Uncommon but fun places

Travel Reports by Joshua Hugh

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May 20, 2013 - Uncommon but fun places

Outside Himeji Castle.
I really love the wide open spaces. Really different from the cramp feeling of the major Japan cities.

You might think going to a building under renovation is silly but its not.
Please go here. It is beautiful. From small pathways to holes for archers; this is Japan most loved castle.

Intricate details are provided. You can also see a view from the top, but I will let you Google that. Unlike other castles you can see each floor closely. Unlike others where you must squint your eyes to try to see the intricate carvings on the roof. Now you don't. This castle is so great, I would gladly give up my 3N in Kyoto for 1N here. (And I don't usually like castles)

TV explanations are a life sized model.
Seems to be popular, if children are visiting on a weekday.

There is a current exhibition. Free. On the west side. It show cases the life of Princess Tokugawa Sen.
This are her quarters where she lived with her second husband. (First guy gone done in by her family)

Expect to see traps meant to pour boiling oil and stones on enemies, weaponry, armor, nice view and a model of Sen Hime playing a game. (Karuta?)

The camera is not tilted. Shinkansen Himeji to Kyoto, near Shin-Kobe the train will speed on a curve.

Saihoji. It is pricey to enter but gives some nice green views. Unforuntately, it is pretty tough to get here. It is 25 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station. Experienced a driver speaking Kyoto-ben. (It is not easy to understand)

This is my letter I received just as I was leaving for the airport. (I did not sent a postcard but a blank paper in an envelope addressed to myself) It cost 3000 yen to enter.

There are a lot of other visitors, so I guess this is not really off the beaten path. But it is still pretty isolated and not a very common destination.

Below is the hall where people will copy the Heart Sutra before they can access the garden. It is not necessary to finish copying. But there is definitely enough time to see the whole garden so take your time and copy it and get into the mood.

It is called Kokedera for a reason.
Koke being moss.

The pictures might be weird as it is seen in the wrong angle. Being dumb, I walked the top garden first.

This rock formation represents a carp that if able to climb to the top would become a dragon. (As told to me by a elderly Japanese gentleman)

Hmmm, perhaps there should be flowing water?

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List of Posts:
2014/12/28 - Kyushu in winter
2013/11/15 - Off the beaten path- Western Japan
2013/05/21 - Getting lost on the outskirts of Kyoto
2013/05/20 - Uncommon but fun places
2013/05/19 - Mifune Matsuri and off the road temples
2013/05/18 - Off the beaten path