#ishizuchi

[fishbphotography]

Violets in moss

Mt. Ishizuchi, Ehime, Japan

[merpmonde]

Yosan Line part 2: Marugame to Imabari

Continued from part 1.

Tadotsu (33 km) is where the Dosan line to the Southern city of Kôchi detaches. The Yosan line, meanwhile, gets very close to the shore, offering some wonderful views of the island-dotted Seto Inland Sea.

Tsushima-no-miya (40 km) serves Tsushima-jinja, a shrine sat on a small island connected to Shikoku by a bridge. To be precise, the station serves Tsushima-jinja's matsuri, which takes place in early August, and thus holds the distinction of being the station in Japan with the shortest opening period - just 2 days a year! The rest of the time, trains just whizz through.

Skipping quite a distance ahead to Iyo-Saijô (114 km), its Shikoku Railway Cultural Center and views of the Ishizuchi mountain range. Not the best view on the day I went, evidently, as clouds cover what I think is Kuromori-yama - at least I want to talk about Kuromori-yama, as the name means "Black Forest"! There is just no getting away from the Schwarzwald!

Nyûgawa (127 km) sees the Yosan line traverse something of a plain. Fields in the foreground, industry in the background, as we approach Imabari, the town at the Shikoku end of the Shimanami Kaidô I have already posted about.

[beifongkendo]

Mt. Ishizuchi, Ehime prefecture (by sorakataphoto)

[eirikrjs]

In SMT V, Kurama Tengu refers to an "Ishizuchizan Hokibo" in a quest before summoning Zaou Gongen to fight alongside him. Do you know who or what he may be referring to?

I took this screenshot and apparently never gave it a second thought.

It appears Ishizuchizan Hokibo is one of the Great Tengu by one such reckoning/grouping, living on Mount Ishizuchi in Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku. This page has everything. Hokibo:

Simply, Hokibe lives atop Tengudake, Ishizuchi's peak. But Ishizuchi is also associated with the Shugendo sect and En no Ozuno/Gyoja, and thus Zaou Gongen, who is venerated at Ishizuchi. So in the game, the somewhat lowly Kurama Tengu is appealing to a superior tengu to contact and help summon the mountain's deity.

[milehighdad]

大権現。Daigongen.

お遍路64番前神寺。Ohenro #64 Maegamiji.

[davidmesquivel]

Ishizuchi

[fishbphotography]

Magpie Moff

Mt. Ishizuchi, Ehime, Japan

[fishbphotography]

Violets in the stump

Mt. Ishizuchi, Ehime, Japan