Since it’s Spring break, Peng went to her hometown. So Peng wants to introduce her home prefecture to you.
The first picture is the castle. Peng was born at the site of the main gate of this castle.
But now there is no great main enclosure of the castle to show.
The moat and rock wall are still there, but the most of the castle area has become the city office building.
However, you can still see the old days when you look at this-- “Nyutokumon” which was built as the gate of the Toudou clan school by the 10th Lord. The “Hinomiyagura (fire watchtower)” has been covered by concrete.
Even though the castle area is now the city office building space, there is still a Japanese garden, and you can find a bronze statue of the first Lord Takatora Toudou.
This man was a great lord who survived the civil war time when the government switched from Toyotomi to Tokugawa. He made precepts to keep the Toudou clan. At the end of the Edo era his descendants survived as the nobility. He is also known as a great builder of castles.
What? You don’t know about him? Hmmm・・・It’s a big mistake!
Everyone knows the name “Ueno” in Tokyo, don’t they? Well, this was the guy who named the place “Ueno” at the beginning of Edo area. At that time the Toudou clan had their Edo house in this place, and Lord Takatora thought that the view there was just like “Iga-Ueno”, where his feudal estate was located (in Mie prefecture). So, he named his place in Edo “Ueno”.
In Peng’s home prefecture, there is a very famous historic building “Ise Jingu (Ise Shrine)” where the boss of the Japanese Gods lives.
Sorry there are no pictures of the Shrine. This year there is still construction work going on for the “Sengu”. Since AD690, in the Emperor Jito’s time, we reconstruct the shrine regularly about every 60 years.
Anyway , now Peng will introduce 3 points of interest for anyone who wants to visit the Ise area after the “Sengu” is completed.
First, there is a rest station inside the Ise Shrine. You can get free tea in a cup with the Shrine crest, and you can also see a DVD movie about how the Sengu is done.
After visiting the Ise Shrine you can get souvenirs on Okage street. Oh! Don’t forget to look underfoot. You will see a special Ise manhole. In Japan, many cities have uniquely designed manhole covers.
Finally, even though it may be very difficoult to find a restaurant, you should really eat “deep-fried Ise shrimp”. It’s so great!
Peng loves her home prefecture. Happy!(^0^)
|