 Mountains,Valleys and Waterfalls |
Map of Hiroshima (Nihongo) |
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The 356-meter Soko-yama, located in Mitaki,
Nishi ward, is named after a master
of the
tea ceremony, Soko Ueda (1563-1650)
whose
real name is Sigeyasu Ueda. He was
karo, a senior retainer, for the Asano Clan who
was assigned to reside in Hiroshima
Castle
in 1619, and remained there until early
in
the Meiji era (1868-1912). He made
a tea
house called "Wafudo" on
the premises
in his residence near the castle. Believe
it or not, he planted a 12-meter high
red
pine tree on the summit of this mountain
(about 4 kilometers' distance !) to
appreciate
it as a background for his tea room.
It is
said this red pine also played the
role of
the background for a noted Japanese
landscape
garden, Shukkeien, which he was asked to design by the first
lord of the clan, Nagaakira Asano.
It was
constructed as the garden of the Asano
Clan's
second house in 1620, and was opened
to the
public in 1940 after it was donated
to Hiroshima
Prefecture. Since then his tea cult,
Uedasoko-ryu, has been passed down here in Hiroshima
for sixteen generations.
However, his pine was said to have been struck by lightning in the Meiji era and it died. A second one was planted, but it was cut down with the reason that it would be a target of enemy war planes during the Second World War. The following planted-third one has been living until recently, but died from the damage by pine bark beetles last spring. In order to restore the traditional pine, an executive committee was set up by the local residents including the headmaster of the tea cult. They took a new variety of pine called "Hiroshima Super Pine" which was developed to be resistant to the pine bark beetles by Hiroshima Prefectural Forestry Research Center in Miyoshi. The center donated them a two-meter high young Hiroshima Super Pine. In November last year, the Soko's fourth pine planting ceremony was held on the top of the mountain, getting the attendance of then Hiroshima Mayor, Takashi Hiraoka. A view of the old castle town from the mountaintop is splendid. Mitaki Temple is in a valley on Mt. Soko, and the surrounding area is one of the most popular places for cherry blossom viewing. The two-storied vermilion pagoda called "Tahoto" stands in the precincts of the temple. It was originally built at Hirohachiman Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, and later moved here in 1951 to console the spirits of the A-bomb victims. It is thought to date back to the Muromachi period (1392-1573), reflecting the mixed architectural style of Japanese and Chinese design. The wooden seated Buddhist image of Amida-nyorai is enshrined inside the pagoda. It was made in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and was designated as an Important National Cultural Asset. This three-hour hike starts at JR Mitaki Station on the Kabe Line after an 8-minute train ride from Hiroshima Station. The route goes to Mitaki Youth Nature House. The mountain trail leads you up to Mt. Soko and down to Mitaki Temple ◆Getting there Take a train on the JR Kabe Line and get off at Mitaki Station. Read the explanation abobe. ◆Suggested Schedule |
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| ◆Note To be safe, especially in winter, keep in mind not go into the mountains alone, and be sure to go with a well-experienced hiker. |
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