Hello and welcome back to Japan!
This was a very special day as it was Rhi's birthday
We decided to make sure it was special with a trip to Koyasan
This was a very special day as it was Rhi's birthday
We decided to make sure it was special with a trip to Koyasan
Koyasan is the centre site for Buddhism in Japan (and the world?)
Rhi is a very spiritual person and loves a good temple so it seemed perfect
If you're curious about the history of Koyasan please check out Japan Guide
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Rhi is a very spiritual person and loves a good temple so it seemed perfect
If you're curious about the history of Koyasan please check out Japan Guide
Our tickets for the day, the trip seemed quite daunting really
Especially since Namba is quite large and we weren't sure where we needed to be
But we eventually found a tourism desk and she helped point us in the right direction
The first part of our journey was by train from Namba to Hashimoto
But we eventually found a tourism desk and she helped point us in the right direction
The first part of our journey was by train from Namba to Hashimoto
Beautiful buildings near the station in Hashimoto
We had to wait here for a little while but it was so pretty, we didn't mind
Though we did almost get on the wrong train, luckily the guard noticed our tickets
Though we did almost get on the wrong train, luckily the guard noticed our tickets
and he knew we needed the next train, or else who knows where we would have gone
We were soon on our way from Hashimoto to our next stop in Gokurakubashi
We were soon on our way from Hashimoto to our next stop in Gokurakubashi
In Gokurakubashi there was this beautiful view, I was in awe
and I am pretty proud of my photo hehe
In Gokurakubashi you need to take a very steep Cable Car up the mountain to Koyasan
I remember at one point seeing a sign that said we were currently at the height of Tokyo Sky Tree
A lot of peoples ears were popping from the height, but I seem to handle it well for some reason
I guess it's because my home town has a lot of hills?
A lot of peoples ears were popping from the height, but I seem to handle it well for some reason
I guess it's because my home town has a lot of hills?
Koyasan!
The station here was undergoing renovations
Next year the site is 1,200 years old and they're expecting a lot of new tourism
I can imagine it's going to be super busy, especially since the birthday is during Sakura season
The station here was undergoing renovations
Next year the site is 1,200 years old and they're expecting a lot of new tourism
I can imagine it's going to be super busy, especially since the birthday is during Sakura season
Since our tickets included unlimited buss access we decided to hop on one
We thought it would be best to go as far as we could and simply walk our way back towards the station
You can go further up the mountain, but you need to either drive yourself or hike
and we didn't have the equipment for either of these options!
There was beauty and nature everywhere, we saw quite a few insects too
It was so relaxing and peaceful
Around the site are several stones that differ in design and feature Haiku
I'd love to go back someday when my Japanese is better and try to read these
I'd love to go back someday when my Japanese is better and try to read these
Within Koyasan are a lot of special hotels where you can stay with the Monks!
We kept wandering in to their grounds, it wasn't always clear what was lodging or a temple, oops
We kept wandering in to their grounds, it wasn't always clear what was lodging or a temple, oops
I nearly lost my footing and fell in to this, I would have hated myself for ever if I had!!
One of the very many temples
Near here was also a little store run by Monks where we purchased some Omamori amulets
In their store was another Monk practicing calligraphy, whilst I was purchasing, Rhi was watching him
and they noticed her watching and being super intrigued and I heard them giggling and saying "kawaii"
Rhi was so engrossed in the calligraphy that she didn't even notice haha, it was so cute!!
Near here was also a little store run by Monks where we purchased some Omamori amulets
In their store was another Monk practicing calligraphy, whilst I was purchasing, Rhi was watching him
and they noticed her watching and being super intrigued and I heard them giggling and saying "kawaii"
Rhi was so engrossed in the calligraphy that she didn't even notice haha, it was so cute!!
Another small, Pagoda style temple
At the base you can see some handles, these actually turn around the structure
We're not sure why or what it does, but saw a tour group taking part in the turning
It would have been nice to visit here as a tour group but it would probably be expensive
At the base you can see some handles, these actually turn around the structure
We're not sure why or what it does, but saw a tour group taking part in the turning
It would have been nice to visit here as a tour group but it would probably be expensive
and I think they might only offer it if you are staying the night with the Monks
I whole heatedly believe that this is where Totoro lives
Offerings at a tree stump
This former grand tree was used in the initial building of the site
There was a few stories about the founding of the site
I remember seeing one by another tree
The story goes that the founder was traveling from China to Japan to locate a place of worship
In China he stood by the shore and threw a seed as far as he could
Then, when he was in Japan, he scaled Koyasan and discovered his seed
and that is how he chose the location for his temples
This former grand tree was used in the initial building of the site
There was a few stories about the founding of the site
I remember seeing one by another tree
The story goes that the founder was traveling from China to Japan to locate a place of worship
In China he stood by the shore and threw a seed as far as he could
Then, when he was in Japan, he scaled Koyasan and discovered his seed
and that is how he chose the location for his temples
A small pagoda
In this area was a couple of temples that you could enter, many were closed for the renovations
Inside I became really overwhelmed with the beauty and I just burst into tears
I then lit a candle at a shrine in honour of the friends and family that have stuck by me
In this area was a couple of temples that you could enter, many were closed for the renovations
Inside I became really overwhelmed with the beauty and I just burst into tears
I then lit a candle at a shrine in honour of the friends and family that have stuck by me
and to all those who believed in me during my darkest struggles
Without them I would never have made it on this trip
A pretty wall
I'm not sure if this holds any special meaning, they could possibly be graves
Such beautiful colours
Though after taking this picture I was attacked by some kind of butterfly, aghhh
Though after taking this picture I was attacked by some kind of butterfly, aghhh
I really hate butterflies and other winged creatures haha
Of course, Koyasan has a mascot. He is called Koya-kun hehe
I actually bought a little fridge magnet of him for my new place
I actually bought a little fridge magnet of him for my new place
We found a small building with shrines for children
At other temples had been offerings of Sake but here it was mostly candies
At other temples had been offerings of Sake but here it was mostly candies
Someone had also left a small dinosaur toy
It made me feel all mushy inside to think that a child had left such a cute offering
It made me feel all mushy inside to think that a child had left such a cute offering
We later visited a museum with a tea room
Since they were just about to close I didn't think they would serve us but they did
Since they were just about to close I didn't think they would serve us but they did
Green tea and a sweet senbei cracker
I had always wanted to drink in a tea room so this was a lovely way to end a great day
We were really hungry by this point and we hadn't eaten since morning
So we walked back towards the more "town" area with shops etc
There was a few conbini but surprisingly not a restaurant or cafe to be found
We had hoped to try out some vegetarian/Monk cuisine but it seems this is part of the lodging
and it isn't offered elsewhere in the site
We kept holding off from the conbini in hopes of somewhere to eat being a little further ahead
But before we knew it we were running out of road and had to wait for the bus
(You can't walk all the way back to the station, some roads are vehicle only)
The buses were supposed to be frequent but there didn't seem to be one for such a long time
and when one finally arrived, we realised we were somehow going the wrong way hah
I had always wanted to drink in a tea room so this was a lovely way to end a great day
We were really hungry by this point and we hadn't eaten since morning
So we walked back towards the more "town" area with shops etc
There was a few conbini but surprisingly not a restaurant or cafe to be found
We had hoped to try out some vegetarian/Monk cuisine but it seems this is part of the lodging
and it isn't offered elsewhere in the site
We kept holding off from the conbini in hopes of somewhere to eat being a little further ahead
But before we knew it we were running out of road and had to wait for the bus
(You can't walk all the way back to the station, some roads are vehicle only)
The buses were supposed to be frequent but there didn't seem to be one for such a long time
and when one finally arrived, we realised we were somehow going the wrong way hah
We eventually got back to the hotel and we went looking for the restaurant from our first night
But it seemed to have vanished! So we looked around some more
and we eventually found a really small place with a guy making Okonomiyaki
We had a little culture differences in here, the guy wouldn't serve us without us getting his attention
and we eventually found a really small place with a guy making Okonomiyaki
We had a little culture differences in here, the guy wouldn't serve us without us getting his attention
In the West I feel like you don't need to make sure the waiter comes to you, they just do hah
So it was a little frustrating and we felt ignored but once we got settled and had food
then all was ok and I still swear to this day that, that Okonomiyaki had bacon on it
Rhi didn't seem to think it did but I swear it did, THERE WAS BACON I SWEAR
Rhi didn't seem to think it did but I swear it did, THERE WAS BACON I SWEAR
and so ends a very special day out to Koyasan!
I'm sorry I couldn't show you everything, I took around 150 photo's this day
and it was really hard to condense them all down into a readable blog post
Even now I worry that there is too many pictures in here, I hope it's not too long
Even now I worry that there is too many pictures in here, I hope it's not too long