Visiting Miyajima - Island of the Gods

The shrine origin dates from the 6th century during the reign of Empress Suiko.

Miyajima Tourist Association

Deep Kyoto Walks - A book worth reading

If you've ever visited Kyoto or want to visit Kyoto someday, this book is an excellent read. It is a series of essays from residents of Kyoto (non-Japanese) who let us share their walks in the famous and not well known back streets, temples and shrines that are of historic Kyoto.

The book is enjoyable and you will walk along with each author as they share their sights, observations and interactions with their view of this historic city.

Link to Amazon for Deep Kyoto Walks

Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridges (Nishi-Seto Expressway)

http://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/english/guide/use-e.html

Dowtown Matsuyama

The train "Botchan" named after the novel by Natsume Soseki

Sekizan-gu (Temple of Chih-shan)

When Ennin (posthumously known as Jikaku-Taishi) studied at the temple of Chih-shan in China, under the rule of the Tang Dynasty with Imperial sanction, he worshipped the deity of Shiragi-myojin (the gracious deity of Silla, one of the three kingdoms in Korea in the first millennium) to enhance his spiritual life and learn the teachings of Buddhism.

He was enshrined here at this temple after his return to Japan because he successfully finished the ten-year training program, thanks to his piety during his stay in China. Since then, at Buddhist temples in Japan, Jikaku-Taishi has been worshipped as the master of the doctrine of Tendai Buddhism, and Shiragi-myojin of Chih-shan has been deified as the guardian god of the teachings of the Tendai sect.

It is believed that this deity prevents disasters, guarantees longevity and drives away evil spirit - people chant his name Sekizan-Myojin (gracious deity of Chih-shan) as a sign of worship. The deity is also regarded as the incarnation of Ksitigarbha.