Yachigashira Tram Station !

by Kazu

Refreshing in the hot spring spa in the residential area of Yachigashira after long jogging in the woods on the hillside of Mt. Hakodate-yama, I took the city tram to go back to the hotel near the train station. 

After getting off the tram near the train station, I found I lost my mobile phone after buying some drink in the convenience store "Family Mart". I thought I dropped my mobile in the tram and took a taxi to catch up the tram I had taken.

 

Yahata Hachiman Shrine in Hakodate !

by Kazu

The gate of the Shrine Yahata Hachiman has the sign of "The Dignity of God" "Kamui" on the upper keel. We have to walk through the side, not the center of the gate because the center part of the gate is for the God.

Of course, we bow toward the sacred house before going through the gate. Basically, all the facilities of the shrine is supported by the donations of the devotees and believers.

The lanterns made of stone were also built with the donations of the citizens and the name of the donors were carved on the surface. The culture rooted in this country must be maintained by our descendants, I think.  

 

Worship early in the morning !

by Kazu

The premises of Yahata Shrine were surrounded by well-trimmed pine trees, spruce, Gingko Biloba. The contrast and balance of the colors of autumnal foliage was so comfortable and breathtaking.

The cobbled ground was also well-cleaned and wet with morning moist.The stairs made of stones led to the residential area of Yachigashira and hot spring spa where many senior citizens.

The wooden sacred house of the shrine seemed to have aged and seasoned absorbing the sadness, happiness, tragedy and various kinds of feelings of the citizens. The hand-washing area at the entrance of the premises was not decorated with flowers like other shrines in Hokkaido. 

 

Yahata Hachiman Shrine in Hakodate !

by Kazu

I went through the trail in the woods on the hillside of Mt. Hakodate-yama and reached the exit of the trail leading to the premises of Yahata Shrine in Yachigashira Area of the Port City.  

Fortunately, I had some coins to donate for the shrine and for the first time, I worshiped in front of the main sacred house of the shrine in appropriate manner of worship. Before that, I had not had wallet during my jogging to the area, I passed by the shrine after simple greeting to theGod.

I was so satisfied with my first official worship in the shrine and the landscape of the colored mountain and the shining ocean with rising sun that I lower the guard and made a mistake at the end of comfy exploration. 

 

Yachigashira District in Hakodate !

by Kazu

There is a monument named "Hekketsu-hi" which means "The Blue Blood Monument" built for the soldiers of Tokugawa Administration who died in the battle against the Imperial Army though they themselves had been the official Imperial Army before the Meiji Restoration.   

The blood of soldiers who died for their good, justice turns blue three years after their death, as I mentioned in the previous post, they said. The former official army of Tokugawa Administration could not accept the change of the political situation because they had cracked down on the movement of opening the country to the foreign countries.

They believed that opening Japan to the foreign countries and becoming the prey for the greedy tribes overseas make the Japanese people doomed and unhappy. It might be true in a sense, considering Japan was heading to the wars after the Meiji Restoration.

 

Trekking Trail in Hakodate-yama !

by Kazu

I was wondering how many people including the citizens of Hakodate City had ever walked through this comfy trail so far. The trail must have given so impressive scenery of the place and eased the pain of the trekkers' mind .

I don't think so many citizens had enjoyed strolling around this area but without consideration and cooperation of the citizens,  it must be too difficult to allocate the budget to maintain this fabulous world. 

At almost the end of the trail, there is "The Monument of Blue Blood" that was built for the soldiers who died in the battle against the army controlled by the occidental countries. They divide and rule the developing countries and exploit. The blood of soldiers who died for their good, justice turns blue three years after their death, they say.   

 

The Sunrise in Hakodate, Autumn in 2025 !

by Kazu

The beautiful sunrise could be seen from the trail on the hillside of Mt. Hakodate-yama that connected Motomachi Area and Yachigashira of Hakodate.  It took about twenty minutes to reach the backside of Hachiman Shrine in Yachigashira from Motomachi Area.

Deep in Hokkaido Island, we should avoid to stroll around in deep forest without bear bell and mustard spray. But this trail is 100% safe and free from brown bear attack, so far. 

You can enjoy trekking on this trail in peace and satisfaction with the sense of immersion deep in the forest even though the trail is near the residential area at the foot of Mt. Hakodate-yama. Thanks to the Municipality of Hakodate that allocated the budget to maintain this wonderful space.