#Miyagi prefecture torrent#

This is kyu-do and itвЂ™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 вЂ“ each of them could probably be politely referred to as вЂretireesвЂ™.

I walk in and find a small group of archers. In fact, the main reason IвЂ™m here is to visit the archery hall that is attached to the temple complex. IвЂ™ve come here for more than the shrine, though. The Takekoma Inari Shrine isnвЂ™t on the tourist trail but itвЂ™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. ItвЂ™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.

ThatвЂ™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, thereвЂ™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-doДЄt the top of Akiu Falls, youвЂ™ll find a peaceful forested area with a main temple and several shrines dotted amongst the trees. But IвЂ™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.Д«ut, as you can see from my photos, it is certainly worth the expedition. In the warmer months, this main trail is probably quite easy вЂ“ maybe a 20 minute stroll. 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.ДЇrom the top, thereвЂ™s a viewpoint that lets you look out across the valley and the river below, across to the dramatic cascades. IвЂ™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. LetвЂ™s start with the nature вЂ“ dramatic enough any time of the year but amplified in winter, which I find the country currently blanketed in. It doesnвЂ™t get a lot of tourists at the moment but itвЂ™s just 90 minutes on the train from Tokyo to Sendai (the capital) and offers everything IвЂ™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 вЂ“ Miyagi Prefecture. And this unique mix means youвЂ™ll always have a distinct experience. In each part of Japan, youвЂ™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 вЂ“ with modern and historical streaks mixed through it all. IвЂ™m sure I have mentioned before how Japan is one of my favourite countries. Known for his high level of ethics, a still-quoted aphorism is, 'Rectitude carried to excess hardens into stiffness benevolence indulged beyond measure sinks into weaknessвЂќ.Things to see in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan He was easily recognizable by his crescent-moon-bearing helmet. Thanks to his strong personality and record of successful battles he has been a recurrent character in many movies, writings and even video games. Without any doubts, Miyagi Prefecture recalls in the minds of the Japanese the image of Date Masamune (1567-1636): one of the most powerful daimyo (territorial lords) of Japan at that time and founder of the city of Sendai. Generally a mild climate but western areas may register a higher quantity of snowfall compared to the rest of the prefecture. There are high mountains in the west and along the northeast coast, but the central plain around Sendai is fairly large. Miyagi Prefecture is in the central part of Tohoku region, facing the Pacific Ocean, and contains Tohoku's largest city, Sendai.