Hiromine shrine

Had a nice little train ride to Himeji yesterday. There’s not a ton to do or see here, so im only here for two nights.

Turns out that one night would have been plenty.

Because im me, instead of going to the number one attraction in the area, I went on a bus ride to some out of the way mountaintop shrine. Totes worth it because I literally had the place to myself.

Mount Hiromineyama is a beautiful area with a straight-up jungle trying to take over.

You’re supposed to be able to see the castle, but I didn’t

I guess you write a wish on some paper and put a dollar and the wish in the hole corresponding to your Chinese astrological animal.

Each of these little houses has a different deity inside. The idea is that you wish your wish to each one. Kinda increases your odds, i guess

Something got lost in the translation here lol

After I got back to town, I went to this big garden. It’s not old at all, but still pretty. The local high school kids had an ikebana competition, and the arrangements made me think of my mom. She loved lilies.