A day in Tamba Sasayama

My friend who lives in Kobe brought his sister and her husband from the US to visit. It's the sister's second visit to Japan, but her husband's first.

After sightseeing in Osaka the day before, I wonder what kind of experiences they will have in Sasayama...

They arrived at our house before 11 a.m. First, they were impressed by the quiet and peaceful atmosphere compared to Osaka the day before. After a brief self-introduction and a house tour, we headed to Kozoji Temple, where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

When I visited about four days ago, the cherry blossoms were only about 50-70% bloomed, but now they were in full bloom, and the weeping cherry trees surrounding the parking lot were lush with blossoms 🌸🌸

We were blessed with good weather. It wasn't too hot or too cold, and the breeze was pleasant. It was perfect!

At Amidado Hall, the local parishioners warmly welcomed us at the entrance, and inside, the head priest greeted us energetically. The sister is an artist, and her husband is a DIY enthusiast, so they were very interested in Japanese architecture and nature!
The head priest shared the offering for the Flower Festival, which is the birthday of Buddha, with us. It was a can of candies specially made for the occasion!

After leaving Amidado Hall, we took photos at an Instagram-worthy spot and took a leisurely walk while admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms until we reached the main hall.
During this season, depending on the day and time, it can get crowded with tourist buses arriving, but it was very quiet that day, and even we, who have visited many times, felt refreshed.

We tasted Kannon water near the main hall, admired the giant fir tree, and had fun ringing the bell in the bell tower.

After that, we made a stop at Otte Shrine to see the thousand-year-old fir tree, and then we were moved by the cherry blossoms along the Oyama river and the Miyata river and had lunch at Asuka Nobo.
The cherry blossoms along the riverside, visible through the large windows, were like paintings.
While we were talking about taking a photo with the owner, another customer offered, "Shall I take the photo for you?" It might be an incident unique to a relaxed and calm atmosphere of the restaurant.

We enjoyed a delicious meal as always, said goodbye to the owner, and this time, we passed through the cherry blossom tunnel and headed to the castle town.

We arrived at Kawaramachi and visited the Sasayama Nohgaku Museum.
The couple knew nothing about Noh, but they were impressed by the beauty and history of the Noh masks, costumes, and instruments displayed inside. People don't usually see these things, so even for me as a Japanese, Noh is an unknown realm. Therefore, I was very impressed by its depth when I heard the comments that the owner/curator told. There are many things that you don't understand just by looking at the exhibits.
The owner's wife and her son kindly provided the guidance in English, and it was very easy to understand. If you haven't visited before, I highly recommend to visit here. It's a hidden treasure 😊.

Now, after leaving the Nohgaku Museum, we strolled around Kawaramachi, stopped by Ameya for shopping, and visited the Ojiyama Makekirai Inari shrine and Ojiyama Pottery.
Afterward, we went to Coffee Beans Makoto to have a cup of coffee. As always, the cheerful owner welcomed us despite it was just before closing time, and the visitors enjoyed delicious coffee. While waiting for our coffee to be brewed, they were captivated by the variety and different styles of Tamba-yaki cups displayed in the shop.

Thank you for coming, I'm really glad that you enjoyed your day so much 🥰 Please come again sometime. We'll be waiting for you 🤗

Below is the review we received from the couple from the US.　⇩

Our experience with Yoko and John was exceptional, and made our trip to Japan unforgettable. Their lovely home place, with its old world charm and contemporary features set the tone to connect with the natural surroundings and beautiful landscape. It's a place of comfort and creativity where things are growing on many levels. From plentiful seasonal plants to an opportunity to reflect and experience local culture, we felt a sense of connection and community. As we toured the amazing historic and spiritual sites in the area, we enjoyed our conversations about both history and what connects us to our own spirit. We highly recommend a stay with Yoko and John, where you can discover nature and sooth your soul.

Dori D & Michael S
North Carolina, USA

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