06/01/2013

Woke up and eventually headed downstairs for a soak in the hot communal bath.    Sorry, while I did take my phone there were other bathers there so no photos!   But here's one from the Ryokan's web site to give you an idea of what it looks like:

After a relaxing soak I returned to my room and headed down to a 7:30am breakfast -- took the camera this time, so here are some photos of todays breakfast meal:

Yum!   

It's 8:00am and I'm back in my room.   Checking out later (10 or 11am) on the way to Koyasan.

Here's a picture of Yamatoya honten from the outside as I leave for Koyasan:

So it took about 2 hours and change - a subway ride, going upstairs and buying a ticket to the Nankai Train Koya Line run, a 45 minute train ride up into the mountains and another transfer with about another 40 minute train ride further up into the mountains.    It was interesting moving from "concrete jungle" to "mountain forests".    Here are two shots I took towards the tail end of the first 45 minute train ride (from Osaka to Hashimoto)

And a VERY quick (less than 2 minute) transfer to the next train which leads up to the base of Koya:

Then a transfer onto the tram which runs up to the start of Koyasan

Once in Koyasan there was a bus ride into the section of Town where the Eko temple (where I was staying) is located.    I checked in early and then walked around town (or a portion of it) a bit as official checkin time was 2PM and I arrived a little after noon.    Here are some photos of the street walk--

The above got me hungry so I stopped for a sushi lunch set at a local restaurant -- about $11 US

So back to the temple to my room -- time to take some pictures of it!     As you can see its fairly large and in "day" configuration (later they'll add a futon for "night" configuration).     There is a sliding set of doors to a picture-window like patio area (its all inside, but the windows slide open).   The view is beautiful -- I think to an upper temple area through a set of wonderful trees.   It is raining slightly, so that "magic pitter-patter" noise is happening.    Very "serene".

After a brief unpacking I took a nice Japanese bath in the common area bathing room.    Really nice after all the travel!    Then a nap until it was dinner time.   Dinner was brought to my room and was typical temple meal -- no meat, just veggies, tofu and broth.    Here's the dinner!

After dinner the temple staff removed my plates and provided my sleeping futon and comforter:

I was ready for a quick nap, which I took, but then it was time for a "night walk" with an english speaking temple guide to the building which is said to hold a still-alive-and-meditating founding buddest monk of Koya.    It was difficult to take pictures (though allowed up until the third bridge) because it was getting dark, but here are a few photos taken that night below.     The path is beautiful, lit by lamps housed in stone that all have little moon cutouts as well.   The trees are huge and large and one hears the frogs and the flying squirrels in the trees (really!   "Hey rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out my hat!   Aw, that trick never works!   This time for sure!!")

In getting to the site housing the master of Koya you pass over three foot bridges.   Just before the third one you are supposed to cleanse yourself, at least historically.   But our guide pointed out that the water is very very cold and that temple initiates used to have to spend 15 minutes in the water (10 to waist, last 5 up to head).   However, too many died of heart failure in the winter, so now there is a row of buddah statues with water & ladles in front of them.   You take water in a ladle and "bath" the statue instead!   So we all did this before crossing over the third bridge.

The building housing the master of Koya is huge.   We walked around half of it and our guide chanted a prayer while we listened and "prayed".    He pointed out a stone pillar (about 3' high) that is a good luck/wishing pillar.   You are supposed to touch the pillar, make your wish.   But to make it work you are then supposed to run back to the other side of the temple and then do it again-- 100 times!    He said we were free to try, but it takes 2 hours!

Anyway, walked back to the temple lodging and went to bed!