Update on Nara Prison Remake

I first wrote about this story in July 2022. At that time the luxury hotel was forecast to open in 2024.

The Nara Prison Museum is now scheduled to open April 27th of next year, and the 48 room luxury hotel later in the year. The project is built around the concept of  “An Eternal Question Posed by an Iconic Prison”. The remake project calls for several buildings on the north side of the grounds to be converted into a museum complex featuring exhibition halls, a cafe, and a shop selling original goods. Museum exhibits will include the history and architectural features of the former prison, in addition to displays about prison life and rules.

I want to see the museum. When I lived in the US, I visited Alcatraz once. I wouldn’t want to live in a prison, but I am interested in visiting the prison museum.

Myokei-ji

The other day, I walked to Yamadadenki to buy vacuum cleaner bags. On the way home, I took a different route and came across this temple. It seemed familiar. I think I was here before.

The gate is closed, but the path goes around to the right. There is a stretchable gate that can close off this path. It was not pulled closed, so I walked around and looked around. It is well taken care of, not a stone out of place.

The temple is a little hidden. You have to go down this narrow road to get to it.

99 Year Old Driver Crashes and Gets Fined

At what age should a person stop driving? 

A 99 year old man was fined 300,000 yen after driving the wrong way in a tunnel in Gifu Prefecture, crashing headfirst and severely injuring another driver in an oncoming car, according to police. The elderly driver was fined for “causing bodily injury through negligence” after hitting the car driven by a 41 year old man.  The 99 year old made a U-turn near the exit of the tunnel, then drove on the wrong side for 3.7 kilometers before causing the accident. 

As the population in Japan ages, the number of accidents involving elderly drivers is on the rise. Police are calling on elderly drivers to surrender their drivers licenses. This is a difficult problem, especially in rural areas where there are fewer public transportation options.

Friday Finish - Six Beady Autumn Fobs

 

Ohira Shrine near Asahi Falls

At the bottom of the Asahi Falls is Ohira Shrine, with a parking area and toilets. There are stairs here, too.

This is the second level.

View of Asahi Falls from the shrine.

Before putting your hand on the railing, look out or you may touch a frog.

This is the third level.

The frog on the railing was small and almost cute. This frog next to the shrine building was big and made me jump.

Google translate of a little sign.  I didn’t try to feed the frogs.

When you go up the stairs, you also have to go down.

Work in Progress Wednesday

Beady fob progress - beads added

Hardanger progress

Asahi Falls

This is a gorgeous waterfall. I didn’t expect it to be so high - 105 meters. On the surface of the waterfall, you see hexagon shapes. These are called columnar joints. They look manmade, but are actually the result of lava that cooled quickly. This place is a unique location that offers an up close view of this phenomenon.

If you come here, be prepared to climb steps.

Being an American, I am always surprised that no one steals the donation money that is left out in the open like this. I’ve been told that it would be very bad luck, so people in Japan don’t do it.