The Mt. Oyama Adventure

About a month ago, I saw this post on Alice Gordenker's blog. The whole day looked interesting, but I was especially interested in the Quilting with Kimono Workshop in the afternoon. I immediately signed up, as it was limited to 12 and I was sure it would be popular. It was an absolutely fabulous day! I had to wake up at 4 am and leave home at 5 am to walk to the local JR train station. I changed trains in Atami and Odawara. Using the great directions on Alice's blog, I was able to buy the Tanzawa-Oyama Free Pass that covered the train from Odawara to Isehara, the local bus, and the cable car all day. 

After I got off the bus, I wandered around a bit before meeting up with the rest of the group. It was nice to see both English and Japanese on the signs.

From here, we walked about 15 minutes uphill to get to the cable car.

You can also walk up to the shrine, if you choose, but we took the cable car. The cable car was only about 5 minutes and an easy way to get up the steep slope to the shrine.

Alice gave us a brief orientation to the area, then we headed up more steps to the shrine.

It was a bit rainy off and on, but rain is what this shrine is known for so it is to be expected.

Next was a coffee and macha tiramisu break at the Teahouse Sekison, which is part of the Oyama Afuri Shrine and designed by Yasushi Horibe. You can see pictures of the teahouse at this link. The dessert is served in sake cups.

Next, we saw the beautiful Oyama Pilgrimage Quilt, designed by Mutsuko Yawatagaki, who is one of Japan's most famous quilters and the founder of the Izumo Museum of Quilt Art, as well as the sensei for our afternoon class! The blocks that make up the mountain are made from the shirts that the pilgrims wear. Alice had one of the shirts to show us.

Next, we were able to go into the inner part of the shrine, where Shinto priest Kunihiko Meguro told us about the Oyama pilgrimage traditions and conducted a seishiki sanpai Shinto ceremony to ensure we had the gods' blessings for the rest of the day and success in our afternoon project. After the ceremony, we were able to take photographs.

The ceiling

Looking out the glassed front of the shrine

It was interesting to find out that there are only two universities in Japan for Shinto priest education, so all the priests know each other. The father of "our" priest Kunihiko Meguro is the head priest of this shrine. 

After our ceremony, we went under the shrine and on the other side saw the gate to the mountain trail that the pilgrims and hikers take to the top of the mountain. Originally, the gate was closed except for three weeks in the year when pilgrims from all over came for the pilgrimage with their groups from home, wearing the white pilgrim shirts that the quilt was made from.

Now the gate is half closed to show it is still sacred beyond the gate, even though it can be accessed more than just the three weeks of earlier times.

What a great morning! We next headed back down the stairs and down the cable car to go to the Meguro (priest) family's ryokan for a fabulous vegan lunch, followed by our needlework adventure with famous quilter and teacher Ms. Yawatagaki. 

The wife and mother of the two priests was in charge of the lunch preparation, the teahouse tiramisu, and the beautiful shiny floors. Oyama area is famous for tofu, which was featured in our lunch.

I should have taken more photos of the class, but I was so busy with my own project, that I forgot to do it! Our teacher and her daughter were so patient and the project is gorgeous. I love the technique I learned for getting the perfect corner!  I will have a post with my finished wall hanging on Friday.

I thought I was signing up because of the afternoon class, but the whole day was so fantastic! A big thank you to Alice Gordenker, Sensei Yawatagaki and her daughter, the Meguro family, and our entire group.