Boso Peninsula
- Nokogiriyama, Stone Buddha, & Evening Kanaya Bay (Page-8)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Back to Kanaya
- this time specifically to go to the top of Mt. Nokogiri - first wandering
around a bit within the small fishing village of Kanaya, and then riding
the gondola up to the top. The upper station of the gondola (below
right) retains a feel from a few decades ago, and so will likely be radically
changed in the not-to-distant future. Really old things in Japan
are carefully preserved, but anything newer than about 150 years old is
considered too new to be worthy of preserving - thus there are whole periods
of architectural styles that have come and gone, with very few surviving
examples left.
Up on top of Mt.
Nokogiri. (Middle) - Looking down the peninsula at the next town.
Further along in this same direction is Tateyama. The town that
is partially visible in the left picture above is near the Kanaya ferry
terminal.
Up on top, the
view out over Tokyo Bay is a good one on clear days. The night view
must be nice, but the last cable car run is before sunset, so I've never
stayed long enough to see it. I might try staying after that last
easy ride down to see it sometime, and then just walk down the mountain
on the access road for the nearby temple - it's not all that far I don't
think (but I'm only guessing, so don't take my word for it!).
If you want to
properly explore this area - be prepared for a lot of walking up and down
long staircases! Easier than hiking up and down rough trails, but
quite a workout in the heat nonetheless! (These pictures were all
taken in late summer.)
This stone Buddha
stature is apparently the largest statue of Buddha in Japan. The
Nara Buddhist stature is much more famous, and is the largest bronze
statue of Buddha, but this one is larger if you allow for different materials.
Apparently this was carved from the solid rock of the mountain.
As the evening
approached and the shadows lengthened - I reluctantly headed for the last
gondola ride back down the mountain. If only they had a later one
that would allow a good look at the night view!
Back down the mountain,
I took a walk along the waterfront - photographing a sunset that looked
remarkably similar to a painting my parents had in their living room as
I was growing up - and then I explored the fishing boats and fishing bipeds.
It was an enjoyable
time I spent in the twilight - wandering around in a relaxed atmosphere
at the end of the day and in the near end of summer. Tokyo is exciting,
but it offers much too little in the simple pleasures of being under an
open sky and in touch with the time of day, the time of season, the time
of your life.....
(Below) - Taken
from the concrete and rock barrier that protects the small harbor and
its fleet of fishing boats. The light at the top of the mountain
is the gondola landing... do they leave lights on there all night, or
was someone still working there - cleaning up in the restaurant and souvenir
shops?
(Below left) -
Not long after watching a fishing boat come back to the harbor, I noted
the time and hurried back to the ferry terminal for a ride on the last
boat across. (Below middle) - The inside of the ferry - a nice boat
that always makes me wish the ride across took two or three times longer
than it does! (Below right) - Cars unloading on the Kanagawa (Tokyo)
side of Tokyo Bay).
After getting off
the ferry, I looked back at the boat for a bit and then walked back to
Kurihama Station. (Below middle) - The road illuminated by the headlights
of a car behind me. (Below right) - The street that leads to (or
away, depending on the direction of your journey) Kurihama Station.
"Back to city life..." I thought with some reluctance as I approached
the station for the first of many trains back to my apartment......
Copyright 2006 by Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon, Images
Through Glass, Tokyo
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