And it’s still mainly made by hand.Īnd so here at the Kobo Shishido workshop in the town of Marumori, it’s a husband and wife team that make the paper, labouring over every single sheet. Tesuki washi is the paper that’s used for important things like calligraphy, calendars, special journals – and even for Japanese paper walls. I find a great example of this on my travels in Miyagi Prefecture when I visit a workshop where the traditional paper tesuki washi is being made. The foundations of the country are from Japan’s heritage. Don’t get dazzled by the bright lights and modern technology.
MIYAGI PREFECTURE FULL
One of the things you start to discover when you get outside of big cities like Tokyo is that Japan is still full of so many small traditions. It’s a fascinating insight into Japanese culture. While kyu-do is practiced nationally and is not specific to Miyagi, I have never seen it before. Each movement has an elegance about it and the archers pause between each stage.
MIYAGI PREFECTURE SERIES
It is a very slow and controlled series of actions. (You may notice the name is similar to ju-do (way of gentleness) or ken-do (way of the sword). This is kyu-do and it’s a Japanese martial art. But, as they start to shoot arrows at the targets down the end of the hall, I realise that I should not judge on appearances. It may not be what you would expect, though – each of them could probably be politely referred to as ‘retirees’. I walk in and find a small group of archers. In fact, the main reason I’m here is to visit the archery hall that is attached to the temple complex. I’ve come here for more than the shrine, though. The Takekoma Inari Shrine isn’t on the tourist trail but it’s easy enough to get here and is just 20 minutes on the train from Sendai (plus about 10 minutes walk from the station). And, despite its size, there is a relaxed atmosphere here. It’s a beautiful temple and is set in a charming garden with a pleasant approach. (Inari shrines are Shinto shrines dedicated to the fox gods of fertility, rice, tea, sake and industry.) It was founded in 842 AD and is the second-oldest Inari shrine in Japan. That’s what I find when I arrive at Takekoma Inari Shrine. But further down the mountains, although it is still cold, the snow covers only some of the ground. At Akiu, there’s heavy snow and the whole landscape is white. I love the way these temples look in the winter, so clean and serene. Inside the temple shrine is a 3.3 metre high bronze statue of the guardian deity Fudo Myo-o. The story says that an important priest called Jikaku Daishi did his religious training for 100 days here at the waterfall in the 9 th century AD. This main Buddhist temple is called Akiu Otaki Fudo-do and has a legend surrounding it. Akiu Otaki Fudo-doĪt the top of Akiu Falls, you’ll find a peaceful forested area with a main temple and several shrines dotted amongst the trees. But I’m going to describe it as adventurous because in winter you have to trudge through thick snow up and down slopes, to get to the bottom, holding on where you can to stop from slipping down.īut, as you can see from my photos, it is certainly worth the expedition. In the warmer months, this main trail is probably quite easy – maybe a 20 minute stroll.
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But for the more adventurous, there are trails that lead right to the bottom of the Akiu Falls.
MIYAGI PREFECTURE TORRENT
What I find is a pristine snowscape broken only by the great torrent of water crashing down the mountains.įrom the top, there’s a viewpoint that lets you look out across the valley and the river below, across to the dramatic cascades. I’ve been told that Akiu Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Japan and I head out there, not exactly sure what to expect.
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Let’s start with the nature – dramatic enough any time of the year but amplified in winter, which I find the country currently blanketed in. It doesn’t get a lot of tourists at the moment but it’s just 90 minutes on the train from Tokyo to Sendai (the capital) and offers everything I’ve come to love about Japan (including a trip on a shinkansen to get there!). Today I want to tell you about a new region for me – Miyagi Prefecture. And this unique mix means you’ll always have a distinct experience. In each part of Japan, you’ll find different nature, different culture and different food. It would be a mistake, though, to think that you find the same balance of the three all across the country. What I enjoy about it so much is the balance of nature, culture and food – with modern and historical streaks mixed through it all. I’m sure I have mentioned before how Japan is one of my favourite countries. Things to see in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan