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Three Motoise Shrines
Visit the three Moto Ise Shrines in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, and want to feel the three legends of “Ama no Iwato,” “Moto Ise,” and “Oni extermination” The three shrines of Kotai Shrine, Toyouke Daijinja Sharine, and Amanoiwato Shrine, located in the Oe district of Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, are collectively called the “Moto Ise Sansha (three Moto Ise Shrines, three shrine of former Ise)” as shrines associated with Ise Jingu Shrine, since they are said to have been temporarily located there until the spirit of Amaterasu Omikami took up residence in the present Ise Jingu Shrine (Mie Prefecture). Apart from the legend of “Moto Ise”, there is another legend about the […]
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Moto Ise Kono Shrine & Manai Shrine
I wanted to drink the water of Ama no Manai, so I went to Kono Shrine’s Okumiya (rear shrine) “Manai Shrine” to draw water! In the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, in the scenic spot of Miyazu Bay, on the north side of the special scenic spot “Amanohashidate“, “Kono Shrine” is enshrined. “Kono Shrine” has a legend that Amaterasu Omikami moved from this place to Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture during the reign of the 11th Emperor Suinin, and Toyouke no Omikami during the reign of the 21st Emperor Yuryaku. Therefore, it is a highly prestigious old shrine called “Moto Ise (original Ise, former Ise).” By the way, the […]
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Urashima shrine (Legend of Urashimako)
Near Urashima Shrine in Ine Town, Kyoto Prefecture, where Japan’s oldest “legend of Urashima” has been passed down, there remains a small cave where Urashima Taro returned from Dragon Palace (Ryugu-jo). Ura Shrine is located in Ine Town, Kyoto Prefecture. The shrine is also known as Urashima Shrine, and the history of the shrine includes “the Legend of Urashimako”, the original story of the fairy tale “Urashima Taro,” which is well known to all Japanese people. The enshrined deity is Urashima Taro (Urashimako), and in the early 9th century, the 53rd Emperor Junna, who heard the story of “The Legend of Urashimako,” bestowed upon the shrine the divine title of […]
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Ine no Funaya (Boathouses of Ine)
30 minutes by car from Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, to Ine no Funaya! I want to go back to those days! I took a walk through a fisherman village with a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere. Ine Bay, located in the northeastern part of the Tango Peninsula, in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, Ine Town, faces the Sea of Japan where rough waves crash, but it is a calm cove. Along the coast of Ine Bay, there are about 230 boathouses called “Funaya,” which have boat garages on the first floor and living spaces on the second floor. When viewed from the sea, It looks […]
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Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park
I peeked between my legs at the spectacular view of Amanohashidate from the observatory in Kasamatsu Park! There is a mascot character “Kasabo” at Kasamatsu Park, and he will even take a picture with you! Kusamatsu Park is located in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, halfway up Mt. Nariai, and offers a panoramic view of Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, from the north. The view from Kasamatsu Park is called “Shoryukan (Ascending Dragon View)” because Amanohashidate looks like a rising dragon. To get to Kasamatsu Park at an altitude of 130m, use the cable car or chairlift from Fuchu Station near Kono Shrine in […]
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Ohachi Meguri trekking course of Mt. Azuma-kofuji in Jododaira
When going around in a circle of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji, an idea came up to my mind. “A crater on Mars should be similar to this mountain!” I visited Jododaira in Fukushima Prefecture, where you can feel the universe! “Jododaira” (elevation 1600m) in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, is located at the midpoint of sightseeing mountain road, the Bandai Azuma Skyline. It is an hour’s drive from downtown Fukushima. The area surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Issaikyo (elevation 1949m) in the eastern part of the Azuma mountains and Mt. Azuma-kofuji (elevation 1707m) has a variety of beautiful landscape, including a volcanic land created by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Issaikyo, ancient […]
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Zashiki-warashi
If you really want to meet a Zashiki-warashi, we recommend traveling to the Tohoku region. There are inns where you can meet a Zashiki-warashi, but if you’re wearing normal clothes instead of kimono, it’s just the ghost of a child. Zashiki-warashi is a child-like deity that has been passed down in the Tohoku region of Japan, where Aomori, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima prefectures are located, centering on Iwate Prefecture. It is said to live in a Zashiki (the rooms with tatami mats) or a storehouse, and is said to play tricks on householders and guests, bringing good luck to those who see it and wealth to the family. In […]
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Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle Tower)
Hirosaki Park is home to Hirosaki Castle, the only remaining castle tower in Tohoku, and Japan’s largest “Cherry Blossom Festival. The cherry blossoms in full bloom, the petals dancing in the air, and the flower rafts covering the surface of the moat are a spectacular sight! Hirosaki Park is a park located in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. Hirosaki Park has a pseudonym called “Ouyo Park”, and it was named when Emperor Taisho, who was the crown prince at the time, visited the park in 1908. “Ouyo” means a leisurely manner without worrying about small things, like a falcon flying calmly in the sky. In the park, the castle […]
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Nebuta (Neputa) Festival
Please be careful! It seems that if you mispronounce “Nebuta” and “Neputa” in front of people in Aomori City or Hirosaki City, you will be in a very bad situation! “Nebuta (Neputa)” is a summer festival that is held every year from July to August in various parts of Aomori Prefecture as a Tanabata event on July 7 of the lunar calendar. It is a gorgeous festival in which giant lanterns called “Nebuta (Neputa)” are carried on floats and paraded. In particular, the Nebuta Festival in Aomori City attracts more than 2 million people every year, and is one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, along with […]
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Akita Kanto Festival
I tried to summarize the history and origin of the “Akita Kanto Festival” where paper lanterns that look like ears of rice color the summer night sky! The Kanto Festival is an annual event held in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, from August 3 to August 6. The lanterns are tied to long bamboo poles with horizontal bamboos, and up to 46 lanterns are hung from the poles. The whole Kanto poles are likened to ears of rice, and the row of lanterns are likened to a lot of rice bags, pray for a bountiful harvest by placing the Kanto pole on the forehead, waist, and shoulders. It is designated as […]
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Sendai Tanabata Festival
I’ve put together an introduction to the Tanabata Festival in Sendai, the most famous festival in Japan, and the origin of Tanabata. “Sendai Tanabata Festival” is the most famous Tanabata Festival in Japan held in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture for three days from August 6th to 8th every year. Along with Aomori Prefecture‘s “Nebuta Festival” and Akita Prefecture‘s “Kanto Festival“, it is counted as one of the three major festivals in Tohoku, and attracts more than 2 million tourists every year. There are various theories about the origin of the Tanabata event, such as the Chinese “star festival legend” where the Herdsman (star Altair) and the Weaver Girl (star Vega) […]
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Mt. Tenjo (Kachi kachi yama)
At Mt. Tenjo in Yamanashi Prefecture, there is another “Kachikachiyama” story involving a 16-year-old girl and a 37-year-old middle-aged man. The folktale “Kachi kachi yama” is an old tale that has been handed down since the end of the Muromachi period (late 16th century). (In Japanese, “kachi kachi” means the clacking sound of fire and “yama” means a mountain.) The stage is said to be “Mt. Tenjo” in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. In the folktale “Kachikachiyama”, but a rabbit defeats a vicious raccoon dog on behalf of a old man to avenge a murdered old woman, In the “Kachikachiyama” section of Osamu Dazai’s short story collection “Otogi-zoshi” (published in 1945), […]