Old ways

In Edo times, wealthy people would make a pilgrimage to the major shrines. These shrines were at great distances from each other over steep cobblestones paths. The  original  path  was  built  1000years ago.  The  section  we will  walk  is  only  400years  old  and  the  shrine  is  for  babies……it  has  been modernised.

Feeling very pure? You only walked 2 km of the path…..oh well I guess that is all the time you have because you are now going to see how to make a traditional bento box from cedar. This is a dying  art called Mage-Wappa, since the advent of plastic but is becoming popular again with the desire for natural materials. If you wish to buy….quick into the shop , yes they are not cheap and no you can not buy the antiques. What are you thinking! It’s time to go , people are waiting, lunch (small) is ready and they are planning on a concert so make up your mind!

Our next stop is the Kumono Kodo centre. A magnificent building made from Japanese cypress. You can smell the wood. The building was made using timber wedged together and then infilled with glass. It is used for community events, and more importantly to show pilgrimage routes and experiences and the nature, history and culture of the area.

The concert was by a local music group who gave up their Sunday. It consisted of traditional flute, 13 string harp and drumming. Everyone stayed awake for the drumming…..I’m not sure about the rest as their seemed to be a few listening with their eyes closed. We could try playing the instruments at the end….me I’m a superb drummer and even kept in time.Train  to  Kyoto  tomorrow. FD7DA653-9253-4F1A-B7AC-B198BA64F2F9

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