I fell in love with Takayama, the snow, the beautiful shrines and temples, the lovely streets and buildings. Small town surrounded by snow and trees covered hills, and mountains behind that. I had Hatsumode in the Shrine : first temple visit in the new year, with sake and a tiny bag with dried seaweed and fish. They had big bonfires to burn last year’s fortunes, and to keep warm. There were only a few people around, so that was lovely. I bought an amulet of the ‘almighty’.
I also walked to Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine. So beautiful. Everything looks gorgeous in the snow. I love shrines. They are normally surrounded by a grove of very old trees. Here in Takayama many trees were numbered and had a wooden sign with name and age.
In the afternoon I walked to Shorenji temple. At times it was snowing heavily
Maegamiji temple was so peaceful and beautiful. The Shrine too.
On Saturday I visited 4 temples of the 88 Ohenro san temple pilgrimage. I was not so impressed with the first 3, they were right beside a main road, although one could enter temple 61. Normally you can’t enter any of the temples, so it was peaceful to sit down in one. And temple 64 was surrounded by trees and mountains, a beautiful peaceful setting. I also visited a beautiful shrine.
Finally the spectacular autumn colours have arrived in Ehime. And on a beautiful sunny day we went to temples 82, 81 and 79 and Matsuyama Castle. And I also went beck to Sankakuji .
