We walk on past the Shinto Shrine,
through the village and begin up the mountain.

These steps lead us up to the Buddhist temples, 

through glades of cherry trees in blossom.. 

past pagodas.. 

'Is it a mist,
or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Cherry blossoms..'
                                        Keiko Abe

Young and old come to admire the cherry trees
and everyone is smiling.. 

me too. 

Some trees are so old.. but loved. 

Up and up we climb 

there are bells to ring 

and incense burning.. 

it seems to me..
old trees and old people
and little children are all revered. 

One temple leads to the next.. 

 

so much beauty. 

I can feel this place is somehow changing me.. 

 

on and on  

up more steps 

we follow tumbling  cascades

to the top-most shrine, just newly built.
I can still smell the cedar wood used to fashion yet another shrine.

Thank you Linda for bringing me to this place..
and thank you Miyajima..
I will carry you in my heart forever.

PS:  Meiko told me later, there had been a huge storm and the raging waters tumbling down the mountain washed gardens and shrines away. The new shrine is part of the re-building programme.