One of our last trips brought us into rather familiar territory, namely to Yahiko 弥彦, a village located southwest of Niigata-city. We had been there a few times before, so this time we knew exactly where we wanted to go and have a look around.
Yahiko is a municipality with just under 8,000 inhabitants and is known in particular for the Yahiko Shrine, which is one of the most famous shrines in Niigata Prefecture. The town also has several onsen and also a velodrome and a ropeway that leads to the top of Yahiko Mountain.
Our goal was Yahiko-Koen 弥彦公園, the Yahiko Park, which we have already visited several times before, and which always inspires us. Especially in autumn, when the trees change leafes and put on their brightly colored dress, the park is the destination of countless visitors from near and far. But we did not want to wait until autumn and therefore came already in spring.
In addition to the park itself, the grounds extend over several densely wooded hills, making it quite expansive. On a previous visit, we had already left the main paths and let an inviting path lead us into the forest. And exactly this direction we wanted to take again today and so it came that soon we had left all other park visitors behind us and around us there was only fresh green nature to see.
Sure, there were enough hints where to go, because the path in front of us was created and maintained by busy hands. So after we pulled away from all the action, the torii shown in the first picture pointed us in the right direction. Right behind it, other smaller torii were set up, and this section of our little hike thus started in a rather atmospheric way.
The gate-like torii are distinctive elements of Japanese architecture, which are mainly found in the entrance area of shrines. Mostly they are made of stone or wood and often they are painted in vermilion. The torii in front of us were somewhat simpler, but they also pointed the way to a shrine located at the end of the path, somewhere up in the distance.
The Yu-Jinja 湯神社 in front of us was our destination and before we entered the forest again, there was another torii waiting for us and behind it we went slightly uphill into the hills where we soon disappeared between the trees.
After a while, the path was paved with stone slabs, on which we went forward swinging full of energy. Several turns later, we found the next gate, and there were also a few flags that announced the coming shrine.
I mentioned it before, that here in Yahiko there are still witches in the woods, who seem to be hanging around on the trees, doing their day's work. They then carefully put down their brooms so they can easily find them again to fly back home later. Although we had a good look around, unfortunately we couldn't spot any witch, they seem to camouflage themselves very well.
About halfway through the walk, we passed this wooden gate behind which were two toro, traditional stone lanterns often found in shrines and temples. In addition, there was a small altar dedicated to one of the many kami found here in the forest. In Shintoism, the gods are usually found in nature, in trees and rocks, or in waterfalls and rivers. And here in this forest there were surely some kami watching over the well-being of everyone, humans and animals.
And again there were some torii to pass through, which already indicated that we would soon be at the destination of our hike.
As usual in shrine complexes, here in the forest there was also a basin for ritual hand cleansing. A little simpler, but all the more majestic.
There were a few more steps and a couple of torii left on our way, but at the end of the path we could already make out the yu-jinja, which seemed to be hiding pretty well here in the forest.
On a solid platform behind another torii stood a small shrine building, which in its color had perfectly adapted to the surrounding forest. Green and brown dominated and harmonized perfectly with each other in this scene, and you could almost come to believe that this shrine has been standing here forever.
Now we are facing the actual shrine, in front of which is this open wooden structure, under which you can take a seat on neatly laid out tatami mats.
Under the roof there were several long chains of colorful paper cranes hanging down, which are folded in origami style and are considered a symbol of peace. A colorful change here amidst all the green.
Behind one last torii was the shrine altar, in front of which you are allowed to perform your prayers and devotions. Even though I am not religious, I like to stop at such places and reflect for a moment. Especially Japanese shrines and temples have an aura that is hard to define, this mixture of mysticism and nature is able to reach and influence me. Above all, I feel gratitude when I am allowed to stop at such places, and I also try to let those places inspire me, while at the same time I am trying to switch off a bit.
And when I then step back and let my gaze wander once again, I try to absorb a lot of the energy that emanates from this place and store it for later. Actually, I don't want to go back yet, but rather let this atmosphere take effect on me for a while. Unfortunately, there is always sombody who brings me back to the here and now and makes me aware that the way back still lies ahead of us.
But when I look out through the torii into the forest, I immediately continue to be in a good mood. After all, the way back looks just as inviting as the way up here. The green forest, which speaks to us in many voices and tones, whispers enticingly, and since the rest of the day promises a lot of fun as well, it is not so difficult to say goodbye. And we have firmly resolved to come back again, and we may already look forward to that.
It is exactly such moments and places that still fascinate me so much here in Japan. Fortunately, I always manage to generate such moments that help me to get through all the things which are lying ahead. After all, life is so exciting and diverse, and that's why there is still so much for all of us to do and to discover.
If you are interested in more pictures and impressions from the land of the rising sun, then check back here soon. Because I still have so much to tell and show.
またね matane
[//]:# (!pinmapple 37.697475 lat 138.828556 long Walking up to Yu-Jinja 湯神社 - A hike filled with green and torii 👹🍣🎎 Wonderful Japan ENG-GER d3scr)