The Oyunohara (大斎原) Otorii Gate, the largest of the Kumano Kodo sanzan. Before 1889, 熊野古道, Kumano Kodō pilgrims arriving at Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine visited its original site of Oyunohara 大斎原, an island located at the fork of the Iwata River and the Otonashi River in Tanabe, Wakayama. Instead of Misogi, 禊 a Japanese Shinto practice of … Continue reading 熊野古道, Kumano Kodō: Oyunohara 大斎原
Travel in Japan
Walking the Kumano Kodō – 熊野本宮大社 Kumano Hongū Taisha –
Walking the Kumano Kodo beings at 熊野本宮大社, Kumano Hongū Taisha. It serves as the head shrine of more than 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan and is part of the san-zen - three famous shrines that cover the route. Hongu Taisha enshrines its own deity and the deities of the other two Kumano shrines, Hayatama Taisha, Nachi Taisha, as well asthe sun goddess Amaterasu.
Haiku + Photo = Haipho – A Few Notes on the Japanese Way
Unlike an ekphrastic poem that is describing a work of art, the Haipho must have a few considerations.
Japan Rail Pass Offers Virtual Travel and Contest
Enjoy virtual travel to Japan's top destinations from the comfort of home via 360 photos on JR West's Japan Rail Pass website. You can enter its contest too! I did!
Walking the Kumano Kodō: 玉置神社 Tamaki Shinto Shrine – With Haiku and Photos
Haiku and photographs accompany Sydney Solis's journey to Tamaki Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan while on pilgrimage walking the Kumano Kodo.
Inunakiyama Tohorinji Temple犬鳴山轉法輪寺, Nara – Haiku and Photos
First stop on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage was an unexpected and little known one at the Inukaiyama Hohonen-ji founded by Kūkai in Nara. Inunakiyama Tohorinji Temple犬鳴山轉法輪寺
Genjuan International Haibun Contest 2020 Results
Honorable Mention for Haibun Contest in Japan! I’m honored to receive this award and am grateful to the judges!
Amazing! The judges have finished their pow-wow early this year (completed on a long conference call between Tokyo, Kyoto and Tipperary), and we have already notified the awardees, so here now are the results of the 2020 Genjuan Contest:
グランプリ作品 Grand Prix
Snow in Advent…. David Cobb (UK)
庵賞 An (Cottage) Prizes
Whispers…. David McCullough (Japan/UK)
Key West Cat…. Joan Prefontaine (USA)
入選作 Honourable Mentions
Jamshedpur …. Kanchan Chatterjee (India)
Visiting John …. Paul Bregazzi (Ireland)
Fifteen Minute Limit …. Naomi Beth Wakan (Canada)
The Penultimate Mile …. Geethanjali Rajan (India)
Nagaranishi…. Sydney Solis (Japan/USA)
The Easter of the Blajin …. Cezar-Florin Ciobica (Romania)
Sunday Stopping Train to Salzburg …. Dick Pettit (Denmark)
審査委員 Judges – Akiko Takazawa, Stephen Henry Gill, Sean O’Connor
I don’t think Grand Prix-winning author David Cobb will mind me telling you that he has just turned 94 years old. Apparently he…
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Healing Waters and Haiku – Japanese Onsen at Kamiyusou, Totsukawa, Nara 神湯荘
The Healing Waters of Kamiyusou onsen in Totsukawa, Nara prefecture are a perfect stop to write haiku and rest your weary bones as you make your way as a pilgrim on the Kumano Kodo in Japan.
熊野古道 Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage – Japan’s Sacred Trees
Photograph of trees along the Kumano Kodo, or dark path, at Nachikatsuura, Wakayama, Japan.
Faith in Nature: Forest Bathing and Mythic Yoga Journey to Mt. Atago, Kyoto
Nature heals, and forest bathing on Mt. Atago in Kyoto, Japan is just what the planet orders to heal depression and help us find our life purpose.
