磯砂山(いさなごさん)、京丹後市

磯砂山(いさなごさん)、京丹後　Mt. Isanago, Kyotango City

10月24日に峰山側から磯砂山（いさなごさん）に登りました。山頂からは360度の素晴らしいパノラマが楽しめて、ここは日本最古の羽衣伝説の発祥地でもあるそうです。今回、女池（めいけ）も初めて見に行きました。天女はいませんでしたが、羽衣を着ていない「何か」が現れました。

I climbed Mt. Isanago (661m) from the Mineyama side on October 24th. You can see a  fantastic 360° view from the top and it is apparently also the birthplace or Japan's oldest Hagoromo legend. This time I also went to see the Meike Pond for the first time. There were no heavenly maidens there, but something that doesn't wear a 'hagoromo' (feather robe) appeared.

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

磯砂山の駐車場　Mt. Isanago's car park

1,000 steps to the top

780 steps to go

「頂上まで780段」の展望台 The lookout at the 780 steps to go point.

この辺りでリスを見掛けた。　I saw a squirrel near here

リスは写真を撮らせてくれなかったので、代わりに「山火事注意」の標識にいたリスを撮りました。　The squirrel didn't stop for photos, so I used a squirrel that I found on a wild fire warning sign.

「頂上まで250段」の展望台　The lookout at the 250 steps to go mark.

青葉山 Mt. Aoba

頂上の展望台 The lookout at the top.

天女のモニュメント　The heavenly maiden monument.

久美浜町の小天橋が見える。　You can see Shotenkyo in Kumihama.

天橋立も見える。 Amanohashidate can also be seen.

網野、峰山、弥栄の方向を見ている。Looking in the direction of Amino, Mineyama ＆Yasaka.

ランチタイムの眺め。　Lunch time's view.

若狭湾の方向。 Looking in the direction of Wakasa Bay.

Translation below

女池　Meike Pond

The Legend of the Feather Robe of Meike Pond on Mt. Isanago
In the "Gengenshu" (1337) written by Kitabatake Chikafusa, it is recorded: "According to the Tango no Kuni Fudoki (Records of the Customs and Land of Tango Province), there is a spring at the summit of Mt. Hiji (Mt. Isanago) in Tango Province called Manai (Meike Pond). Eight celestial maidens descended to this spring to bathe. An old man from the foot of the mountain named Wanasa hid the feather robe of one maiden and forced her to return home with him as his 'child.'
The celestial maiden was skilled at making Ten-no-sake (Heavenly Sake), which could cure all illnesses. Within ten-odd years, the old man's house became wealthy and prosperous. However, the old man eventually drove her out of the house, saying, 'You were never truly my child.' The celestial maiden wandered in tears and eventually died after reaching the village of Funaki in the Takano district.
The villagers enshrined her at Nagu Shrine. She is Toyouganome-no-mikoto (Toyouke-no-Okami of the Ise Grand Shrine Outer Precinct)." Among the many feather robe legends throughout Japan, the legend of Meike Pond is considered to be of exceptionally high standing.
Kyotango City

「頂上まで780段」の標識のところに女池（めいけ）への横道があります。池までは数分で行けます。池へと坂を下っている時、写真を撮ろうと立ち止まったその瞬間に、可愛いウリ坊が現れました。やった！と思ったら、もう一匹、さらにもう一匹……！少なくとも4匹のウリ坊が池に入っていきました。
あまりの嬉しさに、夢中で写真や動画を撮りました。ところが、すぐにお母さんイノシシも姿を現したのです。「やばい！」と焦っていると、私から一番近くにいたウリ坊（20メートルくらい先）が私に気づきました。
その瞬間、すべてのイノシシが一斉に驚いた様子でこちらを向きました。お母さんイノシシが、私を睨みながら低い声で唸（うな）りました。絶体絶命！子供を守るために突進してくるのではないかと心配しましたが、幸いなことに、イノシシたちは全員反対方向へ逃げていきました。本当にホッとしました。なんて刺激的で楽しい出会いだったのでしょう！

At the 「780 steps to the top」 marker there is a side track leading to Meike Pond. It only takes a few minutes to the pond. On the way down the hill to the pond, I stopped to take a photo. At that instant, a cute young boar appeared. Lucky me! Then another young boar, and another, and another showed up. At least 4 young boars entered the pond. I was delighted at my good luck and busily took photos and video. However, mother boar soon made an appearance. Uh oh! As I was thinking about what to do, the closest boar to me (about 20 meters away) noticed me. At that instant, all the boars in a startled manner and in unison looked at me. Mother boar  gave a deep throated grunt in my direction. Oh crap! I was a little concerned that she might charge me to protect her young ones. But to my relief, All the boars took off in the opposite direction. What a fun encounter that was! I really enjoyed that.