Ichinotaki-ji Temple 40 Sasaguri Pilgrimage

 

Ichinotaki Temple in the mountains of Sasaguri is said to have more than 500 statues, including a set of rakan.

Temple number 40 on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage, it is fairly high up a narrow valley.

Several shrines and altars line the approach path including the Tamamitsu Inari Shrine, pictured above, and the Shokankiten Hall next door to it.

The temple was established, by local donations, in 1892.

The honzon is a Yakushi Nyorai.

There are actually two waterfalls, the larger considered male, and the smaller, female.

With the waterfall comes many Fudo Myoo's, and I previously posted photos of 18 of them...

There is quite a large Bato Kannon, sometimes called Horsehead Kannon

Theer are alo numerous, but not 500, expressive statues of rakan, first photo of the post and the next couple of photos...

There is supposed to be one clutching a bunch of banknotes but I couldnt find it...

The statue below was very unusual, at least in this area. It is a Ta no kami, a god of the rice paddy.

When viewed from the rear it is unambiguously a phallus.

En no Gyoga, often found at waterfalls as the legendary founder of Shugendo.

The Seven Luck Gods.... only one of which is Japanese....

Looking down on Ichinotaki Temple

The smaller "female" falls....

The previous post was on the Fudo Myoo statues of Ichinotaki....

Bakusetsu Waterfall

 

Bakusetsu Falls is a picturesque waterfall located just off the Numata River in the mountains of Hiroshima, north of Hongu.

A narrow road from Prefectural Route 33 passes under the railway line.

Only a few hundred meters and you reach the falls.

30 metres high and about 4 metres wide, it is a popular spot as it is so close to the main road.

From here a 1.3-kilometer trail leads to Seishinji Temple.

Mori Motonari, the great daimyo of the 16th century who ended up controlling most of the Chugoku region is said to have bathed here on his way to a banquet at Seishinji Temple.

A little further along the trail is a much smaller falls.

The previous post was on the sights and scenery of the Numata River.

Venus Bridge Kobe

 

The Venus Bridge is a unique scenic viewpoint offering panoramic views of Kobe and its surrounding areas.

Opened in 1971, its is a spiral bridge shaped in a figure 8 that connects tow observatorys.

I reached it via a short, but steep, walk from Suwa Shrine.

Apparently it is very popular at night but I was here early in the morning on my way up into the mountains to a temple on the Kinki Fudo Myo Pilgrimage.

The name comes from 1874 when a frenchman observed the transit of Venus across the sun from a nearby observatory.

With Venus being the Goddess of Love, coupes have been leaving padlocks with their names on at the site for some years.

A special monument has been set up for the purpose now and padlocks left around the main  structure have been removed.

At approximately 150 meters above sea level it is not so high but the views are nonetheless worth the walk.

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.