天空の聖地

高野山　Koyasan

やっと行きました、ユネスコ世界遺産である高野山へ。ずっと前から行きたかったところです。標高約850mにある山盆地の町です。空気が美味しい！水が綺麗！歴史が深い！見るところが多い！素晴らしいところです。行ったよかった！
At last, I visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Koyasan. I've been wanting to visit here for many years.  It is a town situated in a mountain bowl at an altitude of about 850 meters. The air is delicious! The water is crystal clear! It's history is rich! It has many places to see! It's an amazing place! I'm glad I went!

NOTE: Click any photo to enlarge.  注意:どれでもの写真を拡大するのにクリックして

私のホテル！午後9時に仕事が終わって、10頃出発しました。 My hotel! I finished work at 9 p.m. and left home at around 10 p.m..

暗くて、長い山道を上って、たまに雲を通って、神聖な場所に向かっている雰囲気でした。そして、闇の中から高野山の総門（大門）が現れました。「すごい！」と私は思いました。午前2時ごろに到着しました。 As I wound up the long dark mountain road, sometimes passing through clouds, the atmosphere matched the sacred place I was heading to. Then suddenly, the main gate of Koyasan (Daimon) appeared out of the darkness. 'WOW!', I thought, impressive! I had arrived at around 2 a.m..

まず、奥之院に行きました。一の橋を渡って入ります。中の橋よりここから入ったほうが絶対いいと思います。 First I went to Okunoin. I entered from ichi-no-hashi. I think it's definitely much better to enter from here rather than from Naka-no-hashi.

五輪塔 Gorinto

Gorinto (five-tiered stupa) are built as gravestones or memorials. The Sanskrit letters inscribed on them represent the five elements taught in Buddhism, from the bottom up: earth (cube), water (sphere), fire (pyramid), wind (hemisphere), and space (Jewel-shaped).

あの板は何でしょうか。卒塔婆というものですか。

高野山町石道 Koyasan Choishi Path.

---

諸大名　Famous Feudal Warlords

武田信玄　Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573)

明智光秀　Akechi Mitsuhide (1528 - 1582)

石田光成　Ishida Mitsunari (1560 - 1600)

上杉謙信　Uesugi Kenshin (1530 - 1578)

---

五輪塔　Gorinto

There is an old legend that if a person looks into this well (on the right) and doesn't see their reflection, they will die with in 3 years. (Luckily I didn't notice the well was there on the right)

These are 'Jizo' (guardian dieties) and according to the folk custom, are believed to watch over and protect children in the afterlife. The bibs are placed on the statues by those who have lost children, with a prayer that the 'Jizo' will watch over them as a surrogate parent, and also for the long life of living children.

英霊殿　Eireiden

禅尼上智碑　Zenni Jochi Memorial

聞いてみませんでした。 I didn't try to listen.

奥之院の大杉林。ここの木が本当に素晴らしいです。 Okunoin's Great Forest of Japanese Cedar. The trees here are truly impressive.

水向地蔵 Mizumuke Jiso

御廟橋。この水が非常にきれいでした。鮎のような魚も泳いでいました。　Gobyo-bashi Bridge. The water here was crystal clear. There were fish like 'sweet fish' swimming in it.

御廟橋を渡ると一番神聖なところに入ります。「禁煙、携帯電話使用禁止、撮影禁止、飲食禁止、ペット持込禁止、歩きスマホ禁止、お静かに」。ということは、写真が撮れませんでした。しかし、弘法大師御廟・燈籠堂が忘れられないところです。行ってよかったです。
Once you cross over the Gobyo-bashi Bridge, you enter the most sacred part. The following restrictions apply. No smoking, do not use mobile phones, do not take photographs, do no eat or drink, no uncaged animals, do not text while walking, be quiet. Thus, I wasn't able to take any photos. However, Kobodaishi Gobyo / Torodo is an unforgettable place. I'm glad I went.

---

さあ！4㎞以上歩いて、疲れました。しかし、いまから町の中を見たいです。はい！そのために自転車を持ってきました。 Right! I'm tired after walking for over 4 kms. But, now I want to look around the town. Yep, I brought my bike just for that.

菊桃の花でしょう。綺麗な花ですよね。

I think these are kikumomo flowers. They were quite beautiful.

成福院　Jofukuin

六時の鐘 Rokuji-no-Kane Bell

中門　Chumon Middle Gate

左側の仁王 The guardian on the left side.

右側の仁王 The guardian on the right side.

根本大塔 Konpon Daito (Great Pagoda)

大塔の鐘

Daito Bell

Rung at 4 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. (5 p.m. in winter), 9 p.m., & 11 a.m.

大門　Daimon the main gate.

左側の仁王 The guardian on the left side.

右側の仁王 The guardian on the right side.

徳川家霊台　Tokugawa Mausoleum

高野山の名物、ゴマ豆腐。 Sesame tofu, a famous product in Koyasan. It's made from roasted and ground white sesame seeds boiled together with starch from powdered arrowroot. It tasted good with wasabi and soy sauce.

精進料理ではなくて、天丼にしました。Instead of trying shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), I chose tempura on rice.

ということで、やっと高野山に行きました。
すばらしいところです。
機会があれば、絶対見に行ってください。
To wrap things up, I finally made it to Koyasan.
It's an amazing place.
​If you have a chance, you should definitely visit this place.