These first few are of the temple grounds of Engyouji. Engyouji is a mountain temple complex near Himeiji Castle (pictured in the "Sadness of Spring" entry). While Himeiji is a popular tourist spot with crowds year-round, Engyouji's semi-remote terrain makes for a nice escape from the crowds. Travelers can reach the grounds via a somewhat pricey tram, or they can hike for an hour or so (provided they can find the trail). I rode the tram up and hiked down.
Engyouji's claim to fame, besides its centuries old history and beautiful mountain scenery, is its use in the film The Last Samurai. I think most of the film was shot in New Zealand given that the ubiquitous power lines and concrete embankments in Japan make it really difficult to find any place that still looks completely natural, but a few scenes actually were truly Japanese.
Engyouji has a few trails leading around the mountain. It takes a decent bit of walking to see all of it.
Finally, a bit of splendid news. On my return to Fukui, I decided to spend a day in Kyoto admiring the sakura, since Kyoto is in between Kobe and Fukui. While there, I managed to do something by myself that a friend and I only daydreamed of achieving together last fall. I found the Philosopher's Path!For a recap of why this is significant, look back at one of my entries I wrote after my first trip to Kyoto in October. Here
Yea, though we did wander many a good hour, our efforts were in vain as the Philosopher's Path refused to show itself. This time around, large swaths of flower viewers and large markings labeled "Philosopher's Path This Way --->" made the journey all the easier.
Now, all I have to do is discover the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka and my list of painfully easy to find popular Japanese tourist destinations that have thus far eluded me will be restored to zero.
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