One of my former employees and still a dear friend is of Peruvian-Japanese descent and originally from Peru.
[RD] Exploring Japan
- Thread starter warpus
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tjs282
Stone \ Cold / Fish
And now I found the source itself.
As suspected, "[something]" was Last Chance to See, in the chapter 'Blind Panic', which described the plight of the Yangtze River dolphin (Adams was visiting the Great Wall to kill some time, and musing that the bit he was looking at had probably been rebuilt quite recently).
warpus
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Itsukushima island
This island is more commonly known as Miyajima, which translates to "Shrine island". It's a rural, mountainous, sparsely settled, and has interesting architecture sprinkled throughout.. It sits just off the coast in Hiroshima Bay
It basically works out to a half or full day trip from Hiroshima. To get there you spend an hour on the train and about 20 minutes on the ferry. Total cost to get to the island: about $3 USD
As you get closer, you get a better look at Mt. Misen, the tallest mountain on the island. It is considered a sacred mountain and has been drawing religious pilgrims since ancient times
The island is most famous for the Itsukushima shrine and floating Torii Gate:
This island is more commonly known as Miyajima, which translates to "Shrine island". It's a rural, mountainous, sparsely settled, and has interesting architecture sprinkled throughout.. It sits just off the coast in Hiroshima Bay
It basically works out to a half or full day trip from Hiroshima. To get there you spend an hour on the train and about 20 minutes on the ferry. Total cost to get to the island: about $3 USD
As you get closer, you get a better look at Mt. Misen, the tallest mountain on the island. It is considered a sacred mountain and has been drawing religious pilgrims since ancient times
The island is most famous for the Itsukushima shrine and floating Torii Gate:
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warpus
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Itsukushima Shrine
This shrine is very close to the dock where the ferry drops you off, so it was the first thing I explored
The Shrine's torii (entrance gate) was built over water and parts of the temple were built like a dock to welcome pilgrims upon their arrival to the island
This shrine is very close to the dock where the ferry drops you off, so it was the first thing I explored
The Shrine's torii (entrance gate) was built over water and parts of the temple were built like a dock to welcome pilgrims upon their arrival to the island
warpus
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warpus
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Daiganji Temple (continued)
The above is a statue of Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of compassion.
The above is a statue of Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of compassion.
warpus
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A hike up to the Itsukushima Jinja Tahōtō Pagoda
Walking through this little town and exploring some of the surrounding hills was a fun experience.
You don't really go that high up and it isn't a very strenuous hike.. but you do end up at a couple nice lookout points
Pagodas usually have an odd number of stories. A tahōtō pagoda is a form of pagoda that's slightly different in that it has an even number of stories (2).
This one isn't much to look at.. but it does look quite a bit nicer on google street view.. (move around for the full effect)
There was also nobody else here.. It was nice to have that quiet moment to myself
Walking through this little town and exploring some of the surrounding hills was a fun experience.
You don't really go that high up and it isn't a very strenuous hike.. but you do end up at a couple nice lookout points
Pagodas usually have an odd number of stories. A tahōtō pagoda is a form of pagoda that's slightly different in that it has an even number of stories (2).
This one isn't much to look at.. but it does look quite a bit nicer on google street view.. (move around for the full effect)
There was also nobody else here.. It was nice to have that quiet moment to myself
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warpus
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Daishō-in
A ten minute hike uphill and I found myself at the Daishō-in temple complex, which was founded in 806. It is one of several clusters of temples on a path leading up to the summit of the sacred Mt. Misen.
There are many statues of various deities all over Mt. Misen, and this temple had a whole bunch of them, including a pterodactyl
A ten minute hike uphill and I found myself at the Daishō-in temple complex, which was founded in 806. It is one of several clusters of temples on a path leading up to the summit of the sacred Mt. Misen.
There are many statues of various deities all over Mt. Misen, and this temple had a whole bunch of them, including a pterodactyl
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warpus
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Daishō-in (continued)
There is a trail leading to the summit and there are various other temples along the way... but unfortunately I didn't have enough time to hike any further uphill. I did get up a bit higher just to take a look around..
I ran into a statue of a Tengu. They are supernatural creatures from Japanese folk religions. Tengu used to be harbringers of war, but these days they are no nonsense spirits of the mountains and forests. They used to have beaks, and those are wings you see.. but over time the beak disappeared and was replaced with a long nose
The way back to town takes you by spinning metal wheels inscribed with Buddhist scriptures
There is a trail leading to the summit and there are various other temples along the way... but unfortunately I didn't have enough time to hike any further uphill. I did get up a bit higher just to take a look around..
I ran into a statue of a Tengu. They are supernatural creatures from Japanese folk religions. Tengu used to be harbringers of war, but these days they are no nonsense spirits of the mountains and forests. They used to have beaks, and those are wings you see.. but over time the beak disappeared and was replaced with a long nose
The way back to town takes you by spinning metal wheels inscribed with Buddhist scriptures
tjs282
Stone \ Cold / Fish
I'm assuming you're joking, because I'm pretty sure that's actually an origami crane (one of the 'classic' origami forms)
Image below pinched from the Wikipedia article on Origami (which also includes a 6-minute video showing how to fold a crane)
warpus
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You're right! That makes a lot more sense 
Shows you how much I know about origami
Shows you how much I know about origami
tjs282
Stone \ Cold / Fish
This being Japan, though, I'm now wondering if the sculptor actually went so far as to fold that statue out of a very thin sheet of metal (katana-style)...?You're right! That makes a lot more sense
Shows you how much I know about origami
If so, that would be truly cool!
This mobile made by my daughter 20 years ago, hangs over me now. It used to be more colorful.Spoiler :
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warpus
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No, unfortunately it doesn't look like it. Here's a closer look:
and while I'm at it, here's another one of the statues that's nearby
amadeus
Bishop of Bio-Dome
愚痴聞き地蔵and while I'm at it, here's another one of the statues that's nearby
“Complaint-listening statue”
あなたの愚痴をお聞きします
“I will listen to your complaints”
warpus
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More Daishō-in Prayer Wheels
warpus
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At the bottom of these stairs is a sign
warpus
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Like Nara, this island also has roaming deer walking around town and other parts of the island.
Here's a shot of the Itsukushima floating Torii Gate I took through the trees, while I was walking to my next destination
Here's a shot of the Itsukushima floating Torii Gate I took through the trees, while I was walking to my next destination
I bet no one is spinning those prayer wheels these days.
warpus
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Miyajima's Five Storied Pagoda
This pagoda was constructed in 1407 using techniques associated with Zen Buddhism. It is slightly elevated compared to most of the rest of the town, and you end up seeing it from many vantage points on your walks through the town and the island. No matter which angle you're looking at it from, it is always beautiful
This pagoda was constructed in 1407 using techniques associated with Zen Buddhism. It is slightly elevated compared to most of the rest of the town, and you end up seeing it from many vantage points on your walks through the town and the island. No matter which angle you're looking at it from, it is always beautiful
