You can't see the sanctuary but this you can see

Here's a photo of the rice storehouse at NAIKU of Grand Ise Shrine. You can't see the very Shinto house where AMATERASU Sun goddess has been enshrined. It's surrounded by five types of wooden fences and you are only allowed to go beyond the outermost fence. However, you can see this storehouse built in the same architectural style, YUI-ITSU SHINMEI-ZUKURI. Don't miss looking at this carefully when you are at NAIKU of Ise.

The two pillars on either side of the storehouse are unique to this style. 

The real sanctuary building has veranda around the raised storage and the staircase leading to the door.

Geku is renewed but with part of the old structure

Two spread of ground always stand side by side. The new structure was completed last year and the residing goddess moved from her old house to the new. These houses lie in the adjacent grounds. Soon her old residence is to be gone completely but for the time being psrt of it still stands. 

The old 

And new:

A black cormorant never left the best spot

This is a picture of the married rocks at Futami-okitama shrine, not far away from ISE. Perched on the gate there must be a black cormorant, sunbathing under the blazing sun. It never left while I was there.

OKUNOSHIMA, incredibly beautiful and BUNNIES, so cute

It always happens and this time too:  I took a picture at the same usual spot. Always enchanting with different times of the day in different weather. This time very mystic. Even the tower looks something from a different world. I will be never tired of spending time on the island with bunnies and the view from the summit. 

Now you can sip a cup of bunny coffee ...

And bunnies, running.

Firmiana simplex in Peace Park have seed pods now

Plants are amazingly resilient and they do not complain. Two old varnish trees and one young one grow within a fence. They stand next to the east wing of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It gives me pleasure to see changing seasons with them. They are so green in summer; whereas they look barren without leaves in winter (I like them that way too).  Now I saw one of them having seed pods, rather close to the ground. They will become dry and brownish and eventually fly in fall. The pods look like boats carrying seeds. The circle of life is such a beautiful thing, particularly touching as the trees are survivors of the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. Try watching them closely and you will see their scars but they never grudge but live fully. 

Teshima Museum after a shower

The Teshima Museum after a shower was completely mesmerizing with tiny raindrops scattered on the gently and slightly undulating floor. I always wanted to go there on a rainy day and this time it just so happened on a tour day when I took my guest. We said we came on the very special day. It was magical. Everybody in the museum was enchanted, sitting there quietly or leisurely walking around. My guest was so good at seeing the THREADS in the air. After I showed one of them to her, she was sensitive enough to find the other two as was so destined. A gold, silver, and red threads. 

    The surface was silverier than usual after a rainfall.

The Archives of the Heartbeats is not really my cup of tea because it's too heavy on me, but many enjoy having their heartbeat recorded on the spot. It only takes ten minutes and if you ask, you can right away hear your heartbeat in the HEART ROOM. 

 Approach to the Archives 

I first went to see the DISTANT MEMORY on one ordinary weekday when the entrance was loosely chained, and it was easy to go beyond the chain and reach the artwork and walk around. This time on Monday during the summer vacation, a lady was there. 

 It became sunny when we were there.

Big Bambu looks fun and genius. The phot was taken from a road in a distance. Too far away, so below is the web site you can see a large pic.

http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/artwork/a030

 In a bamboo grove the artwork is assembled. 

Yokoo House is relatively new and a good contrast of the Teshima Museum. The House is in charge of the death realm but life and death are not so apart. 

There are artistic dining or cafe-like places where you can chill particularly if your visit falls on the weekend. Take time in Teshima though Teshima and Inujima can be cleverly combined and done in a day. For that you need a guide as your strategist, though.

Enjoy the photos and dream of your day in Teshima. Remember the art facilities are closed on Tuesday.

Sleek lodging in ONOMICHI, great for bike riders

ONOMICHI has been the gateway to the SHIMANAMI scenic sea route since the whole route was completed in 1999. The SHIMANAMI sea route spans the Inland Sea and connects ONOMICHI on the Honshu side and IMABARI on the Shikoku side. This is the only route of bridges in Japan where you can travel the whole way by bike. 

This complex consisting of a hotel, a cafe, and a store, was recently built and just right for cyclists who have quality bikes that they do not want to leave outside the room. They can bring in their beloved bikes and there are proper places to store them.

More travelers are now staying in ONOMICHI, the Holy Land for those who love bike-rides.