moved to a commercial facility inside Hakata Station. CanalCity wants us to renew and regain the bustle of the past year.

Finally I go to the intersection near Hakata station on Taihaku street.

This is the intersection where the road collapsed in December.
Asphalt is darkened only in the collapsed places.
The surface of the road is still rough.

This walking trip can be reached in about 2 hours from Hakata Station.
If you eat, you can go around in 3 hours.

Please walk around the towns of Hakata, where food is tasty and lively.

That's it.

Kintai bridge, Iwakuni castle trip in Yamaguchi prefecture

I would like to introduce Kintai bridge, Iwakuni castle trip in Yamaguchi prefecture.


I arrive at Kintai Bridge in 15 minutes by bus from Shinkansen Shin Iwakuni.
The opposite side of the bus stop is Kintai Bridge.

There is a toll gate at the entrance of the bridge.
It costs 300 yen for toll to cross the Kintai Bridge.
Set tickets for crossing bridge & Iwakuni castle & ropeway are profitable at 940 yen.
I purchase this set ticket.

Cross the Kintai Bridge to the west of Iwakuni Castle.
This bridge was built in 1673 by the lord Kikkawa Hiroyoshi.
It is a wooden bridge consisting of five beautiful archs.
This bridge is 193.3 meters long and 5 meters wide, and it is skillfully assembled by the technique of the group tree such as fittings and joints, and it seems that none of the nails is used.
It is a famous wooden arch bridge in Japan.
Since this bridge was all lost in the typhoon of 1950, the current bridge was restored in 1953.

The middle arch is the highest setting.

Nishiki river is a wide river.

In the spring we can see cherry blossoms from Kintai Bridge.


Cross the bridge and head towards Kikko park.

There is a statue of Hiroyoshi Kikkawa, the lord who built the bridge.

Next, there is a fountain from stone wali.


You can see the stop of the ropeway.

The ropeway is operated every 15 minutes.
I arrive at top of the mountain after riding ropeway about 10 minutes.


I arrive at Iwakuni Castle after ten minutes walking from here.

Iwakuni castle was built in 1608 by Kikkawa Hiroiee and was rebuilt in a reinforced concrete in 1962.

From the castle tower, you can see the Nishiki River, the Kintai Bridge, and the Seto Inland Sea far away.


From Iwakuni Castle to Kintai Bridge, Kikko Park area reproduces the town of Edo period style, it is a wonderful scenic spot.

Video explains the history of Iwakuni Castle and Mr. Kikkawa at the history museum near the castle.
It explains why Mouri escaped without fighting while becoming the general of the Western army at the Sekigahara battle.
Although there were many treacheries during the Warring States Period, it is ridiculous that the general is betrayed.
I would like to say "Do not become a general if you betray it."
I will descend at the ropeway through the main gate.

Next, I will visit Kikkawa Shrine to worship Mr. Kikkawa Iwakuni lord.

The row of worshipers grew, it takes about 30 minutes to visit.

I go to Kinunkaku near the shrine, it was built in 1885.

The ema is in a state in which the color is falling and I do not know what picture.

Next, cross the Kintai bridge east and see the back side of the bridge from the river bank.

You can see the splendid structure of trees in triangles.

Please look closely at the back side of the bridge in Kintai Bridge.
Quite a lot of tourists take a closer look at the backside.

In the vicinity of the Kintai bridge in Iwakuni, the castle town of the Kikkawa clan in the Edo period is reproduced in a wide area.
Please go to see the stunning Kintai Bridge.

That's it.

Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and climbing Mt.Inari

I would like to inform visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and climbing Mt.Inari.

Visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine by Keihan train or JR train.
I get off at Fushimi Inari or Inari station

Walk East about 5 minutes, I arrive ar Fushimi Inari Taisha entrance gate.


Many worshipers are visiting this shrine.
I pray at main shrine.

I climb stone steps at starting point of SenbonTorii.

Starting area of SenbonTorii is tall SenbonTorii.

Warking for a while, divided SenbonTorii is seen.

Traffic on the right is drawn on the Bulletin board.
I go to right side.

Soon I arrive at Okusha Shrine.
There is Omokaru-stone, trying to lift up this stone is famouse.

Many worshipers are waiting to lift up this stone.
When you lift up this stone, the weight is lighter than thinking yourself, your wish will be done.
Many worshipers's the results is heavier than their thnking, their wish will not be done.

Many worshipers do not try to climb Mt.Inari.
But today, there are many worshipers are climbing this mountain.

I climb this mountains.

20minutes climbing, I arrive at Kumataka shrine.

Walking forward, I arrive at Mitsuji.
I go to left side road.

Walking 10 minutes, there is Omokaru-Stone.

I try to lift up this stone.
The weight is lighter than my thinking.
Please try this Omokaru-Stone.
I go to Mizuko-Kannon, see Lower bound.

I return to Mitsuji.
Turn right side.


Climbing for a while, I arrive at Yotsuji.

Yotsuji has resting benches, and wonderful lower bound view.
Please take a picture.

I go to Arakami Mine, and go forword, park is seen.

This park has three poles, and wonderful lower bound view.


Some climbers are resting this park.

I return to Yotsuji, go to the mountain peak.
I see Osugi shrine, Ganriki shrine.
Ganriki shrine has a jumping fox gets a bamboo.

The cleansed water comes out from the tip of this fox's bamboo.

Soon arrive at Gozen valley.

This point has toilet.
Please use this toilet.

From this point, 2ways are existing.
Right way is short Cource for going to mountain peak.

I select right way.
I walk road shop and up-down road.
Arrive at Choujya shrine and Goken shrine.


I climb forward, Ichino-mine(Suehiro shrine) is seen.

Many worshipers are waiting for praying this shrine in a row.
I line up in a row.

This is a mountain peak, but we cannot see a lower bound view.
I pray this shrine.

From this shrine, the road is downhill.

I go to Nino-mine, Sanno-mine.


1 return to Yotsuji.

Praying Inari Taisha shrine is only 1 hour.
Invoving climbing Mt.Inari needs 3 hours.
Climbing Mt.Inari can see many Toriis and feel a god's atmosphere same as Mt.Kurama.

Please enjoy visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, and climbing Mt.Inari.

That's it.