 Last additions - Ibigawa 揖斐川町 |
These plastic seats look like they are from 1980s shinkansen stations.Dec 16, 2021
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At Kita-Godo Station, these plastic seats look like they are from 1980s shinkansen stations.Dec 16, 2021
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Seats have a gourd design.Dec 16, 2021
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Ibi StationDec 16, 2021
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Ibi Station platform.Dec 16, 2021
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One-car train at Ibi Station.Dec 16, 2021
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End of Ibigawa Line at Ibi Station.Dec 16, 2021
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Train for Ogaki at Ibi Station.Dec 16, 2021
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Ibi StationDec 16, 2021
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Map of Ibigawa Town.Dec 16, 2021
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Ibi Station.Dec 16, 2021
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Bus stop at ibi Station.Dec 16, 2021
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Bus ride to Ibi Station.Dec 16, 2021
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Going to ibi Station.Dec 16, 2021
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Shuttle bus back to the train station.Dec 16, 2021
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Buses go to Tanigumi-guchi Station (Tarumi Line) or Ibi Station (Ibigawa Line). Very infrequent, so check and remember the return bus schedule when you arrive here.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumi-san bus stop and shelter.Dec 16, 2021
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Manhole in Ibigawa, Gifu.Dec 16, 2021
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Walking back to the bus stop in late afternoon light.Dec 16, 2021
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Giant straw sandal on Niomon Gate.Dec 16, 2021
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Niomon GateDec 16, 2021
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Niomon GateDec 16, 2021
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Maples facing the Mangando hall.Dec 16, 2021
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See no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil by three wise tanuki. Apparently all virile males. Not monkeys, how surprising. Dec 16, 2021
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Big belly tanuki.Dec 16, 2021
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This tanuki near Mangando looks pregnant. But it cannot be pregnant because it's male. Not sure why it has an extra large stomach. No explanation.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanuki statueDec 16, 2021
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Origami cranes at Mangando.Dec 16, 2021
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TanukiDec 16, 2021
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The word "Mangan" means "fulfillment of one's prayer/request" in reference to the completion of the 33-temple pilgrimage. People who complete the pilgrimage are considered to be superior to others. And so the Japanese phrase "ta wo nuku" (他を抜く), meaning "surpassing others," applies to them. Since "ta wo nuku" almost sounds like "tanuki," they have all these tanuki here.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanuki is a raccoon dog considered to be an auspicious symbol commonly decorating the entrance to a shop or restaurant.Dec 16, 2021
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About the Mangando (満願堂).Dec 16, 2021
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The third building pilgrims must visit here is the Mangando (満願堂) after going up 33 stone steps right behind the main hall. It houses an 11-faced Kannon statue. I saw a few pilgrims chant a sutra here. The interesting feature here is the tanuki stone statues flanking the Mangando on the left and right.Dec 16, 2021
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Kannon statueDec 16, 2021
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Mangan stone lantern and Kannon statueDec 16, 2021
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33 stone steps to Mangando Hall (満願堂).Dec 16, 2021
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Origami cranes at Koyasu-do and Oizurudo.Dec 16, 2021
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Offerings inside Koyasu-do. 子安堂Dec 16, 2021
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Inside Koyasu-do, a small altar hall to pray for safe childbirth and child raising. 子安堂Dec 16, 2021
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Koyasu-do is a small altar hall to pray for safe childbirth and child raising. 子安堂Dec 16, 2021
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Old group photo of pilgrims who completed the Saigoku Pilgrimage here.Dec 16, 2021
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The Oizurudo altar hall is where pilgrims who completed the 33-temple Saigoku pilgrimage offer their pilgrimage implements. You can see walking sticks, Chinaman's hats, and a lot of pilgrims' white oizuru (笈摺) vests (photo) which are like sleeveless happi coats or haori. The pilgrims have it stamped with each temple's vermillion stamp.Dec 16, 2021
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Pilgrims who complete the Saigoku Pilgrimage supposed to visit three buildings at this No. 33 temple. Besides the Hondo main hall, there is this small altar hall called Oizurudo (笈摺堂).Dec 16, 2021
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Oizurudo (笈摺堂)Dec 16, 2021
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Oizurudo is where pilgrims who completed the 33-temple Saigoku pilgrimage offer their pilgrimage implements. (笈摺堂)Dec 16, 2021
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Shinto shrine.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumi-san bell tower and shrine.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumi-san bell tower.Dec 16, 2021
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Statues at the back of the main hall.Dec 16, 2021
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Paper prayer labels (¥20).Dec 16, 2021
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This lady probably wants to cure her impaired hearing. Koke-no-mizu Jizo statue (苔の水地蔵尊)Dec 16, 2021
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Inside Tanigumi-san Hondo main hall. People pray here for family safety, pregnancy, safe childbirth, business prosperity, transportation safety, passing an exam, recovery from illness, good relationships, and just about everything else.Dec 16, 2021
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In the back of the temple is a small altar worshipping this Koke-no-mizu Jizo statue (苔の水地蔵尊). People affix these paper prayer labels (¥20) (with water) to heal their ailment on the corresponding part of their body. Dec 16, 2021
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Prayer beads inside the dark, basement passage.Dec 16, 2021
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Inside Tanigumi-san Hondo main hall. It worships a hidden 11-faced Kannon statue. The last time the statue was displayed to the public was on March 1–14, 2009. Dec 16, 2021
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People who completed the 33-temple pilgrimage can rub this fish (made of bronze) to mark the end of their abstinence (精進落ち). The pillar on the left also has a koi fish hanging (not visible).These days, I'm sure most pilgrims do the pilgrimage by car or train. Too far to walk it.Dec 16, 2021
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View from the top of the temple steps. Notice on the wooden pillar on the right, there's a koi carp fish hanging on it. Dec 16, 2021
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About Tanigumi-san Hondo main hall.Dec 16, 2021
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At the end of the maple-lined path is Tanigumi-san Kegonji Temple's Hondo main worship hall rebuilt in 1879. (谷汲山 華厳寺)Dec 16, 2021
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Next to the Hondo Hall is a stone monument/sign for Kegonji Temple.Dec 16, 2021
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Daishido Temple 大師堂Dec 16, 2021
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Steps to the Hondo main hall.Dec 16, 2021
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Hall that keeps 33 Kannon statues. Not open to the public. 三十三所堂Dec 16, 2021
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Kyodo Hall near the steps to the Hondo Hall. 経堂Dec 16, 2021
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Approaching the Hondo main hall.Dec 16, 2021
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Meioin Temple 明王院Dec 16, 2021
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Meioin Temple 明王院Dec 16, 2021
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Meioin Temple is where worshippers can receive the temple seal. 明王院Dec 16, 2021
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Rakando Hall 羅漢堂Dec 16, 2021
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Some greenery too.Dec 16, 2021
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Juodo Hall is a small worhsip hall (closed) on the way to Kegonji. 十王堂Dec 16, 2021
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Textural tree trunk.Dec 16, 2021
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Stone marker for the 33rd and last temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage temple in western Japan (西国三十三所).Dec 16, 2021
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After the Niomon Gate, the path continues along a straight, tree-lined route.Dec 16, 2021
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Jizo-do Hall in a pond. 地蔵堂Dec 16, 2021
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Map of the many buildings at Tanigumi-san.Dec 16, 2021
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Niomon Gate.Dec 16, 2021
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Niomon Gate. Getting closer to the main worship hall.Dec 16, 2021
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Stone lanterns marking the intersection of the old Tanigumi Kaido to Yokokura.Dec 16, 2021
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Souvenir shop.Dec 16, 2021
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Public restroom in a tradtional-style building.Dec 16, 2021
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During autumn, a local event selling local food. This is in the parking lot behind the Ibigawa Tourist Information Plaza.Dec 16, 2021
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Inside Ibigawa Tourist Information Plaza. 揖斐川町観光プラザDec 16, 2021
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Ibigawa Tourist Information Plaza is also on the temple path. Friendly staff giving local tourist information. 揖斐川町観光プラザDec 16, 2021
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Map of all the gift shops and restaurants along the path to Tanigumi-san.Dec 16, 2021
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So much autumn eye candy to the temple.Dec 16, 2021
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As soon as you get off the shuttle bus and see the path to the temple, you see these maple leaves.Dec 16, 2021
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This Somon Gate (総門) marks the start of the path leading to Tanigumi-san. The shuttle bus stop is slightly beyond this gate.Dec 16, 2021
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A few nice views from the bus to Tanigumi-san.Dec 16, 2021
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At the station, a shuttle bus (Ibigawa-cho Fureai bus) awaits to take tourists to Tanigumi-san. Short bus ride, but the bus runs only once every 90 minutes until 2:30 pm.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumiguchi Station, small little train station with no staff.Dec 16, 2021
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Get off here at Tanigumiguchi Station on the Tarumi Line. Dec 16, 2021
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There are some nice views along the train line.Dec 16, 2021
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From the train, you see a lot of persimmon groves. This area of Gifu (Mizuho, Motosu, Ibigawa, etc.) is where the fuyu-gaki variety of persimmons (富有柿) originated in the late 19th century.Now grown all over western Japan. Gifu Prefecture is Japan's second largest producer of fuyu-gaki persimmons after Nara Prefecture. If you walk around these neighborhoods, you might see persimmons for sale for cheap in front of a house.
Unfortunately, a few of these farmers are seeing thieves stealing their fruit. They will likely install more security cameras.Dec 16, 2021
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Tarumi Line starts here at JR Ogaki Station. Only one train car on this rural line.Dec 16, 2021
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Tarumi Line starts here at JR Ogaki Station on the JR Tokaido Line. You can buy Tarumi Line tickets on the platform when transferring from a JR train.Dec 16, 2021
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Nearest train station toTanigumi-san is Tanigumiguchi Station on the Tarumi Line. Small little train station with no staff. Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumi-san (Kegonji) Hondo main worship hall.Dec 16, 2021
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List of the 33 Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage temples in western Japan (西国三十三所). Tanigumi-san is on the bottom of the list.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumi-san (Kegonji) Hondo main worship hall.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumi-san is also one of the 33 Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage temples in western Japan (西国三十三所). It's the last temple (No. 33) on the Saigoku pilgrimage as this stone marker indicates. It's the only one not in western Japan.Dec 16, 2021
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It wasn't exactly a tunnel of maple trees, but it was pretty close. On sunny days, the leaves glow. The temple is quite out of the way, but it was worth coming here.Dec 16, 2021
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Tanigumi-san (谷汲山 華厳寺) is a Tendai Buddhist temple noted for numerous autumn foliage, especially red maple leaves. Also called Kegonji Temple.It has a nice path to the temple lined with autumn leaves in November. Dec 16, 2021
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This path to the temple is the main highlight lined with lots of maple trees and souvenir shops. When I visited, many of the leaves were still in transition, changing from green to yellow to red. So the gradation or triple colors were really beautifuDec 16, 2021
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