#mount wakakusa

[dream-world-universe]

Cherry blossoms, Nara city, Japan: Nara is a fantastic place to enjoy Japan's famous cherry blossoms. The parks, gardens, temples and shrines of the city are studded with cherry trees. Nara's Top Cherry Blossom Locations are Nara Park, Mount Wakakusa, Himuro Shrine, Mount Yoshino, Hongo no Takizakura, Koriyama Castle Ruins, Tsubosakadera Temple, Saho River. Nara was the capital of Japan during the Nara Period (710-784) and prospered as a city long before Kyoto... Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture, Japan. Wikipedia

[adventure-alex]

10 Things to do in Nara - Japan city guide! - Series

🌸🦌 Dive into the enchanting world of Nara! 🦌🌸

Looking to add a touch of magic to your travel bucket list? Let me introduce you to Nara, Japan's hidden gem nestled in the heart of the Kansai region. 🗾✨

From the moment you step foot in this ancient city, you'll be greeted by a serene atmosphere and a sense of wonder that's truly incomparable. But what exactly awaits you in Nara? Allow me to give you a sneak peek into the wonders that await!

🏯 Explore Nara Park and its Iconic Deer: Picture this – lush greenery, serene ponds, and friendly deer roaming freely around you...

🎎 Visit Todaiji Temple, Home to the Great Buddha: Prepare to be awestruck by the sheer magnitude of the Great Buddha housed within Todaiji Temple...

⛩️ Stroll through Kasuga Taisha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Immerse yourself in the mystical atmosphere of Kasuga Taisha, where thousands of hanging lanterns illuminate...

🏞️ Hike up to Mount Wakakusa for Panoramic Views: For breathtaking vistas of Nara City and its picturesque surroundings, look no further than Mount Wakakusa...

🌿 Discover the Serene Beauty of Isuien Garden: Lose yourself in the tranquility of Isuien Garden...

But that's just the tip of the iceberg! From marveling at the ancient architecture of Kofukuji Temple to indulging in delicious local delicacies at Nara's food stalls, there's something for everyone in this enchanting city.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through Nara's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. Trust me, this is one adventure you won't want to miss! ✈️🌟

Read the full blog post here:

Join me as we uncover the secrets of Nara – Japan's best-kept treasure! 🇯🇵🔍

[part-time-runner]

View from Mount Wakakusa, Nara, Japan

[pangeen]

The divine scenery of the morning

by Atsushi

[redsamuraiii]

Shinto, Buddhism and an Ancient Epidemic

So I read an interesting article about Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, and their connections to an ancient epidemic which took place over a 1,000 years ago. But since the article is not available online I’ll share what I learned from it here.

Stock Photo

It all began when a Shinto deity and a Buddhist god joined forces to fight a smallpox epidemic in 735 A.D, hundreds of years before the age of the warrior class Samurai and the Shogunate, where the Imperial Court ruled the lands from its ancient capital in Nara. 

Back then, disasters were widely believed to be the work of malevolent spirits called, Onryo. One of the mythical demons named, Hososhin, supposedly spread the smallpox across the lands creating problems for the Emperor, Shomu. So several Buddhist  monasteries which now attracts tourists were built by him in response to the 8th century epidemic and to earn the favor of Buddhist deities. One of the Buddhist structures built by Emperor Shomu is none other than the famous colossal Todaiji! If you’ve been there, you might know of a huge 16 meter tall bronze statue of the cosmic Buddha, Vairocana. 

Stock Photo

Although Shinto was then Japan’s dominant religion, Buddhism had arrived from Korea about 200 years earlier, which had earned a small but devoted followers including Emperor Shomu himself. The devastating effects of the epidemic prompted religious fervor and saw an increased numbers of people adopting this new religion. Interestingly, rather than sidelining Shinto, the Emperor aimed to combine it with Buddhism. This is exemplified by his decision to erect a statue of Shinto deity, Hachiman, near the huge Buddha. 

Pic by Hong Seongwan

The Emperor assigned Hachiman to protect and guide Vairocana, as the Buddhist deity tried to bring Japan out of the crisis. So you’ll see these two statues standing side by side in Todaiji, which seems to be a symbolic relationship of Shinto and Buddhism, which what makes Buddhism in Japan appears differently and unique than anywhere else in the world. 

Particularly, because of the infusion of Shintoism’s beliefs that divinity dwells within all living things including nature itself. The idea is to treat nature with respect as you would with any living person and not simply treating it like an object to be used, wasted and discarded. If you’ll notice, there are straw rope tied around tree trunks around Shinto shrines, which indicate their sacred status. Todaiji was built by sacred trees of the forests of Mount Wakakusa.

Pic by Yuri Yorozuna

This religious devotion to nature and the environment is one reason why Japan has so much pristine wilderness to explore, that it’s becoming so popular with tourists who are interested in camping and hiking in the wilderness. To this day, both Shinto and Buddhism are practiced by 70% of the population.  

Looking back now at Nara, where the deer roamed free, the beautiful flowers decorating the park and the magnificence of the temples and shrines, it’s hard to believe that it was once engulfed in an epidemic where victims were wailing in agony, paranoia and anxiety were running rampant and gravediggers were unable to meet the increasing demand, and the people desperately needed to hold on to something to keep on living. 

Pic by Match Sùmàyà

Back before the discovery of science and modern medicine, Emperor Shomu did the only thing he could think of to help and ease the mind of his people in some ways, no matter how ridiculous it may seem to us today. Emperor Shomu not only brought some sort of hope to them but unified two different religions which continues to prosper almost 1,300 years later in modern Japan. There’s an Emperor Shomu Festival which is a Buddhist memorial service held annually for Emperor Shomu on May 2nd at Tōdai-ji Temple.

Pic by Adam Satterthwaite

It has survived several crisis, from wars to natural disasters and epidemics but now it is once again fighting for its survival like everyone else in the world, where mask makers are churning out more masks, pharmaceutical are producing more vaccines, healthcare are struggling with more patients, governments are struggling to keep the economy going and average people like you and I are struggling to continue earning our living to keep food on the table and to keep the electricity running in our homes.

[aideshou]

✎･ ✿  若草山

[findmytrip]

Travel to Japan

Japan is an island country located in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Japan is worldwide for its traditional arts, including tea ceremonies, calligraphy and flower arranging. Japan  is the birthplace of sushi . Japan is one of the famous tourist country in the world with Millions of visitors per year(31.1 Million visitors) . 10 Top Tourist Attractions in Japan 1.Tokyo Skytree Tokyo Skytree is a…

[n-atalia]

Sika Deers in Nara Prefecture, Japan

[toastedbandito]

that one time i was accosted by local youths on a mountain

[thekimonogallery]

The Wakakusa Yamayaki is an annual festival during which the grass on the hillside of Nara's Mount Wakakusayama is set on fire. Naoto Kojima Photography

[woundedheartwithin]

I do really appreciate the white stag motif for Kazumasa. In Shinto, Takemikazuchi is a god of thunder and swords (and sumo lol), and he is said to have descended Mount Wakakusa on the back of a white deer Twitter | Instagram

[harvard-art-museums-calligraphy]

Young Murasaki (Wakamurasaki), Calligraphic Excerpt from Chapter 5 of the Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari), Reizei Tamehiro, Muromachi period, datable to 1509-1510, Harvard Art Museums: Calligraphy

Transliteration: Ohi tatamu / ari ka mo shiranu / wakakusa o / wokurasu tsuyu zo / kiemu sora naki. Translation: When no one can say where it is the little plant will grow up at last, the dewdrop soon to leave her does not see how she can go. Harvar... Size: H. 24.2 cm x W. 18.4 cm (9 1/2 x 7 1/4 in.) Medium: The fifth of a series of 54 kotobagaki (calligraphic album leaves) mounted in an album with illustrations; ink and color on paper

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/200006

[cma-japanese-art]

Kasuga Shrine Mandala, 1300-1333, Cleveland Museum of Art: Japanese Art

A golden path that begins at the bottom of this painting leads up to four red and white buildings to the left, and then to a fifth building on the right. These are the five shrine halls of the Kasuga Shrine in Nara. Above and beyond the buildings is the sacred Kasuga mountain range––with Mount Mikasa at center, Mount Wakakusa in gold to the left, and the sun or moon rising up behind the mountains. Five figures stand on clouds above the mountains. They are the Buddhist manifestations (honjibutsu) of the five deities, or kami, of this Shinto shrine. A large painting like this would likely once have belonged to a confraternity of devotees of Kasuga, and would have been hung during communal veneration of the shrine’s deities. Size: Overall: 193.6 x 58.8 cm (76 1/4 x 23 1/8 in.); Painting only: 110 x 40.9 cm (43 5/16 x 16 1/8 in.) Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

https://clevelandart.org/art/2015.137

[maea]

mt. wakakusa 🍂⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #kyoto #japan #nihon #travel #kimono #shrine #fall #igers #reels #tiktok #wallpaper #autumn #fyp #everytraveller #cottagecore #cottagestyle #cottage #konichiwa #ohiogozaimasu- (at Mount Wakakusa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIvKrlFhDlM/?igshid=nze3m5udy9h3

[shitagami]

. Hello 🦌 . Location Nara JAPAN 🇯🇵 . ずいぶん前の写真のRe-Edit 🎶 . まだ県外に出れないし写真撮りに行く気にならないなぁ… #tokyocameraclub #igersjp (Mount Wakakusa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7qgbJJbgq/?igshid=b42czil5ansq

[adamthealien]

Wikipedia picture of the day on November 3, 2019: Nara Park, a public park located in the city of Nara, Japan, at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, was established in the late 1800s and is one of the oldest parks in Japan. Learn more.