Zuiganji Temple revisited 瑞严寺

 Zuiganji Temple built 400 years ago is one of the most popular view spots in the northern Japan. When I visited this temple 10 years ago, there were many big cedar trees both sides of this road. Their roots were covered with the seawater brought by the tsunami in 2011. 240 cedars were not able to overcome the salt damage and were cut down. Young cedars were planted after this damage.

The green moss was fortunately outside of the seawater coming in.  The color is very impressive.

 The seawater did not reach this gate. You can still see some big cedars standing. I enjoyed the atmosphere having been kept over centuries.

 This is inside of the temple filled with quietness.

 Roof tiles and white walls are beautiful under the autumn sunshine.

 This is a traditional rock garden. A group of moss is an island and the sand expresses the sea.

Preserved Machines Of Hitachi Copper Mine 日鑛紀念館

 This is an iron tower built above the first shaft to transport workers and copper pyrites. Hitachi mining company started excavating this shaft in 1906. It was used until 1981 for 75 years.　第一竪井

 This small electric train was used to carry them.

 This Japanese style house was a office. You can see this type gate in a Japanese garden or in a Ninja movie.　日式木造門，還能在台灣看到。

 This wooden house was built in 1918 to install a big compressor, which sent air to rock drills. This is a big gear wheel for a winch. 

 The belt between two wheels are amazingly big. 巨型壓縮機把空氣送到多數的鑿岩機。

This is the winch for the first shaft. The black motor before you was made by GM in the US.

Unexpected Time Slip

These shops were built at a turnpike travel center near Tokyo, based on an architecture 200 years ago. They sell foods in those days such as Kabayaki (broiled eel in soy sauce), Torinabe (chicken soup), Soba (buckwheat noodle) and variety of souvenirs. If some Ninja worked here and showed their skilled performance, I could be more satisfied. haha!

Trip to Ancient times: Jomon period 縄文時代

The archaeological research center held an exhibition.

 I joined a backyard tour to see Jomon earthenware made 3000 ~ 12000 years ago. When I see these vessels, I always feel the big difference between later Japanese designs we see in Kyoto and this Jomon.

 This was made 4000 years ago. The design is curious. Some says Jomon people shaped snakes on a vessel. Many ancient people around the world felt mysterious power in snakes.

 This must be a human face. Does he wear glasses?

 What is this? For a long time these earthen vessels were treated only as historical records to think about people's life at the time. Recently scholars have realized they are art . 

Do you know this instrument 2000 years ago? This is a fire maker.

This man pushes down the horizontal bar to revolve the perpendicular one. Revolving power is made with a wound string. A board on the floor is burned by friction heat. I tried it, too. It's not easy to make a fire.

Crossing A Wooden Bridge 我在炎熱的一天過了一條木造橋

We usually cross bridges made of steel and concrete. Do you remember when you crossed a wooden bridge by car?  10 years ago? 5 years? Just yesterday?! Really?

 This bridge is still sometimes used for inhabitants driving a car under some regal limitations of safety.  Two cars cannot pass each other on this. When a car finds another on it, the driver waits the other by the bridge.

I walked on the bridge imagining a rattling sound of planks made by a car.  Wooden bridges are nostalgic, keep pleasant remembrances of childhood. There is another wooden bridge up the stream, which was used to take a historical samurai TV drama. The location is quite suitable for such dramas because there are no modern houses, advertisement boards and utility poles near the bridge.

Really Cool and Refreshing Place Oiwajinja

A road in the cedar forest leads visitors up to Oiwajinja. It is said the peak of this mountain has a long history of mountain religion. Pieces of earthenware made more than 1500 years ago were excavated at ritual sites on the peak.  Anyway, I walked up hearing the sound of gravel under my shoes.

A cloud in the summer sky was surrounded by big cedars. This might be the same view ancient people got.

This is one of the biggest cedar. 

 Two giants in the red gate are watching visitors.

 This is the main building in the spiritual area.

Seeing Hydrangeas At Rakuhoji Temple 山寺绣球花

It was a quite sweltering day when I walked up long stone stairs to see hydrangeas. The parking lot down of the temple were heated by sunshine and hot asphalt. Going upward, I felt cooler and enjoyed blue, white and red flowers.

 The red gate welcomed visitors.

 Though this is small, the workmanship of the structures, sculptures and paintings is very exquisite. It must have taken a long time to complete the works.

 The second layer is round. I feel it is rare to see round structures by wood. Round leaves growing from the dragon pots are lotus.

 This new building is used for exhibition and meeting. The architecture fits with the mountain.

Green Leaves and Seeking 黑羽雲巖寺 人面不知何處去

After driving a car on a long and winding road in the mountain, I finally arrived at this temple, Ungan-ji. 200 years ago, lots of young monks came and lived here to study Buddhism. This must have been a good place for study and meditation.

This architecture is similar to an old Chinese style. It is simple and dignified.

 The left is a belfry. Every early morning, the boom of the bell sounds over the mountains.

The Scales For Monkeys 猿猴体重秤

Ueno Zoo revisited. This was really unexpected great fun for me. Hi monkeys, is there anyone who is acrophobia?

 He sits on a chair of a weighing machine. He weighs 10.8kg. No need for diet?

 He is a white gibbon. White hands look elegant shown off by his black fur. I couldn't help thinking his appearance is a magician.

This is the oldest fish hook in the world excavated in a cave in Okinawa, exhibited at the nature and science museum near to the zoo. It was made 23 thousand years ago, processed the bottom of a snail. A researcher said when this hook is pulled by a rod in the sea, it vibrates and gets pearly shining which is quite attractive to fishes. Ancient persons are clever.