Enchanted–Movie Review
This movie is primarily a parody of 3 classic Disney features: Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella. The producers didn’t need to worry about the iron fangs and razor claws… Read more »
Koya-san Corporate Monuments
We leave the cemetery by the “corporate monuments path,” along which major corporations have built monuments for the spiritual benefit of their workers (and also possibly for the advertising value.)
Koya-san: The Tale of the Poor Girl’s Lantern
Many years ago, in a time when the land was wracked by famine, a baby girl was abandoned by her desperate parents. An elderly couple found the child and decided… Read more »
Koya-san: The Okunoin
At the heart of the cemetery lies the Okunoin, a temple or mausoleum built over the cave where Kobodaishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, has spent the last 1,100 years… Read more »
Koya-san: The Okunoin Cemetery
On the eastern side of the plateau there is a gigantic cemetery, centuries old, where monuments for half a million people sit beneath towering 700-year-old trees.
Koya-san Accomodations
There are no hotels in Koya-san itself, but there are about 50 temples that will accommodate overnight guests for a reasonable fee. The Shojoshinin is one of the few that… Read more »
Koya-san
Koya-san is an alpine basin located in the mountains south of Osaka. It is the headquarters of the Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism. It was first settled in the year… Read more »
On High-Technology Toilets
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn, but “traditional” does not necessarily mean “primitive” or “austere.” Often they are equipped with all the latest modern conveniences. For example the toilet… Read more »
Takayama: The Ryokan and a Fancy Meal
The Asunaro Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) is similar to most such establishments. It has an old-fashioned look but provides most modern conveniences.
Takayama Festival Floats Exibition Hall
Takayama is noted for its spectacular Spring and Autumn Festivals which feature huge wooden floats: centuries old, brightly painted and intricately carved. Between festivals the floats can be seen in… Read more »