tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79754211404466684772026-05-22T11:40:56.567+09:00More glimpses of unfamiliar JapanOff the beaten track in Japan:- Nature, Culture, History, Spirit, Art....Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.comBlogger2655125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-64586982238606695492026-05-20T18:35:11.915+09:002026-05-20T18:35:11.915+09:00Sufu Kasuga Shrine & Hinoashi Hachimangu Not far from Shotokuji temple and Jorinji Temple is a Kasuga Shrine with great views over Sufu and the mouth of the Sufu River.There appear to be few existing records, but as Kasuga Shrine is the family shrine of the powerful Fujiwara family, and the local rulers claim descent from a branch of the Fujiwara family, that makes sense.The Kasuga Daimyojin consists of Takemikazuchi, Amenokoyane,Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-61212687084919540982026-05-19T20:09:48.064+09:002026-05-19T20:09:48.064+09:00The Way to Konjiji Temple Konjiji is temple number 12 on the Shikoku Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage.It is also the okunoin of Dainichi-ji, temple 13 on the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage.It is located high on a mountain and was renowned as a shugendo site, a training place for yamabushi.For those on foot it is a great opportunity to get off the main roads.....As would be expected, there are lots of Fudo statues....And numerous Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-17064511638714487062026-05-17T18:52:09.604+09:002026-05-17T18:52:09.604+09:00Jorinji Temple & an Explanation Jorinji Temple is a very small temple just a few hundred meters from Shotokuji Temple in Sufu. Jorinji is one of the "extra" temples on the Iwami Kannon Pilgrimage.Kannon pilgrimages usually have 33 main temples and 3 or so "extra" temples. The Iwami Kannon Pilgrimage has 33 main temples, but about 17 "extra" temples. I think I have figured out why.I have seen a map of the original Iwami Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-49895068289684607172026-05-16T19:02:11.552+09:002026-05-16T19:02:11.552+09:00Namba Parks Shopping malls are true cathedrals of consumption, especially in a country wherein many people claim shopping as a hobby.Most are featureless boxes, but a few have had some serious money spent on their architecture.Namba parks is one such location, and from one angle one might understand the name "parks" as having some rekevance.However, most visitors will see a dark canyon with beckoning Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-74083169304419673812026-05-15T20:55:04.498+09:002026-05-15T20:55:04.498+09:00Shotokuji Temple 22 Iwami Kannon Pilgrimage Shotokuji Temple in Sufu, lies at the foot of a hill that was covered by a largish castle and was the family temple of the lords of the castle and area, the Suo Clan The castle is ometimes called Sufu Castle, and sometimes Tobisu CastleSome sources claim the temple was founded by Shotoku Taishi himself, or that the temple has a statue carved by him. More likely is that it was established Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-82899093078272511082026-05-14T15:14:56.405+09:002026-05-14T15:14:56.405+09:00Hinomisaki Western Cape of Shimane Peninsula 10,000 years ago, the Shimane Peninsula was a long narrow island running parallel to the coast of Izumo.Looking at a map, it is not hard to imagine as the two large bodies of water, Lake Shinji, the 8th biggest lake in Japan, and Nakaumi, a large lagoon, take up much of the space where the sea used to be.Even 1500 years ago, at the time of the first Izumo myths, much of what is now land wasOjisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-22118478845489770842026-05-13T16:18:26.500+09:002026-05-13T16:18:26.500+09:00Tanoura Coast to Orii Coast After the Tanoura Beach my route heads inland and then starts up towards another pass.It's May so paddies are flooded and in some cases planted.....Miniature farm machinery is one of the reasons rice is so expensive in Japan. Every farmer, who has a tiny farm , must buy machinery to plant and a different one to harvest. Each is used for just a couple of days a year. I my little village Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-11477716291571484912026-05-12T12:04:00.004+09:002026-05-12T12:04:51.586+09:00Tanoura Higyokudo Temple 30 Sasaguri Pilgrimage Higyokudo in the Tanoura area of the Sasaguri Pilgrimage is yet another of the tiny, unmanned "temples", but a little different...Until 1996 there was a pilgrims lodgings here and so there are the remains of a small garden...As usual, and to my continued delight, there were numerous Fudo's....The honzon is an Amida, though because there was dispute on Shikoku with two different temples Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-22140539427674126162026-05-11T09:18:00.001+09:002026-05-11T09:18:33.338+09:00From Kamate to the Tanoura Coast My route on day 34 of my walk along he Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage continues up the scenic coastline of Iwami, the westernmost section of Shimane. The last pilgrimage temple was in Hagi, and the next one is in Hamada, so this is a very long section without pilgrimage temples, but with plenty of other sights to see...When I first came to Japan I was surprised how many temples looked like Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-83718657281632861692026-05-09T19:42:00.000+09:002026-05-09T19:42:34.546+09:00HITOHAKU Museum of Natural History & Human Activities in Sanda The next pilgrimage temple on the Kinki Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage is in Sanda, a small city in the mountains of Hyogo, not too far from Kobe and also Osaka.However, my first stop after arriving in Sanda was a huge museum complex in a park.It seems to be mostly a Natural History Museum and is aimed at kids.However, the complex is huge and contains other institutions including research Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-62086773046872005642026-05-08T18:43:00.000+09:002026-05-08T18:43:06.471+09:00Reikoji Temple Misumi Coming into Misumi after passing the huge power station at Okami, I stopped in at Reikoji Temple.It is quite a bit more substantial than many local village temples, with some nice greenery, and it is now a Jodo Shinshu sect temple with a statue of Shinran, the founder of the sect.I suspect it may have been a different sect in the past. It is one of the Hamada Domain Kannon pilgrimage Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-65778184940691194292026-05-07T22:07:00.004+09:002026-05-07T22:07:44.271+09:00Fukushoji Temple Cherry Blossoms, Sacred Waterfall, & Tengu Legend After crossing over the small Kamo River in Kitsumoto, the Kiiji Route of the Kumano Kodo starts to head uphill towards the next pass, but a huge swath of cherry trees in full bloom beackon to take a small detour.The climb up to Fukushoji Temple was well worth it, as evidenced by the large group of day-walkers also there...Not only a ton of sakura, but great views, and a sacred Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-4400610887978375042026-05-06T17:32:00.003+09:002026-05-06T17:32:28.272+09:00Tsuchida Hachimangu Tsuchida is a small coastal village between Kamate and Okami on the Iwami coastline in western Shimane.I stopped in at the local shrine while walking up the coast on day 34 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage.It's a fairly standard village shrine, a Hachimangu.It is said that the shrine was moved to this spot in "ancient" times. There are numerous secondary shrines in the groundsOjisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-68344850864851616672026-05-05T17:29:00.003+09:002026-05-05T17:31:05.544+09:00Torin-an & Yuku-an Temples 49 & 50 Shodoshima Pilgrimage December 28th, 2015, and I begin day 5 of my walk along the Shodoshima Pilgrimage with a couple of small hermitages close to each other.Both are located to the NE of Tonosho, the biggest town and main port of the island. Most pilgrims start in Tonosho and go around the island clockwise. I, however, started in the SE of the island and roughly started at temple 1 and went clockwise, so I am Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-90143943776710901442026-05-04T18:06:00.005+09:002026-05-11T10:40:37.092+09:00Kamate The fishing harbours at Kamate are located in a small bay that is divided by a small island that is now connected to the land.Coming up the coast from the southwest, the first part of the bay has what looks to be the original little harbour.There is a small shrine here, though not marked on the maps and with no signboard.My guess would be an Ebisu Shrine....At the mouth of the little Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-82330469077562244342026-05-03T12:52:00.000+09:002026-05-03T12:52:59.794+09:00Namba Hips to Namba Parks Continuing with my architectural tour of the Namba district of Osaka, I headed from Namba Hips towards Namba Parks.Above is the Osaka Shinkabukiza Theatre. It moved in 2010, several years after this photo, to a new location and building, but this, now almost 70 year old building has been preserved as a facade on a new high-rise, steel and glass hotel.As for the other buildings featured in Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-33564198048479612992026-05-02T12:04:00.000+09:002026-05-02T12:04:14.797+09:00Tsuda to Kamate Day 34 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage began where I ended day 33, the little fishing village of Tsuda.These first three photos are from the train as it approached Iwami Tsuda Station from Hamada, not long after sunrise.From the station I take the short walk directly to the long beach frontage.As with many rivers I cross in Iwami, the river itself mostly soaks into the sandy Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-49175791833291003142026-05-01T12:21:00.006+09:002026-05-01T12:21:53.818+09:00Hachiman Shrine & Makio Shrine in Yasaka Day 9 of my walk along the Iwami Kannon Pilgrimage and during the morning I stop in at two noteworthy shrines.Iwami is a remote region, and the area in the mountains now collectively grouped together as Yasaka Town is a remote part of that region. Though I have lived here for decades, this was an exploration for me...The first shrine I reached was the Hachimangu in the area called Nakayasu Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-15999770646028838242026-04-29T12:30:00.001+09:002026-04-29T12:30:19.156+09:00Tsuda Hachimangu aka Mozukujima HachimanguTsuda Hachimangu is right next to the train station, Iwami Tsuda. It is known locally by its old name Mozukujima HachimanguIn earlier times, the site of the shrine was a small island in the mouth of the river and the villagers would collect a type of seaweed called mozuku.This is a giant Hagoita, a kind of paddle used to play a Japanese game similar to badminton. Often decorated with kabuki Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-26487311649848659792026-04-27T10:10:00.001+09:002026-04-27T10:10:19.224+09:00Dark & Stormy Kuroshio Coast December 2nd, 2011, and day 21 of my walk around Shikoku on the Ohenro Pilgrimage begins under a cloudy sky, though the rain of yesterday has abated.Kuroshio is the name of a north Pacific current that passes along the Pacific Coast of Japan.Here at the southern extreme of Shikoku, where the current passes, there is also a town called Kuroshio, where I will mostly be today.As usual I tried Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-87727602364371573432026-04-25T17:07:00.002+09:002026-04-25T17:07:33.812+09:00From Kushiro-cho to Tsuda-cho The end of day 33 was fast coming to a close and so after visiting Kushirogahime Shrine I headed towards Iwami Tsuda Station where I could take a train back home.This little rail bridge across the mouth of the Enda River gives a clear impression of how secnic the whole San-in Rail line is in Shimane and Yamaguchi.Up ahead, the beach runs up to the Unohana Peninsula, and on the other side ofOjisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-61347891563861566352026-04-24T19:49:00.005+09:002026-04-24T19:49:54.981+09:00Sanmei-in Temple 8 Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage The 2nd of March, 2018, and I begin day 6 of my walk around Kyushu on the Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage in the rural suburbs of Nakatsu. The first 5 days were spent in the Kunisaki Peninsula.Sanmei-in is temple number 8 on the pilgrimage, and the Fudo is enshrined within the Goma Hall. I had visited this temple some years ago as it is also temple 20 on the Kyushu 108 Pilgrimage. That post canOjisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-72402636404434433482026-04-23T11:25:00.001+09:002026-04-23T11:25:51.169+09:00Kairyuzan Toda Hachiman Shrine Depicting doves, rabbits, and monkeys, the ceramic roof ornaments at Toda Hachimangu are fairly unusual, though I have seen some on the tile roofs of walls around houses in Tsunozu.Located close to the sea among rice paddies, Toda Hachimangu has three toriis. The third being Ryobu style. The name Kairyuzan is Shingon related, and with the Ryobu torii indicated a strong Buddhist Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-48071748122552083732026-04-22T16:03:00.002+09:002026-04-22T16:03:22.845+09:00Manju-ji Temple Gardens Manju-ji Temple in Matsue has a delightful pond garden behind the main hall, and an extensive, well-manicured karesansui garden in the front.It is a large Rinzai Zen temple at the top of the narrow Okutani valley to the north of the castle.Entry to the temple and garden is free, but the temple remains off the tourist radar.The temple was established in a different location in 1600, some Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7975421140446668477.post-63044692753131366172026-04-21T16:20:00.001+09:002026-04-22T15:59:15.284+09:00Kushirogahime Shrine After crossing the Masuda River, my route is now up a trail that leads from a arge torii on the riverbank up to a shrine in the village up above.Apparently the shrine was originally down here at several sites on the waters edge but was moved after a tsunami in the 11th century.There are several Buddhist statues and altars on the way up as there used to be 3 temples associated with the Ojisanjakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05506748719638540152noreply@blogger.com0