September itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Iwate Day 1)
(Tuesday, September 28)
Table of contents
5, Chusonji Temple (Golden Hall, Main Hall)
On the 3rd day of the itinerary in September (1st day in Iwate prefecture), I visited Chusonji Temple and Konjikido in Hiraizumi, which is a World Heritage Site and a national treasure. I rented a bicycle next to Hiraizumi station and went around the sightseeing spots around Hiraizumi. It was very pleasant to ride a bicycle through the countryside.
As expected, the area around the tourist spots on the rental cycle was very efficient. However, due to lack of time, I couldn’t go all around as originally planned. I couldn’t go to Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center, Kinkeizan this time.
https://edokagura.com/en/local-cuisine/402/
After all, Takkoku no Iwaya (about 6km from Hiraizumi Station) and Genbikei Gorge (about 9km from Hiraizumi Station) are far away, so it is impossible to go to Takkoku no Iwaya and Genbikei Gorge in half a day to visit all the sightseeing spots in Hiraizumi. It will take a whole day to visit all.
After arriving at JR Hiraizumi Station, it started after 9 o’clock. The rental cycle shop “Swallow Tour” next to Hiraizumi Station will keep your luggage for free, so you don’t have to use a coin locker.
This time, I decided to go around from a distance, so I went to Genbikei and Takkoku no Iwaya first.
1, Genbikei Gorge
(Approximately 30 minutes by bicycle from JR Hiraizumi Station)
It is a national scenic natural monument. The valley eroded by the river creates a beautiful view.
The specialty of Genbikei is the “Cuckoo Dango” from the Cuckoo shop. First, put 500 yen in a basket and hit the board with a mallet. Then, from the store on the other side of the valley, the dumplings and tea in the basket will come down to us via the rope. This is an interesting system, so I would like everyone to try it. The taste of the dumplings was also delicious. 2021 is scheduled to open until the end of November.
2, Takkoku no Iwaya
(Approximately 10 minutes by bicycle from Genbikei)
It is a rock cave where Shogun Sakanoue Tamuramaro enshrined Bishamonten. The cave was great. However, the spots around Hiraizumi other than Takkoku no Iwaya are wonderful, so I thought that if we didn’t have time, we wouldn’t have to go to Takkoku no Iwaya.
https://iwayabetto.com/en01.html
Admission: Adults 500 yen, junior high and high school students 100 yen, elementary school students free
3, Motsuji Temple
(Approximately 20 minutes by bicycle from Takkoku no Iwaya)
The cathedral ruins are left in good condition. It is a World Heritage Site. It is a national special historic site and special place of scenic beauty.
It’s nice to stroll around the Jodo Garden (around Motsuji’s “Oizumi ga Ike”), and the Jokodo (reconstructed in 1732) and the bell tower are also preserved in good condition. Hiraizumi is a place I definitely want everyone to visit.
The bell of the bell tower is the work of Masahiko Katori, a living national treasure. Masahiko Katori also made the bell of Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei and the bell of Hiroshima Peace. If you pay 500 yen at the ticket office, you can experience hitting a bell. Write your wish and name on Gomaki and dedicate it. Then ring the bell and pray while the bell continues to ring. It has a very beautiful tone, so please try it with a bell.
Admission: Adults Yen700, high school students Yen400, elementary and junior high school students Yen200
4, Kanjizaiō-in ruins
(Next to Motsuji Temple)
It is a temple ruin and is a World Heritage Site. At the time of my visit, I couldn’t enjoy the scenery during the restoration work.
https://hiraizumi.or.jp/en/archive/sightseeing/kanji.html
5, Chusonji Temple (Golden Hall, Main Hall)
(Approximately 10 minutes by bicycle from Motsuji Temple and the Kanjizaiō-in ruins)
Chusonji Konjikido is the only one that has survived since the 12th century (built in 1124). Konjikido is the only national treasure (building) in Iwate prefecture. Chusonji is a World Heritage Site.
It takes about 10 minutes on foot from the bicycle storage area to Chusonji Temple by climbing a gentle mountain path.
Photography is prohibited inside the Golden Hall, but you can see beautiful pictures of the inside of the Golden Hall on the website of Chusonji Temple.
https://www.chusonji.or.jp/language_en/index.html
The Golden Hall has been in the Oido for many years, but it seems that the Golden Hall was exposed to the wind and rain as it was, for about 50 years when it was first built. Considering the splendor of Konjikido, I think it is a miraculous event that Konjikido has been maintained for nearly 900 years without being disturbed by bandits.
If you pay the admission fee for the Golden Hall, you can see the inside of Sankozo. Sankozo is a treasure house that houses more than 3,000 cultural properties left by Mr. Fujiwara, and many national treasures and important national cultural properties are exhibited. It is a very spectacular facility, so be sure to visit it when you go to Konjikido. It is prohibited to take pictures inside.
Admission to Konjikido: Adults Yen 800, high school students Yen 500, junior high school students Yen 300, elementary school students Yen 200
6, the ruins of Muryoko-in
(Approximately 10 minutes by bicycle from Chusonji Temple)
It is a temple ruin built by Mr. Fujiwara Hidehira, in imitation of the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple in Kyoto. It is a World Heritage Site. I was a little disappointed because there was nothing in the building. It is a place to take a walk while imagining the prosperity of Mr. Fujiwara.
https://hiraizumi.or.jp/en/archive/sightseeing/muryo.html
7, Geibikei boat ride
(5-minute walk from JR Geibikei Station)
After having lunch at Ichinoseki, we headed to Geibikei by JR as planned.Geibikei Station is an unmanned station. You can get on and off the train by pressing the button on the train. There is no coffee shop around Geibikei Station, but there is an eat-in corner at Family Mart near the station.
https://edokagura.com/en/local-cuisine/424/
Boat ride
The boarding should have been 90 minutes, but in reality it was about 60 minutes. 60 minutes was just the right time.
One flight per hour, last boarding departing at 15:00
Boarding fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,800 yen, elementary school students 900 yen, infants 200 yen
Geibikei is one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. It is a natural monument of national historical sites.
You can hear “Geibi oiwake” sung by the boatman on the boat. The experience of listening to the sorrowful “Geibi oiwake” while looking at the beautiful Geibikei was wonderful. In the comparison between Genbikei Gorge in the morning and Geibikei in the afternoon, Geibikei was better. If I choose one of the two valleys, I choose Geibikei.
http://www.geibikei.co.jp/en/index.html
I will post lunch and dinner on the third day of the itinerary tomorrow.
Note: The departure / arrival times, fees, admission fees, etc. of transportation listed in the text are as of the time of writing the BLOG. They may change in the future, so please check for yourself when you go on a trip.