Osorezan

October 27 2011: Well, let's start off first by looking at the magnificent sunset we had a week or two ago! Sometimes I take sunset pictures and find I am actually facing East...but this one, is a westward facing shot.
But now we travel back in time a few days to October 23 for an impromptu road trip. After spending Saturday laying around like sloths, we decided to get out. Well, Shane and I decided, Andi wanted to continue with the slothness.

As is common at this time of year, it was a tad overcast (an important detail to remember later on), but no driving rain so we considered it to be great weather.
Road construction barriers still crack me up. Even the barriers are polite!

Now, our destination is a place called Osorezan. Sometimes referred to as "Mt. Dread" or "The Gates of Hell"

We knew we were getting close to our destination when we started coming across many roadside shrines.
This one below is one of the most elaborate, complete with mountain spring water. For those making a pilgrimage to Osorezan, this would be a stop.
All right, first up, is our links to explanations.....

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fv20061222a1.html

http://www.wa-pedia.com/japan-guide/osorezan_shimokita_hanto.shtml

http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/tohoku/aomori/shimokitapeninsula/d8jk7l000001bp3f.html

As we arrived at the main parking lot we were overwhelmed with the sulfur smell. Imagine 5000 rotting eggs....that's still not enough stench.

But let's get beyond that and do a little history courtesy of my brochure.

"About 1200 years ago, the Japanese Buddhist priest En'nin was studying Buddhism in China. One night he had a mysterious dream. In the dream a holy monk said to him 'When you return to Japan, go eastward. You will find a sacred mountain in thirty-days walk for Kyoto. Carve a statue of the bodhisattva Jizo and propagate Buddhism there.' En'nin returned to Japan. In spite of various hardships, he traveled through many provinces on foot in the hope of finding the sacred mountain. Finally he came to the mountainous are of Shimokita peninsula. There he found a place which met all the conditions required to be the sacred mountain for which he had been looking. Osorezan."
The site is impressive. The main temple is beautiful. I didn't take pictures of the inside, as most of the time it's not allowed at temples (unless directed to do so...as I have at others). This one was much less ornate than others we've seen. Very simple on the inside. Nothing simple about the outside. The picture above isn't of the temple, it's like the gateway building to the temple.


It's pretty bleak to look at, but at the same time an awesome site to see. If you go back to the links and read the one from Japan times, it explains in great detail the cairns and pinwheels. There were a lot of pinwheels about (for children who have died, whether a miscarriage, death in infancy or young child) but I think it was because one of the main gatherings had just taken place the previous weekend.

Above: Jizo (the following is from the brochure) ""Ji" means the mother earth. "Zo" means the womb, where life emerges and is nurtured. Jizo's virtue is linked to that of the mother earth, which never minds being tread on and willingly supports all in the world from below. His compassion is compared to motherly love, through which he shares the suffering of those in pain. Jizo vows to suffer hell himself to alleviate the pain of those condemned to hell, to free human beings from the illusions of life and death in this world, and to lead even heavenly beings of the purer world into eternal salvation. From the ancient period all kinds of people have visited this sacred area for various reasons. Some have come here to pray for the peaceful repose and salvation of their deceased parents. Others have come with hopes of reuniting with loved ones. Still others to deepen their own faith. People who live in this region have developed the belief that everyone will got to Osorezan after death"

Above: One of the 108 ponds of boiling water. And yes, it was boiling, and yes, it was hot. (I couldn't help it...you know how a waitress tells you "be careful, the plate is hot" and then you touch it? Same thing)
Andi is looking a tad unhappy. The sulfur smell was really getting to her. But being a compassionate parent I told her she would be "fine" (famous last words...she made it though!)

Lake Usori (above). The sulfur drains into the lake and has white sand beaches. Surrounding the entire area are 8 mountain peaks. Which are representative of the 8 petals on a lotus flower.

"In its central area there are 108 pond of boiling water and mud, which correspond with the 108 worldly desires and the hells linked to each of them. Side by side with the hellish ponds the woods, the lake and the coast of white sand present a wonderful scene, which suggests the beauty of Paradise."
It really was the quiet the contrast of heaven and hell, side by side.

Ah, the crows. There are few bugs to eat here (a few that we noticed, but not much survives) but the crows go where the food is. People leave offerings, including the persons favorite food and or drink. What the spirit doesn't take, the crows are allowed to have.
The bridge one must cross....the proverbial bridge over the river Styx. (that is over the section of lake where it drains into a river.)


To us, it looked like an old pier or roadway.
Keepers of the bridge.

A map of the area (above) naming the 8 peaks. We are up there where the gray(or purple) road meets with the red, towards the upper left.
Crossing the bridge.

As we left, we took a little detour up one of the mountains to Mt. Kamafuse Observatory. Thank goodness on the way were a couple of small pullout areas.

That lighthouse (below...you can just see the tiny white dot on the spit of land) is the same light house we have seen when we go to the wild horses! Totally cool to get this view point!
Below: A view of Mutsu.
Now, remember way back at the beginning how I said it was overcast?

Well, here are the clouds....
Mt. Observatory is up at 2575 feet.

http://www.japan-cities.com/aomori/mutsu-city/mtkamafuse-observatory-mutsu-city.html

Another "we are here" sign. We are at the red dot. The wild horses are the upper left and getting back to Misawa would be the eastern side, right hand corner, but far lower that what the map shows.
Oh, what magnificent views! No, the cloud cover didn't go away. There were large pictures inside the observatory of the views....thank goodness!

A most eclectic yard. We noticed it on our way up to Osorezan, stopped for pictures on the way back. As I was walking back to the car, realized that the trees had the bunches of grapes...hadn't noticed those before!

Stopped for snacks in Mutsu. Gotta love the orange building. Also like the name of the store.
And headed home we go. And look, a sunset picture look east. This is up in the village of Higadashori. One of the many favorite seaside villages that we go through.

October 15 2011

October 15, 2011 found us out in the city of Towada for one of our favorite festivals. The Yabusame! Horse Archery. I think I like this one the best as it's a smaller scale than a lot of the other festivals, the temperatures are just right, and no lines when it comes to waiting for food!

We got there in time on Saturday to see this happy fellow take his run. He got off no shots at all, but was smiling the whole time!
Ready! Aim! And, no, I can't tell you if he made the shot...I probably wasn't paying attention!


Riders and their various outfits are always a treat. Another thing about this event, you always know who the riders are!

You'll see the lady above in a little bit astride her ride!
(Above) Off to the side of each target there are always two young ladies. They are in charge of popping open their umbrella after the rider has passed to indicate a hit (for the judges further up the line) and the second young lady goes and picks up the arrows. They are usually off to the side and out of the line of fire. We did see one close call as the arrow collector didn't realize that a rider was coming down the line. You should've seen her eyes pop wide as she did a very quick squat to the ground to get out of the way. I think it may have surprised the rider as well, but in true form, took the shot and made it. The collector retrieved the arrow (they don't have points on them, but round balls that they shoot through a Styrofoam target) let out a big breath and started that uncontrollable giggling. (Aunt Inga arrived in Japan!)
All the riders were missing above was a warm campfire to gather around.

Andi got one of the biggest treats of the day. Well, two, maybe three treats! (what a day for her) First, her best friend got to come along. Nothing like a companion to go with you to take away the pain of having to be with your parents. Second, the our neighbor family, and great friends, came a little after we did (Andi loves playing their 2 year old daughter) and three.....we FINALLY paid out the 500Y for her and her friend (who had never been on a horse) to take a ride on a couple of ponies. It wasn't a wild ride by any means, twice around the little ring, lead by an escort (my kind of ride really), but for Andi it was a piece of heaven!

In another ring was an exhibition of English Dressage. They are there every year as well. I'm always impressed with how many jumps they squeeze into such a small arena.



Above, a couple of tired horses! (or perhaps they are ponies....they seem small to me)

Because every Samurai shouldn't be without his digital camera! (above)



The event seemed more subdued this year. Of course it had just finished raining. So not as many spectators. But more than that, there weren't as many horses as we've seen in the previous two years we've gone. Some of our favorites were missing (I think we've had 3 or 4 in the last two years that we could pick out) and there didn't seem to be as many big horses. It makes my heart heavy to think some of the riders and horses may have been from the areas affected by the tsunami. Shane tried to look at the upside and perhaps it's just the economy. That would make me feel better, but with a heavy sigh, I can't help but think the worst, and hope for the best.
Andi and Zayla, and well, the other friend moved at the last minute! That's a hot dog/sausage they are sharing. Really, Shane and I think it more of a mystery meat!
And, of course, the food!

Homemade lollipops.

Burger to die for! The burger patty hasn't been placed on this one yet, but this is how they do it Japanese style! Lettuce (though it could be cabbage), tomato, one sunny side up egg, and whatever sauce they use, plus the burger. Shane's had one before and assures me they are rather tasty.
One final horse to pet!
One last stop in the civic center to check out the local artists. This was by far my most favorite display!

So, on we go with another week. Not sure there is a lot planned for the week, aside from school, school and well, oh yes, the dreaded house work! Now that's a toss up, clean the bathrooms, or wish that I was a 5th grader and suffering through math.....yeah, I'll take the bathrooms!