Taguchi Hachiman Shrine

 

I'm not sure of the correct name for this shrine. It is in Taguchi and it is a Hachiman shrine.

I can find the shrine on googlemaps, but it is not marked as a shrine so I cant read the name and do any searching.....

At the base of the steps is a small Buddhist "halll".

Architecturally it is very similar to a Hachiman shrine I visited about 30 minutes previously, the one with the dragons and masks in the previous post.

It did seem to be fairly well looked after, so I wonder why its not listed as a shrine on googlemaps. I have seen local shrines disappear from googlemaps, though they are still standing, but maybe not having any ceremonies...

There were some largish ema paintings in the worship hall

And a fairly recent secondary shrine in the grounds....

There was a nice old onigawara and a shachi, .. I guess from an earliet shrine building....

The previous post was on the walk I took this morning on my west to Hiroshima...

Jinguji Temple 2 Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage

 

Jinguji is yet another of the Rokugo Manzan Tendai temples which according to egend were founded in 718 all over the Kunisaki Peninsula.

It is in quite a remote location and so doesnt get as many visitors as some of the more famous Kunisaki temples. I arrived by coming over the mountain ridge along the Kunisakihanto Minemichi Trail that follows the old yamabushi pilgrimage route.

The temple was destroyed by a big fire in the Meiji Period.

There is a treasure house that has some old Oni masks as well as a bunch of "burned Buddhas", statues that have been almost burnt to a crisp by fire. Unfortunately no-one was home to let me in.

The okunoin is a Rokugo Shrine, but I decided not to make the climb as it was already getting close to twilight.

Ther were a few older statues around the grounds and an interisting carved relief. Unusually there were no Nio.

Obvioulsy the temple is on the Rokugo Manzan pilgrimage, and I am guessing that is from where the pilgrim ofudas stuck to the ceiling above the entrance to the main hall were from.

The honzon is a Fudo Myoo, quite a small one.....

The previous post in this series on the Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage was on Yama Shrine where I stopped before climbing over the ridge.

Early Morning Along the Toishi and Furoko Rivers

 

November 7th, 2014, and I head off on day 15 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage.

With the days getting shorter I head off before sunrise to cover as much distance as I can.

I love watching the day begin, especially in the autumn and winter, and especially in rural areas.

My route today will be walking up the Toishi River, a tributary of the Kurose River, and then up a tributary of the Toshi, the Furoko River. This will take me pretty much due west and then I cross over a line of hills/mountains into the Kumano River valley.

The first hour or so of the day is known as the "golden hour" for photographers, for obvious reason.

I stopped in at any shrines I passed, one of which will get its own post next....

Was impressed with these dragons adorning the storehouse.... this kind of plaster relief is called kote-e and I have covered it in previous posts....

Ebisu and Daikoku, 29 percent of the Seven Lucky Gods....

It seems to be a fairly wealthy area, at least compared with my area... I guess the proximity to a metropolis must help....

Many of the shrines were flying banners, indicating that matsuri is about to take place, or has just taken place....

Cities and fishing communities usually have their matsuris in the summer, but in the country side they happen after the rice has been harvested....

I have encountered quite a few small planes used as advertising in the countryside... no idea what this one is about....except it is a Beechcraft 50 Twin Bonanza.

By late morning I reached the pass and looked down into the Kumano Valley...

The previous post was on Azumako Falls

Garden & Teahouse at Matsue History Museum

 

The Matsue History Museum is just across the moat from Matsue Castle and opened in 2011.

It was built on the site of the residence of the senior retainer of the domain and was built to resemble a high-ranking retainers residemce. The museum is fronted by the original Eco-Period Nagayamon.

Matsue is known as one of the three centres of Tea Culture in Japan, thanks to Fumai Matsudaira, the daimyo and tea master.

The museum has extensive displays on Fumai and the tea ceremony as well as the history of the town and castle.

The cafe of the museum, where matcha with traditional sweets is the main offering, looks out on a small traditional garden.

Though modern, and built for the museum, it is a traditional Izumo-style garden, one feature of which is stepping stones raised higher than in other parts of the country.

Like most gardens it is planted with seasonal plants so changes throughout the year. These photos were from a couple of different visits at different times of the year.

The top of the castle keep can be seen from within the cafe.

From the cafe a corridor leads to an old teahouse with links to Sen no Rikyu.

I had always thought this was a replica, but apparently not, it is the oldest teahouse remaining in Matsue.

It was designed either by Sen no Rikyu, or under his guidance, in the late 16th century and ended up in Matsue. In the Meiji Period it was dismatled and stored at the Yakumo Honjin.

The previous post in this series exploring Matsue and Izumo was on the gardens at the Prefectural Office next to the castle.