Japan Nineteen

Hi there!
Yep! I am home… sort of lying low to rest.
Thought I might regale you with another adventure!

By one of those weird world coincidences, I happened to be in Japan at the same time a uni friend was!
I don’t think I’ve seen Grant for about 20 years mind you!!

So I forced him into a selfie!!
He was travelling in Japan with his best mate Paul to celebrate Pauls 50th B’day!
They changed some plans around to scoot down to Kyoto as I only had one more day left there, so that was fabulous

Since I hadn’t had a chance to do the hike I researched while Maureen was with me, I thought the guys might like to come along and do something a bit different.

We started the hike at Kibune, and walked up the road about 30 minutes to the official start point.

The road had plenty of nice things to look at on the way up as well

The little red bridge was our official start point.

So… the first half I mostly stashed my tablet away as there was a whole lotta up to deal with. I’ve got snaps on my ‘real’ camera but yet to download.
I was pretty tired and anxious as I’d been up at 4.30am the day before to get Maureen safely to the airport, then spent the day with friends in Osaka which was lovely but I was kinda dead tired by the end of the day! Not to mention a whole swag full of ‘stuff’ to stuff into my bags in preparation to haul it across to Nagasaki!

Probably all the donuts consumed on this trip didn’t help my fitness level on getting up significant hills in record time but it was really lovely country side… and with the added bonus of coming across lots of shrines etc on the way!

Lovely big trees! Probably cedar?

Interesting details if one looks around… or down!

Below the tree roots kind of reminded me of being on the track at Cradle!

We’d gotten to the point where we were mostly heading in a downward direction so I stopped being a woose and kept the tablet out.

When I read up on this hike, the information had indicated a 5 hour hike!!
We didn’t hurry and even with my slower uphill pace there was no way that took close to 5 hours of our time!

See? Lovely downhill pathways!

The other side where we came up had much narrower and less formed pathways

Quite an accessible track really

Always astounded by the Japanese women who always look well presented, cool calm and collected under all circumstances!! Even walking up mountains!!

Pretty sure my friend told me that was just a location marker

Another little shrine.

We were starting to come across a larger structure, but found a bell before we descended into the main shrine.

I love these giant bells

And fun to give them a (measured) whack with the log of wood

The main shrine was pretty lovely!

They were doing a bit of work out the front so I didn’t get a proper snap

Never mind! (And have no idea how the vehicle got up there!!)

It was a peaceful place with a few falling cherry blossoms still in the courtyard

We spent some time there enjoying the peace, the views and taking photos

The views were pretty spectacular! Such a lovely clear day!

There were multiple buildings and gardens

And places to sit

And guardians

I have a number of photos from the remainder of the walk down the other side that I’ll upload and get to soonish!
Until then…
Take care!

xx