Sunday, March 2, 2025

Gardens of the Ohashi House in Kurashiki

 


The Ohashi Family were a major merchant family in the Bikan district of Kurashiki.


Located on the edge of the Preservation District, their late 18th century property is open to the public and well worth a visit.


the gardens of their property are quite small and include a couple of really tiny enclosed gardens.


Originally a samurai family, their property is unusual for a merchant property in that it is set back from the street with a small front garden, something officially  only allowed for samurai.


The previous post in this series on day 7 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage was on Anyoji Temple, a major mountain temple complex to the north of Kurashiki.






Saturday, March 1, 2025

Umeda Sky Building

Umeda Sky Building


Umeda Sky Buildings is one of the iconic modern buuldings of Osaka.


It is located between the Yodo River and Osaka Station and Umeda Station.


Though the area around it continues to be edevloped, there are no other high-rise structures around it.


It was designed by Hara Hiyoshi and opened in 1993.


It is 173 meters tall and has 40 floors.


It consisites of two towers connected at the upper floor.


The design is said to have been partly inspired by La Grande Arche de la Drfense in Paris


These two shots are taken looking up from inside some of the modern sculptures outside the building.


It is a multi-use building with many companies having offices in it.


many festivals and markets take place under it and in front of it.


The most popular feature of the building is the rooftop observation deck known as the Floating Garden Observatory accessible via the glass-enclosed escalators that cross the open central space.


I will post photos of the observatory, escalators, and views from later....


These last two shots are off the building immediately next door.


Goods From Japan

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Asaharasan Anyoji Temple

 


Anyoji Temple is located just below Asahara Pass in the mountains between Kurashiki and Soja.


It was a large and important temple complex in earlier times and is now a little off any of the main tourist routes.


Its origins lie in the late 8th century when it is said Kobo Daishi performed ceremonies here before he travelled to China. Many sources suggest the involvement of a legendary mink, Hoon Daishi, who is said to have founded 48 temples in what is now the Okayama area, including Kinzanji 


The honzon of Anyoji is Bishamonten, and many statues of him, at least 42 I believe.


In the 11th century, when the temple was very powerful, 100 life-size statues of Bishamonten were carved. Some of the surviving ones are on display in the Jogando.


One of the pair of Nio guardians in front of the temple bell. Weighing about 11 tons is said to be the biggest temple bell in the Chugoku and Shikoku region.


During the height of its power quite a few high-ranking monks served here.


In 1201 the temple converted from Tendai to Shingon.


Many treasures have been excavated from sutra mounds built behind the temple in the 11th century.


A castle stood on the mountain not far from the temple complex and in 1336 much of the huge temple complex was destroyed in a battle between the Northern and Southern Courts.


The temple was rebuilt and continued to be an important centre.


In 1667 the temples surrounding Anyoji were closed down by the anti-Buddhist policy of the ruling Ikeda Clan. Perhaps Anyoji was spared because of its syncretic nature?


There is a lot to see at Anyoji. In previous posts I have covered the 

 the Tie-Cutting Fudo Myoo 


and Bishamonten statues nd other Treasures



In Japan Bishamnten has become associated with the Tiger because of a legend about Shotoku Taishi.


The main hall has a shimenawa and there are multiple Torii in the grounds, indicating this is a syncretic site where distinctions between Buddhism nd Shinto are blurred. In the Daishido, photo below, is a statue of Zao Gongen, protector of the mountain, and the main deity of the syncretic Shugendo.


The new Daishi-do was under construction when I visited but opened in 2018.


Inside the main hall.


Possibly this is a small sculpture of Fukurokuju, one of the Seven Lucky Gods.


The photo below is of what is now called Susano Shrine, though earlier it was known as Gion-sha and Gozu Tenno-sha. It was established here in the late 9th century.


Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Japan Sea Coast From Torii to Kute

 


Torii has a small harbour, literally a stone's throw from the much bigger Wae Port, probably the biggest port I had yet visited on this walk along the Sea of Japan coast in the Iwami region of Shimane.


Part of the rocky outcropping that makes the eastern edge of the harbour at Torii is a small natural arch or bridge creted by erosion.


After that the beach stretches away towards the next headland.


the narrow coast road heads over the headland...


... to another beach that curves towards the next headland...


Just before that headland is the settlement and fishing harbour of Kute.


The beach is well "protected" by lines of concrete tetrapods offshore....


It's listed as a park but doesn't seem to be a particularly popular beach as there are no eateries, shops, or lodgings nearby....


Kute is relatively large and the harbor is a decent size but just inland is a largish area of paddies so I think farming is at least as important as fishing...


The previous post was on the stretch of coast around Wae Harbour

Goods From Japan