timeslip

After our picnic at Aramaki Rose Park, we decided to walk to Takarazuka station. According to the GPS on my phone it was supposed to take us a little under an hour...

We stumbled upon this floating driving range (it is to the right of that huge electric tower). We wondered how they pick up the balls, we saw some floating though.

And then we ran into a little village called Kohama.

Apparently it has been around since the Edo Period (1603-1867) or maybe even before. There are many temples and houses that are preserved.

The photo above is a sake shop called Kikuhito from the early Edo period, I am not too sure if they still make sake.

In the southern part of this village are these two jizo (guardian of weak) called "kubi jizo" (kubi means neck).

Apparently these were found in the ocean.

They tried to build a hut for it but the carpenters that were assigned kept dying from unknown illnesses. They figured the statues did not want to be housed, so they left these two out in the open.

It is said that these jizo cure illnesses from the neck up.

I was amazed at how many people came to pray while we were there.

Huge tree at one of the temples.

I was amazed how these two poles supported the huge trunk!

We also checked out the Wada home. Apparently this family owned most of the land in this area.

And after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, they donated this house to the city. The city put in lots of money to have it restored, you can view the inside of the home as well as listen to volunteers talk about how life was in those days.

The house is also used as a gathering place for the community.

It was nice to explore this area. We didn't know it even existed! The only thing is that the roads are very narrow and the locals like to speed through. If you do get a chance to visit this area, be careful of the cars...

Kohama-juku area
located about 17 minutes south from the Takarazuka line (Kiyoshikojin station)