Phoenix Hall –  March 25, 2025 

  • Location:  Kasihara City  > Uji > Kyoto > Nara City
  • Tour:  Byodoin Temple & Phoenix Hall
  • Weather:  55-75° / sunny with winds 5-10 mph 

Phoenix Hall named for the two rooftop phoenixes. It was built in 1053 and is one of a few wooden structures of that period never to have burned. 

Phoenix.
The two Phoenixes.
Phoenix on 10000 ¥ ($66).
Not a Phoenix yet a worthy bird.

Byodoin Temple –  March 25, 2025 

  • Location:  Kasihara City  > Uji > Kyoto > Nara City
  • Tour:  Byodoin Temple & Phoenix Hall
  • Weather:  55-75° / sunny with winds 5-10 mph 

OVERVIEW 

DRIVE: 2h (business rush hour traffic) from Kasihara City to Uji 

TOUR: Byodoin Temple & Phoenix Hall

DRIVE: 45m from Uji to Fushimi Inairi Shrine, Kyoto

TOUR: Fushimi Inairi Shrine

DRIVE: 2h 15m (business rush hour traffic) from Fushimi Inairi Shrine to Natsuko’s house in Nara City 

SLEEP: Natsuko’s house in Nara City 

Byodoin Temple is a striking example of Jodo Architecture. The temple and gardens represent pure land paradise…heaven on earth.

Temple and garden. Each complementing the other.
Balancing temple and garden.
Byodoin Temple on 10 coin.
Early variety of cherry blossom.

Castle –  March 24, 2025 

  • 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.

If enemy approaches, stomp on end of floorboard.
In a flash reach under floor and retrieve a sword.
Ready to stab enemy.

Sumo Shrine –  March 23, 2025 

  • 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.

Statue donated by a wealthy sumo fighter.
The sumo shrine is modest in size.
Sumo wrestler.
Sumo fighter begins with legs wide open and stomps to symbolically scare demons on or around stage.

Yamanobe Route #2 –  March 23, 2025 

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

Worthy photographs…

First rapeseed field.
One shrine honored hens and roosters who were all about. I got a tiny souvenir hen and rooster with fortunes inside.
Favorite view. Plum in bloom. Early for cheer blossoms.
Rub rabbit’s head for good luck.

Yamanobe Route #1 –  March 23, 2025 

  • 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. 

Temple.
Shrine.
Norico and Namiyo…daughter and mother enjoying each other’s company.
“Stalking the Wild Asparagus” Japanese style as Norico and Namiyo pilfer horsetail, a delicacy prepared tempera style.

Kōyasan #1  –  March 22, 2025 

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

Kōyasan is the monastic headquarters for Shingon Buddhism founded 1,200 years ago by Kobo Daishi. Kobo Daishi is also attached to Shikoku 88 Buddhist Temple Pilgrimage I did in 2019. 

Temple.
Temple.
Kobo Daishi image carving.
This pilgrim is recognized by his white kimono with black writing on the back. He has completed the pilgrimage twice. After walking Shikoku 88 Buddhist Temple Pilgrimage is good to visit Kōyasan where Kobo Daishi is buried.