Author: Linda

• Location:  Kasihara City  > Igo > Kasihar City
• Tour:  Ninja Museum & Castle
• Weather:  55-70° / sunny with winds 5-10 mph

OVERVIEW 

1. DRIVE:  1h 15m from Noriko’s home in Kasihara City to Igo
2. TOUR: 4h at Ninja House, Ninja Museum, & Castle 
3. DRIVE:  1h 15m from Igo to Kashara City
4. DINNER: Sushi restaurants with Noriko’s husband’s parents 
5. SLEEP: Namiyo & Saburo’s daughter Noriko’s home (granddaughter Akane, and grandson Yuma)

Karakuri Yashiki is known as the house of Ninja tricks and illusions for escaping from enemies.

• Location:  Kasihara City 
• Walked:  13 miles 
• Ascent:  904’ / Descent:  925’
• Time:  7h (5h 30m moving)
• Weather:  55-70° / sunny with winds 5-10 mph 

A sumo wrestler’s loincloth belt measures between 17 and 19 feet long.  On average a sumo wrestler weighs 330 pounds and their lives are 13 years less than other Japanese males. Most past some wrestlers are healthy today and are within a recommended weight range.

• Location:  Kasihara City 
• Route: Yamanobe Route
• Walked:  13 miles 
• Ascent:  904’ / Descent:  925’
• Time:  7h (5h 30m moving)
• Weather:  55-70° / sunny with winds 5-10 mph

OVERVIEW 

1. DRIVE:  20m from Noriko’s home in Kasihara City to Sakurai and start of Yamanobe Route
2. WALK:  13 miles from Sakurai on Yamanobe Route to Tenri
3. TRAIN: 15m from Tenri to Sakurai 
4. DRIVE: 20m from Sakurai to Kasihara City 
5. SLEEP: Namiyo & Saburo’s daughter Noriko’s home (granddaughter Akane, and grandson Yuma)

Yamanobe Route is an ancient road in the Nara Prefecture and the oldest road mentioned in Japanese records. Many shrines are along the way. 

• Location:  Totsukawa > Kōyasan > Kasihara City 
• Weather:  55-65° / sunny with winds 2-10 mph 

Yoshiko’s husband inherited the 150 years old home of his grandfather with its spectacular woodwork and furnishings.  When the kitchen door suddenly and unexpectedly cracked open, I thought perhaps it was grandfather’s spirit returning.