Peaceful place in the hot spring town (Jyouraku-ji temple / 常楽寺, Bessyo Onsen / 別所温泉)

After visiting Anraku-ji temple, I went down the hill and went back to town.
In the middle of this town, there is a temple named Jyouraku-ji temple(常楽寺).

Around the temple, there are some hotels and Ryokans.
This area is called Bessyo Onsen (温泉).



There are many souvenir shops in the street which goes to Jyouraku-ji temple.

The Rice cookies sold at the souvenir shop.

It says "Kousen Senbei (鉱泉せんべい)".

This rice cookie is little sweet, thin type. It matches Japanese green tea.
If you have a chance, you should try. I recommend them.
(I'm eating this now, writing this blog.)

At the entrance, a man was washing his hand and mouth.

Last weekend, I watched a classic movie, "Around the world in 80 days."
In this movie, there was a scene which the characters visiting Japan, and using this kind of fountain at the temple.

In this movie, it maybe difficult for them though, but their manner were wrong.
They were drinking water using ladle.

People must not put their mouth directly on the ladle.
The correct manner when you clean your mouth at the fountain is, pour the water once in your hand, and bring it to the mouth.

This man was just doing it in correct manners.

Walking for few meters, I reached a bell tower.

This temple is not so large, but the design and layouts of the building is so beautiful.
In front of the bell tower, there were small temple building.

It is said that this temple was first built 1200 years ago, but burned three times.
The building which we can see is built 200 years ago.

This temple has other name. It is "Kita-muki-Kannon (北向観音)."
It means "Goddes Kannon facing north side."

Ancient people were watching the stars, and in north sky, they were watching Big Dipper.
Those people wished the lucky to come from Big Dipper in the north side, and settled statue of Kannon facing north side.

I couldn't see the statue, but I think it is in this main temple.

Inside of the temple was like this. Maybe she, the statue was here.

Stepping out the main temple, the sight was like this.
I really like this temple's layout. It was like miniature old town.

Going inner part, there were unique building.

As it was settled in the high place, people can't get inside.
I think this building is used only when having a special kind of festival.

If I can climb up this building, I could see all around the town.

The sun is coming down, and its getting cold.
It's good idea for taking a bath at hot spring.

To tell the truth, I went two kinds of hot spring this day.
Both was amazing.

I will introduce one of them later in few days.

Thank you for reading!!
Good night!

別所温泉, 北向観音, 常楽寺, 秋, 上田

An old temple and a cat (Anraku-ji temple / 安楽寺, Bessyo Onsen / 別所温泉)

Before taking a bath in hot spring, I've visited temples.
It's not bad to walk a lot, get little tired, and get in hot bath.

This day, I went to a temple named Anraku-ji temple (安楽寺) in Bessyo Onsen (別所温泉).

As it was little cloudy day, it was difficult to take a picture in dark place...




Going through the dim woods, there where three-storied pagoda.

I have waited the sunlight comes, but it was unlucky day for me.
The less lights only let me take dark pictures.

Maybe I can take little more better picture in morning time.
I should come here in other day.

In the way back, I met cute cat.
She was attached to human, and could chuck her.

Her first contact was like this.
I regret that the pint was little out from her face.

She was purring.

She seems feeling really well.

And... rolling.

I was lucky to meet her, become happy feeling.
But she hardly let me go.
She sit on the feet.

I have to come back here someday in the morning time to take a picture of beautiful building and meet the cat again.

Thank you for reading!

Have a nice weekend!!

別所温泉, 崇福山安楽寺, 三重塔

The hot spring in the mountain which deer had told us (Kakeyu Onsen / 鹿教湯温泉)

It is getting cold where I live and was 6℃ (42.8F) in this morning.
In 3 month ago, it was 39℃ (102.2F) around here. The changes of season is amazing.
The snow will cover around here in a month or so.

In these cold days, I like going to Onsen, the hot spring.

The hot sprin where I went was Kakeyu (鹿教湯) Onsen.
"鹿" means "deer", "教" means "teach" or "tell", and  "湯" means "hot water".




The reason why this place has the name is like this.

Long time ago, there was a huntsman.
He was godly person, never hunt too, much and prayed god a lot.

One day, he couldn't find any animal at all.
He went deep and deep in the mountain, and finally found a deer.

He shot an arrow and it hit the deer.

The deer run away with an arrow in his back. The deer seemed injured, but hunts man couldn't find him in that day.

Next day, the huntsman went into same mountain to find the deer.
He walked all day, and went into the deep place in the mountain again.

About the time he resigned himself to go home, he found the deer.
The deer was in a pond.

He looked painful at first, but soon become fine, and jumped out the pond.

The huntsman felt strange and went near the pond.
It wasn't a pond. It was a hot spring.

Suddenly, Bosatsu, a Buddhist saint, came out.
The name of saint is "Monjyu".

Monjyu said like this.
"You prayed a lot, so I lead you here using a deer. This hot spring can heal sickness and injury. Tell the people about this place to use as healing."

It is said that this story was about 1200 years ago.
Still people is coming to this place.

I found some signs of the deer here.
This is the cover of manhole. Isn't it cute?

I heard that there are a temple named "Monjyu-do (文殊堂)". It means a house which enshrine Monjyu. I decided to go there.

I reached a river which have wooden bridge.
It was covered with red, yellow and orange leaves and so beautiful.

I found Jizou (地蔵), also a Buddhist saint.

He was wearing red clothes.
It is cold place, so someone in this village made it for him.

Crossing the bridge, and I reached a stairway.

Climbing this stairway, there was a temple.

This is the Monjyu-dou.

There were a picture of dragon, and cute birds on the ceiling of this temple.

Is this statue made as Monjyu?

It seemed little different from usual Buddhist statue.

Next to the Monjyu-dou, there where one more old temple.

As the roof was made of old thatch, the weed were growing.
Take a closer look, it seems like this.

As the building will get collapsed, there were information said that will soon fixed to wooden roof.
I was lucky that I could see the original roof before fixed.

Before leaving here, I saw a small, but beautiful Japanese garden.

This place is quite far from the city, and only way to come is using a car.
In the information, it said it will take 50 minutes using a bus from Matsumoto station.
At Sunday, there are no bus to here.

It maybe expensive but better to use a taxi.

If you are asking to going this place, say Kakeyu Onsen, or show this text, 鹿教湯温泉.

Thank you for reading.
One more day to go for week end!

Have a good night!

鹿教湯温泉, 文殊堂, 松本, 秋, 紅葉

Enjoy Onsen, the hot spring in Ryokan (Kansui-rou / 環翠楼, Hakone / 箱根)

I think most of Japanese people likes hot spring.
I'm also the one!! We say hot spring "Onsen (温泉)" in Japanese.

For travelers from other countries, it maybe little difficult to take a bath with strangers without swimming wears. But if once you can get used to it, I think your world will be little get wider.




At Kansui-rou, there were three kinds of Onsen.

One kind is ordinary type, and you can rock the door.
You can get in only with your acquaintance, so it may be easier to try for first time.

Other two are inside and outside of the building.

First, I went outside type of hot spring.
Walking through the typical Japanese style garden, I reached there.

There are small building for taking the cloth off.
The hot spring was placed next to the river and I could see the stream.

Don't worry, there are wall so that people out side can't see.

I really got relaxed and enjoyed taking a bath in the nature.

I get back inside to get in other type of hot spring.
The stained glass were there.

As I was alone for just few minutes, I only could take few pictures.

The hot spring inside of building was nostalgic style.
As Hakone was a resort spot from more than 100 years ago, western culture merged to old Japanese hotel.

The western style was seen on the light's design, too.

After I got out, I had dinner at my room.
To be exact, I had beer before the dinner.

On the beer's label, there were text "Hakone (箱根)".

The beer after the hot spring was very very tasty.

If you visit Japan, please try hot spring!
I really recommend them.

Thank you for reading!
Have a nice day!

箱根, 旅館, 環翠楼, 温泉, 露天風呂,