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Category: Chubu Region

Bansho-ji – Setsubun 2024 Special

Bansho-ji 万松寺 Nagoya (名古屋) February 3, 2024 About Banshi-ji Bansho-ji is a very modern and flashy looking Buddhist temple that really fits in nicely with the surrounding arcades and electronics stores, but it’s roots are very old. It was built by the Oda family in 1540 and the funeral for the father of Oda Nobunaga, Oda Nobuhide, was held here. It now houses the mortuary tablets for the Oda family. It’s popular with goshuin fans because they have a lot of beautiful designs that change every month. My Visit My husband and I were in the area because he had…

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Bansho-ji – Cut Paper Dragon 2024

Bansho-ji 万松寺 Nagoya (名古屋) January 3, 2024 About Bansho-ji Bansho-ji is a very modern and flashy looking Buddhist temple that really fits in nicely with the surrounding arcades and electronics stores, but it’s roots are very old. It was built by the Oda family in 1540 and the funeral for the father of Oda Nobunaga, Oda Nobuhide, was held here. It now houses the mortuary tablets for the Oda family. It’s popular with goshuin fans because they have a lot of beautiful designs that change every month. I went specifically for their new year designs and got two versions: a…

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Bansho-ji – Dragon Two Piece 2024 Special

Bansho-ji 万松寺 Nagoya (名古屋) January 3, 2024 About Banshi-ji Bansho-ji is a very modern and flashy looking Buddhist temple that really fits in nicely with the surrounding arcades and electronics stores, but it’s roots are very old. It was built by the Oda family in 1540 and the funeral for the father of Oda Nobunaga, Oda Nobuhide, was held here. It now houses the mortuary tablets for the Oda family. It’s popular with goshuin fans because they have a lot of beautiful designs that change every month. I went specifically for their new year designs and got two versions: this…

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Kobi Shrine

Kobi Shrine 古井神社 Minokamo (美濃加茂市) January 1, 2024 About Kobi Shrine Kobi Shrine is a shrine in the Kobi area of Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture. The dieties enshrined here are Emperor Ojin, Sugawara no Michizane, Sosano no Mikoto. My Visit We moved to Minokamo in the fall of 2023, making this our first new year in our new house. My family stayed home for the new year despite being able to travel now just for this reason. We got up for the sunrise and went back to bed and didn’t get up again until lunchtime. I dressed myself in my mother…

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Kumano Kotai Shrine (Pop-up Yatagarasu Goshuin) (Nagano Side)

– Kumano Kotai Shrine – 熊野皇大神社- Karuizawa (軽井沢) – July 22, 2022 Kumano Kotai Shrine is one of the many shrines located along the Nakasendo Highway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. Built right on the border between modern day Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture, you can straddle the border and literally be in both prefectures at once. There’s even a plate set into the ground marking the line. We had a good time hopping back and forth across the line. This is by far the coolest goshuin that I own. It’s a pop-up goshuin! How nifty is that? You can find…

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Kumano Kotai Shrine (Nagano Side)

– Kumano Kotai Shrine – 熊野皇大神社- Karuizawa (軽井沢) – July 22, 2022 Kumano Kotai Shrine is one of the many shrines located along the Nakasendo Highway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. Built right on the border between modern day Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture, you can straddle the border and literally be in both prefectures at once. There’s even a plate set into the ground marking the line. We had a good time hopping back and forth across the line. There are several goshuin available at this shrine. This is the normal goshuin available on the Nagano Prefecture side of the…

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Kumano Kotai Shrine (Famous Regional Features) (Nagano Side)

– Kumano Kotai Shrine – 熊野皇大神社- Karuizawa (軽井沢) – July 22, 2022 Kumano Kotai Shrine is one of the many shrines located along the Nakasendo Highway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. Built right on the border between modern day Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture, you can straddle the border and literally be in both prefectures at once. There’s even a plate set into the ground marking the line. We had a good time hopping back and forth across the line. There are several goshuin available at this shrine. This is one of the special ones available on the Nagano Prefecture side…

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Nihon San Dai Kumano (Kumano Kotai Shrine) (Gunma Side)

Kumano Kotai Jinja

– Kumano Kotai Shrine – 熊野皇大神社- Karuizawa (軽井沢) – July 22, 2022 Kumano Kotai Shrine is one of the many shrines located along the Nakasendo Highway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. Built right on the border between modern day Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture, you can straddle the border and literally be in both prefectures at once. There’s even a plate set into the ground marking the line. We had a good time hopping back and forth across the line. There are several goshuin available at this shrine. This is one of the special ones available on the Gunma Prefecture side…

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Kumano Shrine (Kumano Kotai Shrine) (Gunma Side)

  – Kumano Shrine – 熊野神社- Karuizawa (軽井沢) – July 22, 2022 Kumano Kotai Shrine is one of the many shrines located along the Nakasendo Highway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. Built right on the border between modern day Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture, you can straddle the border and literally be in both prefectures at once. There’s even a plate set into the ground marking the line. There are several goshuin available at this shrine. This is the basic goshuin for the Gunma Prefecture side of the shrine located near the entrance. The center part in black says “Kumano Shrine”…

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Matsumoto Castle – Toda Family Version

Matsumoto Castle 松本城 Gujo (郡上市) August 13, 2020 About Matsumoto Castle Like Inuyama Castle and Himeji Castle, Matsumoto Castle is one of only 12 remaining original castles still standing today. Unlike many castles where I live in Gifu, it was built on a plain instead of up on a hill or mountain. It sits surrounded by a moat, which reflects the castle beautifully. There are a few gojoin designs here. This one is the Toda family design. My Visit My husband and I came to get out of the house and enjoy some semi-outdoor activities during the pandemic. I still…

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