For some crazy reason, I felt like tackling Mt. Gagyuzan again today. It was about 3:30 when I said to myself "Wow, I think I'll go climb Mt. Gagyuzan!" And I did just that!
The trip up was better this time because the temperature has cooled off a little by this time, but I tell you ... the mosquito are a pain in the posterior! That, and they are HUGE!!! Not only that, but it stings really bad when they bite you ... makes me miss Georgia Mosquito, at least they were discrete about taking you blood ...
I promised myself that I would go see the other parts of the Murakami Castle Ruins this trip. So, I took the red path this time. It was down and down, up, and down. Then down some more, and up, up, and up. All this done on a little trail no more than 8 inches wide that is half worn away. Most of the way I wondered if I was actually going the right way. It was beautiful, nonetheless. Along the way I passed this quaint little waterfall, and well, I saw a LOT of trees.
Finally, I saw the light peeking through the trees, and then, right in front of me, were beautiful ivy covered stone walls. I decided to take a picture while lying on the ground, when I met some nice old ladies who thought it might be fun to join me on the ground! How happily random!
Then a path into the castle ...
I walked out into the castle grounds. To my right, stone Shinto tori gates, and to my left, a breathtaking view of Murakami city ... from the mountains all the way to the sea.
There were stairs leading up to a plateau, where you could walk around the perimeter of the castle walls, and look over to the other side of the city.
It really took me back. The ruins were more intact here, and with all the steps and landings I could get to, it was easy to pretend I was a samurai or retainer living within the castle oh so long ago.
At first I thought I was going to have to go back the way I came, but I saw another person walking a different way. So, being me, I followed them - when I'm lost or don't know where to go, I usually just follow the people in front of me, a bad habit I've picked up over the years. It was getting close to sunset, and I wanted to make sure that I would be down the mountain before dark. Low and behold, there was another path ... which was easier than the one I took. The crows laughed in the distance.
I came home, starving, and tried out the broiler in my stove. Thirty minutes later, I had one of the best meals that I have had since coming to Japan. Some gyoza - made with Murakami Beef, from cows that I have YET to see, some Murakami salmon, and Murakami rice. Absolutely delicious!!!
Want to see what I saw? Here are the pictures!
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