Numata River Scenes & Sights

 

After Buttsuji, temple 12 on the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage, the next temple is Mitakidera in Hiroshima City, almost directly west of Buttsuji.

The Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage is not a historical pilgrimage, being only about 50 years old, so there are not historical routes used by pilgrims in pre-modern times, so I have a choice about which route to choose.

I decide to follow the Numata River as it curves around to the northwest, and then from Saijo cut across country to the southwest. Following a river means it will be mostly flat, and also the San-yo railway line roughly follows the river.

The river valley and mountainsides are cloaked in early morning mist that soon burns off.... I pass under the expressway....

In the mountains to the west lies Hiroshima Airport, and planes taking off pass overhead quite regularly

I stopped in at all the local shrines I visited. One was particularly intriguing and it will get its own post later, as will other sights...

More roadkill..... not too long ago methinks. I believe this is a bullfrog.

However, the most surprising sight on this leg was this VW Beetle perched on a concrete pillar. It was erected more than 50 years ago as an advertisement for a local car dealer. The ivy has certainly made it more appealing.

The previous post was on Buttsuji Temple.