|
|
JR Koka Station on the JR Kusatsu Line opened its new station building in Nov. 2005. Resembling a farmer's warehouse on the outside, the inside has a number of surprises. MAPNorth side
|
|
JR Koka Station north (Kitaguchi) side.
|
|
Ninja statue in front of JR Koka Station, Shiga Prefecture.
|
|
Map of Koka Station and a guide to the "Koka Station Trick Art." Seven wall murals of ninja paintings inside the station.
|
|
On the north side, the waiting room has this large painting. The shadow areas is where you can stand and pose for a picture.
|
|
Koka Station's 2nd floor corridor has shuriken (ninja throwing knives) design on the floor.
|
|
Wall mural sideways, showing ninja and a river.
|
|
Ceiling painting of ninja appearing from a cloak. You can have someone "touch" the tip of the cloak.
|
|
Near the turnstile entrance. These ninja wall murals are called "Trick Art." They look three-dimensional and you can interact with the paintings. You can pose within the painting itself. A brilliant idea. トリックアート
|
|
The stairway on the south side of Koka Station has this dramatic mural of ninja in action.
|
|
Ninja painting in Koka Station.
|
|
This painting uses a real bench where you can sit down and pose with the ninja. JR Koka Station on the JR Kusatsu Line, Shiga Prefecture.
|
|
Suspended ninja in a painting next to the elevator. You supposed to sit on the floor and make like the ninja is coming after you.
|
|
JR Koka Station, south entrance.
|
|
The south entrance has community room serving as an exhibiiton space. It also displays medicines made by Koka medicine makers. Many ninja families in Koka were medicine makers.
|
|
Sign on south side of Koka Station. There's a ninja character climbing up the sign, but the map does not show the ninja village or ninja house.
|
|
The old JR Koka Station (south side), photographed in 2004. It was a small station.
|
|
Kusuri Gakushukan Medicine Museum across from Kafuka Yume no Mori park. 20-min. walk from Koka Station. くすり学習館 MAP
|
|
Inside the Kusuri Gakushukan Medicine Museum which is quite new. Phone: 0748-88-8110, Hours: 9:30 am - 5 pm, closed Mon. (open if a national holiday and closed on Tue. instead)
|
|
The Koka area was rich in medicinal herbs. This mural depicts women picking the herbs in Koka in the old days.
|
|
The rich medicinal herbs in Koka spawned numerous pharmaceutical companies in Koka.
|
|
Display case showing medicines made by pharmaceutical companies in Koka.
|
|
Medicines made by pharmaceutical companies in Shiga Prefecture.
|
|
|
|
|
The Medicine Museum has a large permanent exhibition room.
|
|
|
Medicine factories and companies in Shiga Prefecture.
|
|
|
|
|
Mt. Ibuki in Maibara is also noted for many herbs since centuries ago.
|
|
Hino-shonin merchants based in nearby Hino town helped to sell Koka's medicines.
|
|
God of Medicinal Herbs
|
|
|
|
To make medicinal powder.
|
|
Medicine cabinet.
|
|
|
|
|
Room for changing exhibitions.
|
|
Kafuka Yume no Mori park across the street. 鹿深夢の森
|
|
Kafuka Yume no Mori park 鹿深夢の森
|
|
Public Library in Kafuka Yume no Mori park.
|
|
Inside the Public Library in Kafuka Yume no Mori park.
|
|
Red bridge near Rakuyaji temple.
|
|
Rakuyaji temple entrance 櫟野寺 MAP
|
|
Way to Rakuyaji temple.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rakuyaji temple gate and paper lantern.
|
|
Rakuyaji temple main worship hall. Inside is Japan's largest statue of a seated Kannon Buddha with 11 faces. The Buddha is hidden, shown only once every 33 years. Last shown in fall 2018. 日本最大坐仏十一面観音菩薩 櫟野寺
|
|
Rakuyaji temple Hondo hall and sumo ring. However, the seated Buddha is behind closed doors, and public viewing is rare. We can only see a picture of it. Photography is not allowed.
|
|
Rakuyaji temple's bell.
|
|
About the temple's sumo connection.
|
|
Reiki sacred tree. 霊木
|
|
About the Reiki sacred tree. 霊木
|
|
Rakuyaji temple office where you pay the 500 yen admission fee to enter the main Hondo hall (open 9:00 am - 5 pm, till 4 pm in winter). Pilgrims can also get the temple's autograph and seal in their pilgrimage book.
|
|
Jizo statues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
