Yahiko Village:October 18, 2015

I visited Yahiko village near Niigata City during my stay in Niigata Prefecture.

The village is famous for Yahiko Shrine, the most prestigious shrine in Niigata Prefecture. It is not sure when it was built, but it is surely very old. People worship not only the shrine itself, but also the mountain behind (Mt. Yahiko). It is believed that the mountain is the god.

Current main building was built in 1816 after a fire and they have the 100^th anniversary ceremony next year. Seeing it, series of events are being held.

I visited Yahiko with a special train planned for the events. The welcome plates and flags were waiting us. A traditional drum performance was also played.

There are shops, restaurants and hotels at the sides of the roads from the station to the shrine. They have natural hot springs, too. The village attracts about 2 million visitors every year.

It was not only the tourists. Many families were there to celebrate the kid’s health at the age of three, five and seven. 

They have a chrysanthemum festival next month and local people were doing preparations.

I climbed up the mountain by a ropeway gondola. It is 634 meter high. (see the top photo. The mountain locates behind the main shrine building)

The leaves were changing the colors.(3trd photo from the top) 

I could see the Sea of Japan in the north from the mountain.

The Echigo Plane spread in the south. It was a good autumn day. (see also the photo second from the top).

I walked down the mountain. The road was steep.

There are about 8200 people in Yahiko Village. Unlike many other small villages, it has kept independence. In addition to tourism, it has bicycle race and produced agricultural goods – rice, vegetables and fruits. Various cultural activities are being planned.

I have visited many small villages in the local area and have seen the problems behind them. At Yahiko, got the impression that the village was more active and open-minded than I had expected before visiting there.