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Matthew Haswell | profile | all galleries >> Japan 日本 >> Tōhoku 東北 >> Yamagata and Yama-dera 山形と山寺 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Aomori 青森 | Hirosaki 弘前 | Osore-zan 恐山 | Hachinohe 八戸 | Akita 秋田 | Kakunodate 角館 | Morioka 盛岡 | Hiraizumi 平泉 | Yamagata and Yama-dera 山形と山寺 | Tsuruoka 鶴岡 | Sendai 仙台 | Matsushima 松島 | Shiroishi, Nihonmatsu & Shirakawa 白石、二本松、白河 | Aizu-Wakamatsu and Kitakata 会津若松と喜多方

Yamagata and Yama-dera 山形と山寺

The capital of Yamagata-ken, the modern city of Yamagata sits in a valley on the eastern edge of the prefecture, flanked by forest-covered mountains. Although not a major tourist destination in and of itself, it lies close to the ski resorts of Mt. Zaō and the hot springs of Kaminoyama further south. Along the main rail route to Sendai in neighboring Miyagi Prefecture is the mountaintop temple complex of Risshaku-ji, better known as Yama-dera. Founded in 860 by Tendai priest Ennin, the thickly wooded site has seen many pilgrims over the years, most notably famed haiku poet Matsuo Bashō in 1689.
Outside the restored east gate of Yamagata-jō
Outside the restored east gate of Yamagata-jō		 Entrance of the Higashi-mon, Yamagata-jō
Entrance of the Higashi-mon, Yamagata-jō		 Statue of Mogami Yoshiaki with castle turret
Statue of Mogami Yoshiaki with castle turret		 Dramatic clouds over the castle gate
Dramatic clouds over the castle gate
Bridge to the newly restored Hon-maru
Bridge to the newly restored Hon-maru		 View across to the Hon-maru foundations
View across to the Hon-maru foundations		 Yamagata City Museum in Kajō-kōen
Yamagata City Museum in Kajō-kōen		 Modern Yamagata down south from the park
Modern Yamagata down south from the park
View of the Higashi-mon across the JR tracks
View of the Higashi-mon across the JR tracks		 Former Yamagata Prefectural Office
Former Yamagata Prefectural Office		 Front of the former Prefectural Office
Front of the former Prefectural Office		 Adjoining building beside the old office
Adjoining building beside the old office
Education Materials Museum
Education Materials Museum		 Electric banner for the Hanagasa Matsuri
Electric banner for the Hanagasa Matsuri		 A cloudy morning outside JR Yamagata Station
A cloudy morning outside JR Yamagata Station		 Backstreet in Kaminoyama Onsen
Backstreet in Kaminoyama Onsen
Reconstructed donjon of Kaminoyama-jō
Reconstructed donjon of Kaminoyama-jō		 Rural sprawl of Kaminoyama Onsen
Rural sprawl of Kaminoyama Onsen		 JR Yamadera Station
JR Yamadera Station		 Stream running through Yamadera town
Stream running through Yamadera town
Kompon Chūdō - the main hall of Yama-dera
Kompon Chūdō - the main hall of Yama-dera		 Statue of Matsuo Bashō near the main hall
Statue of Matsuo Bashō near the main hall		 Main gate at the foot of the ascent
Main gate at the foot of the ascent		 Buddhist sculpture along the ascent
Buddhist sculpture along the ascent
Carvings on a stone wall at Mida-hora
Carvings on a stone wall at Mida-hora		 Mida-hora carvings
Mida-hora carvings		 Sculpture on an outcropping
Sculpture on an outcropping		 Tourists climbing to the San-mon gate
Tourists climbing to the San-mon gate
Temple window with statue and omikuji
Temple window with statue and omikuji		 Valley below Yama-dera and surrounding mountains
Valley below Yama-dera and surrounding mountains		 Path to the Kaizan-dō
Path to the Kaizan-dō		 Nōkyō-dō and mountains beyond
Nōkyō-dō and mountains beyond
Oku-no-in - the highest point of Yama-dera
Oku-no-in - the highest point of Yama-dera		 Stone lanterns and bell tower at Oku-no-in
Stone lanterns and bell tower at Oku-no-in		 Group of jizō with stuffed character
Group of jizō with stuffed character		 Buddhist monument at Oku-no-in
Buddhist monument at Oku-no-in
Bells hung from a copper lantern, Oku-no-in
Bells hung from a copper lantern, Oku-no-in		 San-mon gate on the descent
San-mon gate on the descent		 Trees surrounding the path
Trees surrounding the path		 Yama-dera from the station area below
Yama-dera from the station area below

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Gundosbrc 08-Aug-2010 11:33
Aloha! obx
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