Katsuyori and Hosenji

Hōsen(zen)ji 法泉(禅)寺 was built in 1330 by Takeda Nobutake 武田信武 (1292-1359). He invited Gesshū zenji 月舟禅師 who was one of the leading disciples of Musō Soseki 夢窓疎石 (1275-1351), also known as Musō Kokushi 夢窓国師, as the resident priest*. This temple is famous for the tomb of Takeda Katsuyori 武田勝頼 (1546-1582). After Shingen's death (1573), Katsuyori took over as head of the Takeda's family, but the clan was defeated by the coalition troops of Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 and Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 at the Battle of Nagashino 長篠の戦い (1575) and then was declining. In 1582, Katsuyori, the family and the remaining subordinates suffered defeat to the combined forces at the Battle of Temmokuzan 天目山の戦い and he and his family commited suicide. Then Nobunaga ordered to put Katsuyori's head on public display at the Rokujō-gawara 六条河原 (known as an execution ground) in Kyoto. Kaigaku 快岳, the resident priest of Hōsenji at the time, knew that and brought the head back to the temple. And he built Katsuyori's tomb.
*Gesshū declined to be Kaizan, the first resident priest, of Hōsenji, asked his master Soseki to be it and became the second.


Shōrōmon 鐘楼門, built in 1636.


Garden lanterns and Hondō 本堂, built in 1680.


One of 16 Arhat Statues


Kongōfukujusan 金剛福聚山



■ Hosenji's Official Web Site (Japanese version only)

■ View Kongōfukujusan Hōsenzenji 金剛福聚山 法泉禅寺 on Google My Maps

■ Refer to Kofu-Gozan & Kai Zenkoji and Kai Pilgrimage

■ Reference Data
・Hosenji's Official Web Site
・Wikipedia

AT A SPORTS PARK

There are a lot of filming locations in Yamanashi and some scenes of Water Boys 2 (2004) was shot at the athletics track field and the indoor pool / accommodation facility on the following picture. Also at an outdoor pool in the sports park, some scenes of Limit of Love: Umizaru 海猿 [also known as Umizaru 2: Test of Trust] (2006) was shot.

Tokoji and Rankei Doryu

Hōgaizan Tōkōji 法蓋山 東光寺 is a temple associated with Rankei Dōryū 蘭渓道隆 (also known as Daikaku Zenji 大覚禅師) (1213-1278). He, from Southern Song 南宋(1127-1279), dynasty of China, was a founder of Kenchō-ji 建長寺 which is one of the most famous Zen temples in Japan. After he tried to diffuse Rinzai Zen 臨済禅 at Sennyūji 泉涌寺 in Kyoto and so on, he came to Kamakura 鎌倉 on invitation by Hōjō Tokiyori 北条時頼 and became Kaizan, the first resident priest, of Kenchō-ji. Then he played a further active role in popularization of Zen in Kamakura & Kyoto, but, entrapped by a scheme, he had been banished to Yamanashi (Kai) for a period of time. Takeda clan which was a Shugo 守護, military governor, of Kai, gave him a warm welcome. With the help of Takeda clan, he resuscitated a temple and renamed it "Tōkōji."


Taken in front of Sanmon 山門, of which at the back you can see Butsuden 仏殿

EDIT:

Chūmon 中門 (Middle gate) and a bell tower 鐘楼


Garden


Azumaya 四阿 (Arbor)


Butsuden, built in Tenbun era 天文年間 (1532-1555) and designated as a national important cultural property, where it is said there are some sword-cut-marks of Nobunaga's troops.


Butsuden and Bhaisajyaguru statue 薬師如来像 as the principal image 御本尊


Hondō 本堂


Busshintō 佛心塔, built for the purpose of performing services in perpetuity for the repose of departed souls.

■ Tokoji's Official Web Site (Japanese version only)

■ View Hōgaizan Tōkōji 法蓋山 東光寺 on Google My Maps

■ Refer to Kofu-Gozan & Kai Zenkoji and Kai Pilgrimage

■ Reference Data
・Tokoji's Official Web Site
・Wikipedia

FIREWORK FESTIVALS

Speaking of Japanese Summer, I think of fireworks. In Yamanashi, a lot of firework festivals are held every year. I would like to introduce to some of them.

■ Yamanakako Hōkosai 山中湖報湖祭 (Firework festival of Lake Yamanaka) August 1 (19:30～21:00)
・Firework festival of Lake Yamanaka on YouTube

■ Lake Kawaguchi on-the-lake festival 河口湖湖上祭 (Kawaguchiko-kojōsai) August 4 (20:00～20:30) &5 (19:30～21:00)
・Lake Kawaguchi on-the-lake festival 河口湖湖上祭　on YouTube
EDIT :
・Lake Kawaguchiko's "Kojōsai" fireworks festival (FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO Sightseeing information site)
・Access Guide (FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO Sightseeing information site)

■ Shinmei no Hanabi Taikai 神明の花火大会 (Firework festival of Shinmei) August 7 (19:30～21:00)
・神明の花火大会(2008) HD1280x720p版 by AQUA Geo Graphic on YouTube
EDIT :
・神明の花火大会　Shinmei-no-hanabi-taikai　The Fireworks of Shinmei on '日本吉 nippon-kichi'

■ Nanbu no Himatsuri 南部の火祭り (Firework festival of Nanbu) August 15 (20:00~21:00)
・Firework festival of Nanbu on YouTube

■ Isawa Onsen Hanabi Taikai 石和温泉花火大会 (Isawa Hot Springs Firework festival) August 21 (19:30~21:30)
・Isawa Hot Springs Firework festival on YouTube

■View FIREWORK FESTIVALS 花火大会 on Google My Maps

チャイルドフッド（childhood）

チャイルドフッド which is a female duo, erina and mayumi from Yamanashi, was set up in September 2003. Then the duo has been awarded prizes in several local music contests, especially awarded a grand prize in KARUIZAWA Love Song AWARD 2007. In September '08, they released the first indie album "Taisetsu na Jikan 大切な時間 (important time)" and until now have performed live concerts on a regular basis in Yamanashi, Tokyo and so on.

■Songs on YouTube
・Hanabi 花火 (Firework) (the Grand Prize song in KARUIZAWA Love Song AWARD 2007)
・Kokoro no Kakera 心のカケラ (Fragments of the Heart)

■LINKS
・チャイルドフッド's official site (Japanese version only)
・ibaneez's channel on YouTube, where you can watch many live videos of チャイルドフッド.

50~80's Photographs

I have been fascinated with the pictures which have been archived by Incorporated NPO 'Study Society for Digitalization of Regional Data 特定非営利活動法人 地域資料デジタル化研究会 (Digi-KEN).' In the photos, people, sceneries, disasters and so on in 50~80's Yamanashi show up.

■LINKS
・Digi-KEN's official site (Japanese version only)
・Digi-KEN's site on Flickr
・Digi-KEN's channel on YouTube

DAZAI in KOFU

  Taken in front of the stone monument of his now-defunct house 新居跡



















 

Taken at Misaki Shrine 御崎神社

■View Osamu Dazai 太宰治 and Yamanashi on Google My Maps
■Refer to Osamu Dazai

FIVE-STORIED STUPA

Minobusan 身延山 Kuonji 久遠寺 which is the 108th temple of Kai 108 Reijō Pilgrimage is also the head temple of Nichirenshū 日蓮宗 to which about 5200 temples & about 3.3 million people belong. Its five-storied stupa 五重塔 was rebuilt in May this year, for the first time for about 130 years, and is 39 meters high.

Takashi Shikano 鹿野貴司, photographer, who had taken about 80 thousand pictures of the process of building the structure, carpenters, monks, changes of the seasons & various events of the temple for 2 years, holds the exhibition "The five-storied stupa coming back, Minobusan Kuonji 甦る五重塔 身延山久遠寺" where you can see 42 selected pictures. The venues are at Tokyo, Sapporo & Sendai.

- TOKYO -
Venue：Canon Gallery Ginza
Address：東京都中央区銀座3-9-7 トレランス銀座ビルディング1F (Google Map)
Term：July 2 ～ July 8, 2009
Hours：10:00 ～ 19:00（the final day : ～ 15:00）
Closed：Sunday
Admission：no charge

- SAPPORO -
Venue：Canon Gallery Sapporo
Address：北海道札幌市北区北7条西1-1-2 SE山京ビル1F (Google Map)
Term：August 17 ～ August 28, 2009
Hours：9:00 ～ 17:30（the final day : ～ 15:00）
Closed：Saturday & Sunday
Admission：no charge

- SENDAI -
Venue：Canon Gallery Sendai
Address：：宮城県仙台市青葉区国分町3-6-1 仙台パークビルヂング1F (Google Map)
Term：September 24 ～ October 2, 2009
Hours：9:00 ～ 17:30（the final day : ～ 15:00）
Closed：Saturday & Sunday
Admission：no charge

■ Link
・Takashi Shikano's official web site and official blog site

View Mt.Fuji from Lake Motosu

Would you know what is printed on the reverse side of one thousand yen notes (or old five thousand yen notes[used from 1984 to 2007])?
If you have it now, please check it on.

You are able to see Mt.Fuji & its inverted reflection on the surface of the lake on it. The reflection is called "Sakasa Fuji 逆さ富士."

The image is made on the model of a picture which was taken at the edge of Lake Motosu 本栖湖 by KŌYŌ OKADA 岡田紅陽 (1895-1972) and is called "Kohan no Haru (Spring by the lake) 湖畔の春".

■Photos on the WEB
Mt.Fuji from Lake Motosu, on Flickr

■ EDIT :
・BUS TIMETABLE(Fujikyū Bus) (Fuji Station / Shimobe hot springs / Motosuko - Shojiko - Kawaguchiko station - Fujikyūhighland - Fujiyoshida station) Japanese version only / The nearest bus stop to Lake Motosu is Motosu Iriguchi 本栖入口 or Motosuko 本栖湖.
・Lake Motosu excursion boat 'MOGURAN もぐらん' (translated by Yahoo!Japan Translation Service)

■Shiki-no-Mori Oshino Park Koyo Okada Photo Museum　四季の杜 おしの公園　岡田紅陽写真美術館 　(Japanese version only)
The admission fee (only Permanent exhibition) is Adult : 500 yen / Elementary & Middle school student : 300 yen / preschool-age : charge-free (the other exhibitions : extra costs).
HOURS: 9:00-17:00 (Entry permitted up to 16:30)
CLOSED: The regular closing day is Tuesday, the day following a national holiday (except Saturday and Sunday), during the year-end and New Year holidays (December 28 to January 1) and so on. When Tuesday falls on a national holiday, the museum will be closed instead on the following day. But because these are with some exceptions, please view Closed days calendar on the above link for details (Procedure : visiting the museum ご利用案内 → 休館日カレンダー[yellow button]).
ACCESS : a) Take about 15min from Kawaguchiko I.C.[Exit] (Chūō Expressway) via National Route 138 by car
b) Take about 30min from Gotenba I.C. [Exit] (Tōmei Expressway) via National Route 138 by car
c) Take buses bound for Uchino 内野 or Hirano 平野 (via Uchino) from Fuji Kyūkō Line Fujiyoshida Station and drop off the bus at Shiki-no-Mori Oshino Kōen bus stop. You have immediate access to the Museum from there.
d) Take buses bound for Fujiyoshida Station or Kawaguchiko Station (not via Zentana 膳棚 (Oshino Hakkai 忍野八海)) from JR Mishima Station and drop off the bus at Oshino Iriguchi 忍野入口 bus stop. The museum is 10 minutes walk from the bus stop. But if you take buses via Zentana, drop off the bus at Shiki-no-Mori Oshino Kōen bus stop. You have immediate access to the Museum from there.
BUS TIMETABLE(Fujikyū Bus) (Japanese version only) Shiki-no-Mori Oshino Kōen bus stop is between Oshino Iriguchi and Omiyabashi お宮橋 / Zentana (Oshino Hakkai).
・ Fujiyoshida Station - Oshino Hakkai - Uchino
・ Mishima Station - Gotemba Station - (Yamanakako / Oshino Hakkai) - Fujiyoshida Station - Fujikyūhighland - Kawaguchiko station

■View View Mt.Fuji from Lake Motosu on Google My Maps

■Reference data
新旧お札・逆さ富士の不思議 on "地域探検！ナビィシティー" (Japanese version only)

YAMANASHI PEACH CAFE (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

"Yamanashi Momo(peach) Cafe やまなし桃カフェ" opens, for a limited time only, from today to 31th July at Shinjuku Southern Terrace shop 新宿サザンテラス店 of TRAVEL CAFE. You can eat a parfait and drink juices & cocktails, made from peaches grown in Yamanashi.

■HOURS : Weekday & Saturday 10:00～23:00 / Sunday & National Holiday 10:00～22:00

■MENU
Day Time Menu
Night Time Menu(17:30~)
(Japanese versions only)

■View Yamanashi Momo(peach) Cafe やまなし桃カフェ on Google My Maps

Climbing Mt.Fuji

Do you remember what I said to you about the climbing condition in the Southern Alps the other day? I heard, this year, there are a lot of snow on climbing routes in the vicinity of the summit of Mt.Fuji, too. Therefore, though Yamabiraki 山開き ceremony will be held today, Yoshidaguchi Trail 吉田口登山道 is permitted (to climb) only up to 8 1/2th Station(8.5合目)and three climbing routes in Shizuoka Pref are also under the similar conditions. According to newspapers, the concerned people are removing snow and, as early as today early evening, you would be able to start to climb up to the summit on the Yoshidaguchi trail, but full-opening of the other three is nowhere in sight.

■INFORMATION
・Fuji Visitor Center
・Climbing Mount Fuji on "japan-guide.com"
・Climbing Mount Fuji: Guide for Getting Lost in Japan on "The Gray's in Japan"

■EDIT (July 1, 2009)
Right now (at noon July 1st), you can climb up to the summit of Mt.Fuji on the Yoshidaguchi trail due to removing snow, but the other three routes in Shizuoka Pref remain shut down in the vicinity of the summit and, because descent routes (from the summit to the 5th station) remains shut down due to potential avalanches, the climbing (ascent) route will be used as descent route FTTB.

■EDIT2 (July 5, 2009)
- Information -
・Mt.Fuji Navi (Lodge / Access Map / Traffic Information)
- Closure Areas-
・Yoshida(-guchi) Trail : the descent route from the summit to the 5th station (the ascent route will be used as descent route FTTB)
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 8th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit
・Subashiri Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 5th station to the summit

■EDIT3 (July 8, 2009)
From today at noon, the blocked descent route on Yoshida(-guchi) Trail has been opened.
- Closure Areas-
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 8th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit
・Subashiri Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 5th station to the summit

■EDIT4 (July 9, 2009)
Tomorrow (July 10 at 0:00 A.M.), all of the blocked route on Subashiri Trail and the blocked route from 8th to 9th station on Fujinomiya Trail will be opened.
- Closure Areas- (July 10 or later)
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 9th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit

■EDIT5 (July 10, 2009)
- Information -
・Mount Fuji Guide (Mt.Fuji News (update) / Travel / Event / Forum etc )
- Closure Areas- (July 10 or later)
・Fujinomiya Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 9th station to the summit
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit

■EDIT6 (July 13, 2009)
Tomorrow (July 14 at 0:00 A.M.), all of the blocked route on Fujinomiya Trail will be opened.
- Closure Areas- (July 14 or later)
・Gotenba Trail : All along the ascent & descent routes from the 6th station to the summit

■EDIT7 (July 17, 2009)
Today (at noon on July 17), all of the blocked route on Gotenba Trail will be opened.

■EDIT8 (July 25, 2009)
How to apply the climbing mountain certificate of Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi Prefecture Tourist Association)

* If you'd like to get the up-to-date information, please refer to Fuji Visitor Center.

WARNING! Although the rainy season has been over in Kanto region, Yamanashi & Nagano, the weather conditions have still continued to be poor. When climbing, you have to put on the appropriate clothes and carry the proper equipments. Please beware of your physical condition & the weather.