A road from Tenri Station to Sakurai Station in Nara, having a total length of about 16 km, is called “Yamanobe-no-michi.” This name appears in “Nihon-shoki,” which is the oldest chronicles of Japan, written about 1,300 years ago. You can travel along the road by bicycle looking at old shrines, ancient tombs, and the like. The scenery along the road could be seen at anywhere in Japan until just a little while ago. So, for Japanese people, it’s a past of childhood memories.
Autumn in 2015 (September)
There are traffic signs here and there .
Bamboo grove.
Persimmon trees were heavy with ripe fruits. The fruits were not for humans but for the birds.
Rice plants were growing in paddy fields.
The village shrine is inside the grove in the center.
Winter in 2016 (March)
We walked around the same places as we walked in autumn. Various flowers were blooming here and there, because this winter was warm.
Bamboo grove.
Village shrine grove.
Torii (gateway at the entrance) of the village shrine.
There were no plants on the paddy fields.
Flowers at the roadside.
<<Yamanobe-no-michi>>
The original route of the ancient road is unknown. The present Yamanobe-no-michi is divided into two sections, a northern course (from Isonokami Jingu Shrine to Shinyakushiji Shrine in Nara-City) and a southern course (from Isonokami Jingu Shrine to Sakurai).
The above photos were taken near Obitoke Station on the JR Sakurai line. The northern course of Yamanobe-no-michi extends almost parallel to the JR Sakurai line.
Leave a Reply