Stone Buddha's

We also visited an old samurai home - amazingly located in the middle of the city. We walked in through a gate and wound our way through a few gardens until we came to the old style home. It was fascinating to walk backwards through time. The house was expansive (given that we’re in Japan) and tucked away so neatly. It was a warren of small rooms – not even sure how you’d wend your way through the place if people were actually living in it. The garden would have been really nice had it been spring time. Oh well…..did enjoy a nearby waterfall. The walk around it was nice. Didn’t really like sitting in the bus all the time.
We took a trip to visit The Usuki Sekibutso or Stone Buddahs, National Treasures of Japan. (Basically, these are important cultural items that are considered to be exemplary of Japanese culture.) These stone images were sculptured from the Heian era (794 A.D.-1192) to the Kamakura (1192-1333) era. There are fifty-nine images here that have been designated as national treasures. Sadly, nature had taken over many of the sculptures and they required some major restoration. They are now protected by wooden awnings and caretakers who work on removing plant growth that continues to creep back. Sadly, no one knows exactly why the Buddha’s were sculpted here.
We spent that night in another onsen in Yufuin, this time with a view of Mount Yufudake (another mountain in the Aso chain). This time we had our meal served in our room – the woman bringing tray after tray of wonderful delicacies. Once again we finished up VERY full.