Monday Morning Star Count

 

I made three of the small hexagon flowers and put out one of the larger sizes that I usually work with for comparison. More of these small ones to come!

Usuki Castle Ruins

I left the ferry and boarded the city bus, which I rode to the Beppu train station. I found this statue in front of the station extremely creepy.

I got off the train at the Usuki Station. Usuki is the home of the Usuki Stone Buddhas, but that wasn’t the reason I stopped there. 

I walked about 15 minutes to the castle grounds. I could see it above me before I actually got to it.

This is a Japanese archery (Kyudo) course.

I continued uphill until I arrived at the castle site.

From J-castle website - 

Otomo Sourin moved from his palace in Funai and built Usuki Castle in 1562. Otomo was one of the strongest lords in Kyushu and controlled a large portion of the island. Hideyoshi started his Kyushu Campaigns in 1587 and with support from Otomo quickly took control of all of Kyushu. Otomo was replaced by Ota Kazuyoshi and Ota was replaced by Inaba Sadamichi from Gujo Hachiman Castle after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The Inaba continued to rule until the Meiji Period.

In the toilet on site was this sign - No Flashing

The outdoor stone sink

Part of the castle grounds included a shrine  

This is the Castle Keep area

Instead of walking down the hill to go back to the train station, I walked down this circular thing.