Tachikue Gorge Fudo Myo

Tachikue Gorge in the mountains south of Izumo City is a scenic spot with cliffs and strange rock formations.

Just the kind of place Yamabushi used to like so it's not surprising that it was a center for Shugendo.

There are hundreds of small statues in ledges and at the base of rock faces including many of the 500 rakan or arhats.

There were half a dozen small Fudo Myo statues as well.

Tachikue Gorge

Tachikue Gorge on the Kando River just south of Izumo City is a great place to spend a quiet couple of hours.

The area is a designated scenic area because of the towering rock formations, many of which have buddhist names as this was a center of Shugendo. All that remains now though is one temple, Reiko-Ji, and 1500 statues along the cliffs and around the giant trees.

There are 2 suspension bridges that cross over to a pleasant footpath. The times I`ve been there I`ve been the only one there. There is a youth hostel in the gorge, but storms a few years ago caused it to close and I don't know if it has opened again. There is also an Onsen on the main road side of the river that has great views of the gorge from its open-air baths.

There are regular buses to Tachikue from outside Izumo-Shi railway station, though the best way to approach it is by walking down the river valley from the mountains :)

Reiko -Ji

Reiko-Ji is the only remaining temple building in Tachikue Gorge. When the area was a stronghold of Shugendo there were many more.

The large Owaraji (straw sandals) are a common offering at temples and shrines, but as far as I can remember this is the only shimenawa I've seen adorning a temple building. I've been unable to find out why.

In 852 a monk discovered a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the healing buddha, on the back of a giant blue turtle. He removed the statue and placed it in a nearby cave. The Emperor, on hearing the story, founded the temple, so it was probably a Shingon temple originally.

Now it belongs to the Soto Zen sect. Home to more than 1,500 statues, Tachikue Gorge is located 8k south of Izumo City on the Kando River

Red Hats & Bibs: Individual style

Conforming to the group, and not standing out from the crowd, are attributes much cherished in Japan. And so it is also for the statues. There is a standard cap and bib that most statues wear.

Among the 1,500 statues in Tachikue Gorge, however, there were some statues wearing unique and individual outfits. This guy could not be cosier.

For some the Russian peasant woman look is the way to go.

Kawaii (cute) is always an option in Japan.

But for some, "au naturelle"

Red hats & bibs: around the trees

The last time I visited Tachikue Gorge I was really lucky to get some quite magical light.

As well as along the cliff, some of the 1,500 statues are placed around some of the huge trees there.

There may be times during the year when the gorge gets visitors, but each time I've been there I have been the only person there.

The first time I visited I had walked for three days over the mountains from Iwami and down the Kando River.

Buses from Izumo Station, 8k away, stop at several point along the gorge.

Red hats & bibs: cliffside

Buddhist statues wearing red hats and bibs can be found all over Japan. In wayside shrines and altars there will be alone or in small groups. In larger temples there may be many of them in lines.

In Tachikue Gorge on the Kando River a few k south of Izumo City, there are hundreds of them arrayed along a cliff for about 500 meters.

There are 1,000 statues of various buddhas, and 500 statues of Buddhas disciples.

This area was a centre for Yamabushi until Shugendo was outlawed in early Meiji.

Buses from Izumo Station stop along the gorge.