Naegi Castle Ruins

Naegi Castle Ruins 苗木城跡 Nakatsugawa (中津川市) August 13, 2020 About Naegi Castle Ruins Looming on the north side of the Kiso River in Nakatsugawa, Naegi Castle once demanded an impressive view from atop Mt. Takamori. Its layout and use of the mountain’s natural stone as is make it quite unique among Japanese mountaintop castles. Also, according to records it was made out of red clay instead of the usual white. Unfortunately, the castle was torn apart and the materials sold to pay off debt during the Meiji period. The main struts that we see now are a reconstruction and there’s…

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Kotoku-ji – Yakushinyorai (Tsumago Juku)

Kotoku-ji – 光徳寺Tsumago(妻籠) – August 23, 2020   Many people come to Japan for Kyoto to experience the old buildings and history of Japan, but one place I recommend visiting is the old post town, Tsumago Juku, that was one of many stops along the Nakasendo that connected Kyoto and Tokyo. The old style of the town is carefully preserved, so it feels as if you’ve stepped back in time to the Edo period of Japan. Kotoku-ji is a temple located in Tsumago. Me being me, I had to stop my husband when I saw the temple to see if…

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Kotoku-ji – Ebisu Goshuin (Tsumago Juku)

Kotoku-ji – 光徳寺Tsumago(妻籠) – August 23, 2020 Many people come to Japan for Kyoto to experience the old buildings and history of Japan, but one place I recommend visiting is the old post town, Tsumago Juku, that was one of many stops along the Nakasendo that connected Kyoto and Tokyo. The old style of the town is carefully preserved, so it feels as if you’ve stepped back in time to the Edo period of Japan. Kotoku-ji is a temple located in Tsumago. Me being me, I had to stop my husband when I saw the temple to see if we…

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Daijobo

Daijobo 大乗坊 Osaka (大阪) May 1, 2019 About Daijobo Daijobo is a Mt Koya Shingon sect shrine in Osaka. Originally called Shinbo, it was a sub-temple of Korozan Homan-ji My Visit I stopped by quickly because it’s part of the 7 Gods of Fortune Meguri. It’s a very small, unassuming temple. Other goshuin in Osaka. Links Omairi (JP) Location of Daijobo

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Takayama Betsuin Shorenji

Takayama Betsuin 古井神社 Takayama (高山市) March 24, 2019 Takayama Betsuin Shorenji is a splendid Jodo Shinshuu Otani sect temple in the scenic town of Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Jodo Shinshuu is by far the most common kind of Buddhism in the Hida area of northern Gifu. The text in the center reads “Kueissho”, a phrase in Japanese Buddhism meaning that everyone will meet again in the Pure Land. As we drove up this chilly morning in March, we passed piles of snow on the side of the tollway before flurries started falling. Most of Japan was already warming up and…

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Fushimi Inari Taisha: Inari Yama

– Fushimi Inari Shrine (Oku) – 伏見稲荷大社奥社 –Kyoto(京都) – November 23, 2018 Fushimi Inari Shrine is a large shrine in the Fushimi ward of southern Kyoto that’s famous for it’s long, red torii gate lined paths up Mt Inari. It is the head shrine of all the inari shrines across Japan dedicated to Inari, the shinto god of rice. There are over 30,000 in Japan, making it the most numerous of all the kinds of shrines. In addition to its famous red torii, you can also find statues of foxes throughout the premises. Foxes are believed to be the messengers…

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Enshuu Shigisan Betsuin (Hamamatsu)

Enshuu Shigisan Betsuin 遠州信貴山別院 Hamamatsu (浜松市) October 6, 2018 About Enshuu Shigisan Betsuin Shigisan is the oldest temple in Japan devoted to Bishamonten. Bishamonten is the heavenly king of the north and one of the seven lucky gods. He is a god of war and is often prayed to for victory. As a lucky god, he’s assiocated with bringing safety to the home and prosperity to businesses. This temple is one of its branch locations. So in addition to being a good mini sightseeing trip, it was an appropriate place to go before a martial arts competition. My Visit I…

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