Weekend in Karuizawa

We spent a beautiful fall weekend in the resort of Karuizawa, 70 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen, as guests of Tatsuo Tsuda (Otterbein '55) and his gracious wife.













Our hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Tatsuo Tsuda

The historic "Mampei Hotel"

Karuizawa History. In 1886 a British missionary visited Karuizawa; two years later, he built a summer residence. By 1930 Karuizawa had become the place missionaries and expatriates summered to avoid the heat of the Kanto Plain and Tokyo. During WW II the cabins and hotels were a haven for German and neutral country citizens.

Today Karuizawa has several golf courses and many summer and year round homes have been built in the forested mountains. It has been visited by many celebrities, including members of the imperial family and prominent figures in politics and the business world, and has gradually grown into the prominent Japanese resort.

The Nagano shinkansen line built for the Olympics brought Karuizawa closer to the capital and made it easier for couples and families to spend a day or weekend shopping, relaxing, and sightseeing in Karuizawa.

Meg with Tatsuo Tsuda looking toward Mt. Asama










Mt. Asama, an activte volcano. Those volcanic fumes, not clouds. The volcano last erupted in 2004.


The magnificent view over the mountains of Nagano Prefecture.

Tatsuo-san's favorite, "the most beautiful house in Karuizawa," former residence of author Murō Saisei

Karuizawa Hachiman Shrine, where we happened on a festival to pray for a prosperous autumn season, featuring "kagura" shrine dances.

Ancient "kagura" shrine dancing. This fox passes out sacred rice cakes to the onlookers.

The unusual "White Thread" waterfalls.

Settling back for the swift shinkansen ride back to Kyoto

Mt. Takao, Jingoh Temple

West of Kyoto, Mt. Takao is famous for colored leaves in autumn, a rushing river gorge, and an ancient temple associated with Kukai, founder of Shingon Buddhism. Chieko and Kordy Iwazaki, who performed koto and shakuhachi music at Otterbein last year invited us on a September excursion, too early for "leaf peeping" but just right to avoid the crowds and experience the serenity of the temple.

The climb up is really strenuous, but rest spots along the way offer a cool drink and a place to catch your breath. We were kindly treated on this trip, especially because everyone knows Chieko from her annual October weekend koto performances at Takao.






Jingoh Temple is a place where Kukai (Kobo Daishi after his death) spent 14 years before founding the temple complex at Mt. Koya.

This is the main hall, and the subsidiary buildings are equally impressive.


Rev. Seigaku Taniuchi, head priest of the temple, recognized Chieko and Kordy, and asked us to come into his dwelling for tea. He studied Sanskrit and English, and is a member of Rotary. He is a fan of American culture, especially "smooth" jazz (KennyG), old movies (Audrey Hepburn) and Broadway musicals (My Fair Lady).

This is the entrance to the priest's residence -- his grandfather's calligraphy.

We had the quintessential Japanese experience of old and new, while Rev. Taniuchi spoke learnedly about facets of Shingon Buddhism while playing KennyG for us on CD's.










Dinner was at a riverside inn with a dinning platform out over the river. A river fish called "Ayu" was served.









Kordy serenaded with his shakuhachi.

















Next morning we visited nearby Kohsan Temple, another Kukai location, and were invited back to Rev. Taniuchi's home for a delicious "bento" box lunch and more good conversation and music. Some parting gifts of Buddhist books will be a good addition to the Otterbein Library.

Rev. Seigaku Taniuchi, Head Priest of Jingoh Temple









Our night's stay in the Japanese style in ended with breakfast brough to our comfortable tatami mat room with river view.