Kaori
Kamada's Home
Page
Let me introduce myself. My name
is Kaori Kamada. I was born in Sakaide city, Kagawa Prefecture,
Japan on February 25, 1985.
I am a first year student at Kagawa
Junior College. My major is Infant Education.
My hobbies are listening to music
and playing volleyball.
My home page address is:http;//www.geocities.co.jp/CollegeLife-Labo/4001/2004/503018.html
I was born by Kagawa Prefecture.
I graduated from the Sakaide commercial high school, and I entered
a school in order to take license of a kindergarten teacher and
a kindergarten teacher to Kagawa Junior College. I consider, it
depends and the schedule has hard and very busy every day. But
carry out a bubble, make a picture-book, a piano is carried out,
or there are also many pleasant things.
My
Favorite Links
My Friends
Yuko
Aga
Yoko
Iwazawa
Hiromi
Ujike
Makiko
Ueda
Kozue
Endo
Nanae
Kasihara
Rie
Kita
Kanako
Shogetsu
Miyuki
Takahashi
Web
Searches
Search engine: Google
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Links
My
favorite region
Quoted
from the Shikoku Bilingual Guidebook by Akiko Takemoto and Steve
McCarty
PREFACE
Visiting or living in Shikoku is something
special, for this island has always been the spiritual sanctuary
of the Japanese people. No other place in Japan has been visited
by so many generations of people from all over the country.
They have often spent more than 60 days
walking along the whole circuit of the eighty-eight temples that
compose the longest, oldest and most popular pilgrimage in Japan.
Even those who have arrived here in weariness
of life, in unhappiness or weak health, have usually left the
island with a lighter heart, more enlightened, and in many cases
in improved health.
Though today the ilsand is quite accessible
and traveling around it can be very easy, some of the eighty-eight
temples still remain very hard to reach.
This pilgrimage circling the island is
nationally known as O-Shikoku-san, showing that "Dear old
Shikoku Pilgrimage" is synonymous with this island and provides
sanctuary to the soul of Japan. The scenes along the Shikoku Pilgrimage
correspond well to what Shikoku offers - the Seto Inland Sea,
the Uwa-kai Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the green mountains that crown
a large part of the island, cosy little towns and middle-sized
cities that fringe the coasts.
Its climate is mild; the seas are bountiful;
the land is fertile. Naturally local people have been content
with their blessed island, even if it has remained underdeveloped
since the 8th century. Until areas to enjoy civilization in Japan,
as proved by so many archaeological findings.
Remote as it was for many centuries,
however, Shikoku did not stand aloof but observed movements on
the Island Sea as an artery of Japan's cultural, political and
economic developmenrt. On the other hand, Shikoku's unique atteractions
such as the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Kompira worship and the Dogo Onsen
Hot Spring spa have always drawn a large number of people from
the capitals and other parts of the main island of Honshu and
neighboring Kyushu.
Naturally those visitors brought something
new with them each time, just as refugees and exiles from the
capitals added color to the island's history. They were welcomed
and sometimes the culture they brought here was carefully preserved
or developed even long after being forgotten in its homeland -
language, festivals, arets and techniques. These cultural assets
now peculiar to Shikoku have added another deminsion rewarding
travelers to this island.
A new type of attraction in Shikoku is
the fruit of modern technology that the waves of development have
finally brought here in the 1980's and 90's - the colossal bridges
connecting Shikoku with the main island, pleasure resorts, theme
parks, museums, skyline drives and relatibely inexpensive golf
courses. So the charm of Shikoku can rightly be called an exquisite
coexistence of tradition and modernity, nature and art.
Last but not least is a spiritual climate
of Shikoku that has produced people like the father of the Shikoku
Pilgrimage, who is often crecoted as a father of Japanese culture,
the man who aired the idea of the Seto Ohashi Bridege, and two
young men who turned out to be most instrumental in carrying out
the moderniation of Japan, opening Japan's door to the world as
an independent nation. They ware all rare been something inspiring
on this island.
We hope this guidebook will help you
enjoy Shikoku, and Japan herself seen through Shikoku, finding
inspiration of your own by traveling around this small but great
island. Bon voyage!
Kagawa
Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa Prefecture,
which has taditionally been called the gateway to shikoku, with
the whole land of the prefecture jutting out into the Seto Inland
Sea like a porch.
JR Takamatsu Station next to Takamatsu
Harbor is the terminal of the Kotoku Line for Tokushima Pref.,
the Yosan Line for Ehime Pref. and the Dosan Line for Kochi Pref.,
while serving as the bus terminal to Tokushima, Matsuyama and
Kochi City. Takamatsu Chikko just opposite JR Station is the terminal
of Kotoden trams to and from Kotohira, the seat of 'Kompira-san'.
The New Takamatsu Airport handles non-stop
flights to and from Seoul, Korea. ?
Another place in Takamatsu appropriate
as a gateway to Shikoku is the Takamatsu Heike Monogatari Historical
Museum that features not only the famous historical literature
called Heike Monobatari but aoso about 50 great historical figures
closely associated with Sikoku or native to Shikoku.
Takamatsu became the capital in 1587
with the advent of Lord Ikoma I as governor of Sanuki Provice.
The castle he built on the harbor was succeeded by 4 generations
of Matsudaira lords, governing Takamatsu Provice with a fief of
120,000 koku.
One ninth of the former castle ground
is preserved as Tamano Koen Park across the street from JR Takamatsu
Station. The donjon is gone, but two of the 15 turrets and Mizute
gomon Gate from the 17th century (Important culttural Properties)
survived the air raid in 1945. Admission: 100 yen.
Traditionelly the popular sightseeing
spots in Takamatsu are Ritsurin Koen Park near downtown and Yashima
Plateau over looking the city and the Inland Sea. They are accessible
by bus or tram, with terminals at Takamatsu Chikko just opposite
JR Station.
Ritsurin
Koen Park
30
minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu Station.
The busy street in front of JR Takamatsu
is the main street of downtown Takamatsu, and leads to the main
gate to ritsurin Koen Park, a National Special Scenic Spot.
This spacious garden laid out with shapely mounds, cool ponds
and about 160 varieties of trees and flowers provides a classic
example of a Japanese garden or even a Chanise Taoist paradese
fit for medetation.
Originally it belonged to a local warlord,
and then to Lrd Ikoma. When it was transferred to the Matsudairas,
they spent five generations developing it into a larger stroll-type
garden for their villa. Seasonal charms offlowers and blossoms
such as une (Japanese plun blossoms) in February, camellias in
March, cherry blossoms in April, wisteria and azaleas in May,
Irises and water lilies in June, giant lotuses in August, and
Japanese bush clover in September, and brilliant maple leaves
in Nobember add to the pleasure of strolling.
kikugetsu-tei, one of the pond-side teahouses,
was originally one of the Matsudairas' formal buildings. The museum
just insede the main gate houses a variety of mostly local handicrafts.
There is a zoo, too, inside the gate.
Open daily. Admission to the park: About
300 yen.
Yashima
Plateau
Bus:
30 minutetes' ride from Chikko to the terminal ( Kotoden Bus for
Yashima-sanjo or Yashima Hilltop).
Tram
+ Cable: 30 minites' tram ride from chikko to Yashima (Shido-sen
Line) + 5 minutes' cable-car ride.
Yashima, a pine-wooded tableland to the
northeast of downtown Takamatsu, is one of the world's rare lava
mesas, about 290 m high, 3 km wide, jutting 5 km out into the
sea.
The hilltop, overlooking the archipelago
of the Inland Sea, features Yashima-ji (NO.84) , an aquarium and
observatories all linked by forest promenades.
One of the observatories, Dankorei, commands
a view of the inlet fringed with memorials to the Gempei Yashima
Battle (the second last battle in Genpei War fought bitween the
two rival clans, the Minamotos and the Tairas).
Once a British poet, edmund Blunden,
visited Yashima and wrote a poem that was engraved on a stone
here at dankorei observatory:
Like
a long roof, men say, and will they say,
This
hill of warrior ghosts surmounts the plain...
Genpei War
In 794 Kyoto became the capital of Japan
and it enjoyed peace for about 350 years (811-1155) - the longest
peace Japan has ever attained in her history.
The last 30 years of this period, however,
were far from peaceful. In 1156 the first battle took place in
the capital, thus opening up a new era dominated by martial emotions.
Two martial clans-the Minamoto and Taira clans - began to acquire
greater and greater influence in politics through fighting against
each other in the name of " the Emperor " or "
the Ex-Emperor".
In 1159, the Tairas succeeded temporarily
in staving off the Minamotos. The 20 years that followed saw the
Tairas rise to increasingly control the Imperial Family, inviting
animosity from the reigning Emperors, the Ex-Emperors, powerful
priests, warriors and lords, to say nothing of the Minamotos in
exile.
In 1181 the patriarch of the clan Taira
no Kiyomori died just when the Tairas faced more battles against
the Minamotos, who were gradually consolidating their power.
In 1183 the Tairas were driven from the
Capital along with the 6-year-old Emperor Antoku and his mother,
who was Kiyomori's daughter. They wandered far in search of supporters,
while fighting losing battles.
Now in 1185, Minamoto no Yoshitsune attacked
the remaining Tairas here at Yashima, then at Dan-no-ura in the
westernmost corner of the Inland Sea, where the proud Taira finally
fell, the noblewomen casting themselves into the sea with the
child Emperor Antoku.
Thus the age of ancient nobility yielded
to the age of Shoguns(1185-1867).
Yashima-ji Temple treasures in its museum
a folding screen depicting the Gempei no Kassen Battles. The bell
in the belfry, cast in Kyoto in 1223, was dedicated here for the
repose of the defeated Tairas. But no one car syrike the bell,
as there is no hammer. They say, "Strike the bell, and invoke
the ghosts of the Tairas."
On the last weekend in March the Gempei
Yashima Festival is held, whose highlight is the warriors' Pageant.
It was an insurrection caused by the
discord be-tween Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-92) and Ex-Emperor
Sutoku (1119-64). Sutokuwas defeated and banished to Sanuki (kagawa
Pref.) to die a miserable death 8 years later. His ashes were
buried at temple 81. In 1184 the court elebated him to Shinto
deity to placate his ghost.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-89) : By
bringing about victory in the civil war, Yoshitsune had greatly
helped Minamoto no Yoritomo, his elder brother, who in 1192 was
to establish the first Shokunate at Kamakura. But Yoshitsune had
to spend the rest of his lige escaping Yoritomo, until four years
later hi killed himself. His tragic life and death was so appealing
to Japanese sentiment that hi has taken on heroic proportion in
Kabuki, Noh and Joruri plays, based on what is called Yoshitsune
Literature.
Very few Japanese visit Yashima without
being reminded of an episode shown in the picture above:
It was on the afternoon of February 19,
1185, that Minamoto no Yoshitsune mounted another surprise attack
against the Tairas at the then Yashima Island. Frightened by the
imagined immensity of enemy forces, the Tairas jumped into their
boats and sailed off. A fierce battle lasted for hours.
Now the sun was setting. Both sides began
to retreat, shen a gair vessel parted from the Taira legions and
stopped about 80 m from the beach. Then a beautiful lady appeared
from the cabin, produced a pole with a bright red far on its top
and beckoned to the puzzlws warriors on the shore.
"What
does she mean?" said Yoshitsune.
"Perhaps
she is inviting one of us to shoot the fan.
Or
she may be inviting you to come out onto the front line gor her
archers, "said his attendant.
"Then
let it be shot down by someone, "said Yoshitsune.
Soon a young man called Nsu no Yoichi
appeared on horseback with the golden sun at its center was fluttering
on the pole.
All the Tairas in the boats and all the
Minamotos on the shore were watching Yoichi. What would he do?
Would he succed?
Yoichi rode into the water as far as
he could. But it was still about 70m to the target. He closed
his eyes and prayed. Then the wind fell for a moment. He shot.
The arrow pierced through a little above the rivet. The fan, flying
up a moment or two, came floating down, glittering in the setting
sun. There was great applause from both sides.
Then a man in armor appeared in the same
boat. He began to dance an elegant dance perhaps in genuine appreciation
lg Yoichi's archery. Then Yoichi got another order and shot down
the dancing man, too. Same said, "Good shot!" But others
said, "Not fair."
The Tairas ware silent this time. Was
it a precursor of their demise? Two months later, the Tairas finally
fell.
Shikoku-mura
Nuseum
3
minutes' walk after leaving the bus at Toshogu-mae.
(Kotoden
Bus : Yashima-sanjo<-->Toshogu-mae <-->Chikko)
3minutes'
walk from the cable-car station.
This is an open-air museum laid out at
the foot of Yashima Plateau. About 20 old rural buildings fron
various parts of Shikoku have been reassembled here, including
a Farmers' Kabuki Theater, peasants' houses, a fisherman's house,
a sugar mill, a shed for steaming mulberry bark to make paper,
and workshops for making soy sauce and so on. There is a reprica
of Kazura-bashi from Nishi Iyayama-son,too.
Open daily: 8:30 - 16:30. Admission:
500 yen
On
May 5, people including children from Shodoshima Island, from
which the Kabuki Theater came here, stage an annual performance
of their traditional farmers' kabuki.
Takamatsu
Heike Monogatari Historical Museum
3
minutes' walk from Nihon Tabako-mae Bus Stop after 10 minutes'
ride from JR Takamatsu.
30
minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu Station.
Japan's largest wax doll museum. The
first floor is dedicated to the 41 dolls of historical figures
or modern men and women of celebrity who have been closely associated
with Shikoku.
The one og Kobo Daishi in his nyujo has
its own corner as a special exhibition.
The
other dolls include:
Sakamoto
Ryoma
Nakaoka
Shintarou
Nakahama
Manjiro
Wenceslau
de Moraes
Inokuma
Genichiro
Takahama
Kyoshi
Ninomiya
Chuhachi
Setouchi
Jakucho
Makino
Tomitaro
Yasuoka
Shotaro
Kagawa
Toyohiko
Yokoyama
Ryuichi
Abe
Yoshishige
Nambera
Shigeru
Masaoka
Shiki
Kotoku
Shusui
Nakae
Chomin
Kikuchi
Kan
Manabe
Hiroshi
Yoshida
Shigeru
Itagaki
Taisuke
The second floor exhibits about 300 dolls
portraying the 17 scenes from the Heike Monogatari or The Tale
of the Tairas. The Saga, composed of a large number of recealing
episodes, was and still is an inexhaustible source og Japanese
literature and art. Some of the most famous scenes took place
at the foot of Yashima Plateau at the northeastern tip of Takamatsu.
One hi-tech doll seen at the end of the
exhibition is what was called biwa hoshi or a blind biwa-playing
bard who traveled around chanting The Tale lf the Taira Family
even before it was written down in the first half of the 13th
century. Its opening passage is especially famous for its Buddhist
idea of impermanence that goes as follows:
The
bell of Gion Monastery tolls
The
impermanence of all worldly things.
The
color of sal blossoms shows the truth that
Even
the most prosperous inevitably decline.
The
proud will fall like a dream on a spring night.
The
valiant must perish, too, as
Frail
as dust blown by a puff of wind.
The doll begins to talk and sing the
first line of the opening passage when it senses visitors approaching.
Open daily. Admission:1,200 yen
Yoshida Shigeru, Prime Minister from
1946 to 1954, is credited with giving Japan direction through
her most difficult times after the war.
The
Seto Ohashi Bridge
The Kojima-Sakaide Route, popularly known
as the Seto Ohashi Bridge, was completed in 1988. It is the world's
longest two- tiered bridge system, stretching 13.1 km from Kojima
to Sakaide, connecting the 5 islands in between.
The 11 biridges in the system include
3 suspension bridges, 2 twin cagle-stayed, 1 truss and 5 viaducts.
The upper level accommodates a motor
expressway of four lanes, and the lower contains Japan Railway's
system for a dual track superexpress line in the future.
The first person to air the idea of the
Seto Ohashi Bridge was Okubo Jinnojo, a first Shikoku Roads to
link all the prefectures on the island. In 1889 Jinnojo disclosed
his dream in a congratulatory speech he made as a member of the
Prefectural Parliament at the opening ceremony of the first railroad
in shikoku between Marugame and Kotohira.
Exactly a century later, the Bridge came
into being after decades of planning and ten years of construction,
13 million workers involved (with the loss of 17 lives), and costing
1,190,000 million yen.
Surprisingly, Jinnojo has also foretold
man's traveling to the moon in his favorite drinking song of his
own making, which went as follows:
I'll
tell you, dear, don't laugh at me, a hundred years from now, I'll
be seeing you flying to and from the moon in a space ship. Its
port, let me tell you, dear, will be that mountaintop over there
!
One of the best points to view the Bridge
is Yoshima Island, a central pier of the Bridge. It also serves
as a sightseeing outpost for the shikoku and Inland sea Districts,
providing 2 parking areas for those who like to enjoy bridge-viewing,
seafood and shopping.
To
Yoshima: 20 minutes from JR Sakaide by Seto Ohashi Express.
Another is a rotating tower 132m tall
at the Seto Ohashi Memorial Park at the foot of the Bridge in
Sakaide. The Memorial Hall provides all kinds of information on
the Bridge and its construction,whigethe park itself applies modern
art to stone and water.
Admission
to the tower: 800 yen.
Admission
to the Hall: 510 yen.
To
the Seto Ohashi Memorial Park:10 minutes from JR Sakaide by shuttle
bus (free of charge).
The Gold Tower near JR Utazu Station
offers a marvelous view, too. The 144m tower made of half-mirror
glass is the tallest of its kind in Japan, housing the Sky Lounge,
restaurants, stores and a World Toilet Museum.
Open
daily. Admission to the tower: 800 yen / 1000 (Toilet Museum included).
To
Gold Tower: 8 minutes' walk from JR Utazu.
Bridge-viewing
cruises are available from Keihan Fisherman's Wharf on Yoshima,
Memorial Park and Sakaide Port. (1,000 yen- 1,500yen)
Marugame
City
- Castle
& uchiwa-
25
minutes' train ride from JR Takamatsu.
To
the Castle: 15 minutes' walk from JR Marugame.
The three-storied donjon on top of a
green hill crowns the city of Marugame. When a Marugame Province
of 53,000 koku was formed in 1641, an old castle was reconstructed
and the castle seen today dates back to 1660, one of the few genuine
Edo Period castles remaining in Japan.
The present-day Marugame is famous for
uchiwa or round paper fan manufacturing, producing about 90 %
of these fans in Japan.
The Castle Park, 15 minutes' walk from
JR Marugame, is surrounded by moats, featuring the donjon, a couple
of main gates (all Important Cultural Properties) and walls from
the 17th century. The 4-level 60m ramparts,the tallest and among
the most beautiful in Japan, also contribute to the beauty of
the castle.
O-shiro
Matsuri Castle Festival is held on the 3rd weekend in May.
The
Inokuma Genichiro Modern Art Museum adjacent to JR Marugame Station
is dedicated to Inokuma Genichiro.
Banshoen Garden built in 1688 as a villa
for the Lord of the Province in 10 minutes' drive from downtown
Marugame. One of the falleries there houses Chinese ceramic ware
and a collection of Iranian' earthenware and glassware dating
back to 2500 B.C. through the 1200's A.D. Open daily. Admission
to the Garden & Galleries: 1,000 yen. (Students : 600 yen,
Children: 400 yen)
10minutes'
walk from Nakazu-bashi Bus Stop after 10minute' ride from Marugame
Toricho near the castle. (Kotosan Bus for Zentsuji via Tadotsu)
Zentsu-ji
Temple
- the
Brithplace of Kobo Daishi -
[From
JR Kotohira] 5 minutes to JR Zentsuji by ordinary train.
[From
JR Takamatsu] 40 minutes to JR Zentsuji by express train (Dosan
Line).
25
minutes' walk from JR Zentsuji along the street in front of the
station.
Zentsu-ji Temple, is known as the birthplace
of Kobo Daishi Kukai. Kukai is one of the freatest feniuses Japan
has ever produced. He made a great contribution in remolding Japanese
religion, while making unparalleled achievements as a scholar,
poet, artist, calligrapher, sculptor, architect, educator, social
warker, inventor, discoventor, discoverer and civil engineer.
The giant camphor trees near the five-storied
pagoda in the East Precinct are said to have already been several
hundred years old when Kukai was born in 774. The Mieido Hall
in the West Precinct at the foot of the green hill is the Birthplace.
Visitors may traverse the basement of
the hall along a pitch-dark path. This introspective journey is
called kaidan-meguri. The entrance is at the right-hand corner
of the Hall. The entrance fee includens the admission to the Museum.
(300 yen)
The utter blackness along the path symbolizes
the darkness of the human mind or human ignorance of the Truth.
The notice says: "Go along with the palm of your left hand
pressed against the left-hand wall. The wall, painted with mandalas,
angels and lotus flowers, is the Bukkha's Way. You will be safely
guided as long as you are on His Way."
After the Kaidan-meguri, arrows fuide
you to the Museum. The temple treasures exhibited there include
a small clay pagoda Kukai molded at 7, a bowl used by Kukai as
a mendicant prient, a robe and a ritual stick (a National Treasure)
of Indian master Abbot Hui-kuo, and a sutra scroll (a National
Treasure) with each of the Chinese characters accompanied by a
little Bodhesattva on a lotus pedestal; Kukai did the calligraphy,
his mother the painting.
Shorinji
Kenpo - an art of self-degence -
Shorinji Kenpo is not merely a spot or
martial art, but a religious exercise to approach the Buddha's
spirit in the principles of "self-realization" and "help
each other."
It was started by So Doshin I (1911-1980)
in 1947. Two years before he had been repatriated from Manchuria,
the northeastern part of China that "Imperialist Japan"
held for 13 yeas till the end of World War 2. Doshin had seen
how people could be dehumanized in the dire extrenities of war
and its aftermath. "Developing good humanity is the only
way to save Japan and the world at large, " he kept saying
to himself. Doshin, who had learned various martial arts in China,
pondered over the Zen philosophy of Bodhidharma, trying to restore
the martial art that Bodhidharma himself was said to have practised
about 1,500 years ago when he brought Zen from India to China.
Finally Doshin succeeded in restoring and reorganizing the whole
body of that art, which he named Shorinji Kempo. Now its Headquarters
has more than 100 branches in 23 countries in the world.
The
Shorinji Kempo Headquarters (0877) 33-1010 is on the southern
slope of Tokyo Koen Park Hill 15 nimutes' walk from JR Tadotsu
Station.The Bodhidharma Festival is held on the 1st Sunday in
Octber.
Kotohira-gu
Shrine
- the
mecca of Kompira worshippers -
[ From JR Takamatsu to JR Kotohira]
60
minutes by shuttle train (Dodan Line).
[From Takamatsu Chikko]
70
minutes' tram ride to Kotohira (Kotoden).
[From JR Okayama]
67
minutes' train ride by special express.
2
hours to Kotoden Kotohira Sation by Seto Ohashi Kosoku Bus.
Especially
Noted Product: Ittobori woodcarving.
Kotohira-gu, a great shrine complex,
of ten affectionately called Kompira-san, has been a celebrated
destination for pilgrims and tourists for hundreds of years.
According to legend, Kompira-san came
into being when Kumbhira - a guardian god of the Ganges, was beckoned
by a Buddhist priest of Matsuo-ji, a tousand-years- old temple
in this neighborhood.
Kumbhira from the holy waters of the
Ganges was naturally believed to be a nighty patron deity for
seamen, fishermen and rice-growing farmers, and in later years
came to be comsidered a Great Incarnation of the Buddha himself.
But the temple remained a Shinto shrine
in part, whis Omononushi-no-mikoto, the native fod of fertility,
medicine and commerce also summoned from the mythological land
of Izumo. Omononushi-no-mikoto, along with Daikoku-ten representing
Chinese folk religion, were then identified with the Indian god
Kumbhira (Kompira), a case of religious internationalism in classical
Japan.
In 1868 Buddhism and Shintoism were separated
by law, and Omononushi became the chief god along with the deified
Emperor Sutoku who had been enshrined here in the 15th century.
Yet "Kompira Worship" continued to flourish, for the
Hindu deity had already enshrined himself deep in the hearts of
the Japanese people.
There are 785 stone steps to climb
before one reaches the Main Shrine. Fortunately its route consists
first of a colorful street of souvenir shops and then of a quiet
promenade lined with gardens, shrines and museums. The numberless
granite lanterns, fences and tablets bordering the approach ware
all the stone steps thenselves.
Many of shrine treasures in the Honotsukan
Museum, the Gakugeikan Museum, Omote-shoin and Oku-shoin Art Museum
were offered by famous artists, poets, lords of Provinces and
characters of historical renown. In the 17th century the Tokugawa
Shogun, too, dedicated a stipend of 330 koku to the shrine, augmenting
its prosperity.
Asahi-no-yashiro Shrine in the Buddhist
style is the former Main Hall. The present Main Hall is a few
more flights of stone steps above.
Emado Hall near the Main Shrine is a
gallery for votive tablets and offerings mainly from seamen. In
March 1889 there was offered a photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge
in New York - the Eighth Wonder of the Word at that time - dedicated
by a Hapanese acrobatic troupe that had comp;eted a tour around
the U.S.A. So it is thought that Okubo Jinnojo, seeing the photograph
here, was inspired to envision the Seto Ohashi Bridge that he
proposed in May that same year.
About an hour's walk to Okusha or the
Inner Sanctuary further along the path through primeval forest
is enjoyable to nature-lovers, though one has to clinb 583
more stone steps.
On
the night of October 10, grand procession starts at the Main Hall
at 9 p.m., slowly marching down the 785 stone steps into the downtown
streets as far as O-tabisho, the Sacred Destination. This is the
highlight of the 3-day Grand Festival of this time-honored shrine.
Izumo:
An ancient city in Shimane Pref. on the Japan
Sea;
one of the political and religious centers during the mythological
age.
Kompira
Oshibai Kabuki Theater
At the foot of the mountain there stands
Kompira Oshibai Kabuki Theater, the oldest Kabuki theater remaining
in Japan. A guide shows visitors around the building including
the primitive but ingenious device to operate the rotating stage.
Open
daily except Tuesdays.
Admission:
About 300 yen
In Kabuki Season in mid-April or May,first-class
Kabuki actors are invited from Tokyo or Osaka to perform under
almost the same conditions as their ancestors did in the 17th
through 19th centuries.
For further information about the dates
and tickets call the office of JR Shikoku in Takamatsu: (0878)
23-0973
Kotohiki
Koen Park
To
JR Kanonji from JR Takamatsu:70 minutes by shuttle train.
To
the Park: 20 minutes' walk across downtown Kanonji.
Kotohiki Koen Park features a pine-wooded
sand beach and a shady hill with the ancient shrine Kotohiki Hachiman-gu
at the top and two of the 88 Temples - Jinne-in and Kannon-ji
- at the foot.
One should not miss the Zenigata huge
coin known as Kan-ei-tsuho carved about 2 m deep in the shite
sand. It is best viewed from a hilltop observatory behind the
Hachiman-gu Shrine. Its broad rim looks completely circular from
there, but n reality it is elliptic with a circumference of 345
m. When and how it came into being is a mystery, providing a subject
for endless debate among local people.
Shodoshima
Island
kFrom Takamatsu Port]
35
minutes by speedboat to Tomosho Port.
Especially
Noted Products: olives, olive goods, soy sauce and somen noodles.
Shodoshima Island is the second largest
island in the Seto Inland Sea. It is nicknamed "Olive Island"
as olive saplings were successfully transplanted in 1908 from
Greece to the soil of this island of all places in Japan.
In spring and autumn a freat number of
pilgrims arrive here to make a tour around the 88 Sacred Places
of this island. For further information, call the Shodoshima Reijo-kai
(0879) 62-0227.
In summer, Futagoura Beach, Silver Beach
and many other beaches are favored by sum-bathers, swimmers, campers,
wind-surfers and water-skiers.
To
Futagoura Beach: 10 minutes' bus ride from Tonosho Port to Futagoura
Bus Stop.
Annual
sports events that attract a large number of participants are
as follows:
Olive
Half-Marathon 4th Sunday in May Triathlon early in September Turtle
Full-Maruthon Last Sumday in November To apply, call (0879) 82-4834
Rental
cycles are available at the ports of Tonosho and Sakate.(About
1000-1300yen a day)
Tonosho Port provides a starting point
for all the sightseeing routes on this island. The local bus services
are not frequent, but the sightseeing buses cover the main spots
of the island in 4 to 7 hours. Among the 3 courses offered, the
C course (About 3800 yen, excluding lunch and admission fees)
is the most recommendable.
It takes 5 and a half hours, beginning
with Choshikei Ravine and its Monkey Reserve, fp;;pwed by Kankakei
Ravine, a National Scenic Spot, known for its autumnal tints in
November, Taiyo-no-oka Highland, Nijushi no Hitomi Movie Village
and the Peacock Garden.
The
C course bus tour departs from Tonosho Port at 9:40 and 11:4@