This morning I had to sneak out of the house without the kids seeing me, as I wanted to take a walk up the mountain behind Yukari's family home. The road is narrow, winding, and a bit steep -- so I didn't want the 3 little ones following me. Today was a rare clear and dry (i.e. not humid) day in the summer; and I suspect the typhoon that was skirting up the east coast of Japan today had something to do with the dramatic change in weather here too. Anyway, perfect weather for a walk in the mountains.
I have always loved walking up this road, as it has many overlooks to the town of Muikamachi below. Yukari's house is the last before the mountain -- nothing but woodlands (and insects)! Today I was struck with the contrast with living in Boone, NC -- another town in the mountains -- and Japanese towns. In the US, everyone wants a house perched on the side of the mountain overlooking the town. Here in Japan, as you can see above, there are no houses on the mountain sides at all. Part of it could be the sheer amount of snowfall here in winter -- which can see a good 4 to 8 feet on the ground at times. Yukari offered another explanation: "we don't want to spoil the beautiful natural scene".
On one overlook just off the mountain road there used to be a Japanese Shinto shrine. You can still find some of the common symbols, such as a pair of Komainu (lion-dog) statues, which traditionally stand guard outside of most Shinto shrines, as well as rock lanterns. The building structure is gone now, I believe because there were too few young people in the local area to do the upkeep -- as shrines are generally built and maintained by each neighborhood.
I have always loved walking up this road, as it has many overlooks to the town of Muikamachi below. Yukari's house is the last before the mountain -- nothing but woodlands (and insects)! Today I was struck with the contrast with living in Boone, NC -- another town in the mountains -- and Japanese towns. In the US, everyone wants a house perched on the side of the mountain overlooking the town. Here in Japan, as you can see above, there are no houses on the mountain sides at all. Part of it could be the sheer amount of snowfall here in winter -- which can see a good 4 to 8 feet on the ground at times. Yukari offered another explanation: "we don't want to spoil the beautiful natural scene".
On one overlook just off the mountain road there used to be a Japanese Shinto shrine. You can still find some of the common symbols, such as a pair of Komainu (lion-dog) statues, which traditionally stand guard outside of most Shinto shrines, as well as rock lanterns. The building structure is gone now, I believe because there were too few young people in the local area to do the upkeep -- as shrines are generally built and maintained by each neighborhood.
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