DAY 8
NARAI TO SHIMOSUWA
I am loving the colours....we left our accomodation early this morning to catch a train to Shimosuwa .....
On our way to the station we took a detour to see this bridge....the Kiso Ohashi Bridge, a large wooden bridge made from Kiso cypress. It crosses the Narai River and is one of the largest wooden bridges in Japan constructed without piers, using arch design instead.
View from the bridge...
...a pleasant walk to the station in the sunshine by the river...
.Our first view of Mt Fuji....in the distance....this is Lake Suwa in the centre of Shimosuwa, it is 759 metres above sea level..
Beautiful street trees....we didn't do any forest walking today...the plan was to walk to the many interesting places in Shimosuwa ...it is the final town that we visited on the Nakasendo Way.
Outside the entrance to the Suwa Tasiha Shrine...
Nearby is this stone statue of Amitabha Buddha made in the 1600s
We walked up 126 steps to see Tenkei no Matsu (Tenkei's pine tree) , a pine tree planted by the 16th century Zen monk Tenkei. Cedar trees and green moss carpet welcome you as you enter the first gate....at the back of the temple is a beautiful Japanese garden.
Tenkei's pine tree...it is a lot bigger than it looks in the photo...
Sua Taisha Akimiya Shrine ...there are two enormous bronze Komainu (guardian dogs) in front of the shrine...they are the biggest Komainu in Japan.
Love the trees...
This amazing painting made of tiles was on an outside wall of a building...next to the public Onsen...
Garden of the Honjin Inn....which is thought to be the most wonderful garden on the Nakasendo.
loved it....
Not far from our Hotel ....another statue of Jizo, a protector of children and travellers in Japanese Buddhism. The statue was outside the public Onsen ...the water was warm.
Three o'clock and we reached our Hotel ....
...our view of the city and mountains...
He looks good in his Yukata...
Dressed for dinner....
Our last dinner on the Nakasendo Trail....we have been so spoilt, enjoyed every meal that was given to us...we learned so much about the Japanese cuisine.