The mountains were lovely and misty today but the rain was so persistent that even I wasn't tempted to go hiking. I had to work anyway.

Had a lot of guests asking for me by name at the ryokan, saying that they wanted to meet me after seeing an interview with me. I haven't done an interview for ages but it turns out an old YT vid from five years back is doing the rounds youtu.be/nAcJjaqweh0?si…

Time to start getting the ryokan ready for the new year celebrations, starting with the Kadomatsu gate pines. Nanten branches feature heavily in our Kadomatsu since they are the namesake of the ryokan and grow in abundance in the gardens and surrounding village.

Last tea ceremony of the year. The flower was especially crafted with the new year in mind. The red and white (kohaku) camellia and and the long Yanagi representing a long life. The loop in the Yanagi represents peacefulness. よよとしお!

Finally managed to perform hatsumode after a long, exhausting and intense new year period at the ryokan. I always come here for it because I can absolutely guarantee I will be alone.

The Robai are in full bloom now, filling the village with their Heady, sweet scent. I find they contrast pretty spectacularly against a clear January sky.

Friday was my first business trip of the year. I've been avoiding Koyasan for the last few years because it gets so overcrowded, but the January/February off-season is actually nice and quiet. An interesting day meeting interesting folks and making interesting plans!

The last surviving Nyonindo, or Women's Hall on Koyasan. Originally there were seven such halls, one just outside each of the main entrances as women were prohibited from entering Koyasan. It was established by a nun called Kosugi who was enshrined as Kosugimyojin on her death.

Accidentally got mentioned in a local website article after chatting to a couple of random people in the village recently I appear towards the end. tondabayashi-kawachinagano.goguynet.jp/2026/01/21/nag…

Quiet at work so I wandered down to the other end of the village to take some photos of a shrine. On the way back I got distracted by a little old road that passes underneath the railway line. It seems to go all the way up into the mountains so will explore more another day.

A rare snow day at the ryokan.

This weekend marked the anniversary of the Battle of Amami that took place toward the end of the Kamakura Period some 700 years ago. To give thanks for his victory against overwhelming odds, Kusunoki Masashige built a small shrine atop the mountain on which he was hiding.

The 500 year old plum tree in the garden at work is finally starting to wake up. Takes a little while to get going compared to the younger trees. A feeling I know too well.

The ancient plum is blooming faster now. Originally from the Tennoji area, it would have witnessed some of the fiercest fighting of the summer and winter sieges of Osaka Castle. Sanada Yukimura himself likely even fought beneath it.

Setting up some miniature doll displays in some of the guest rooms in preparation for Hina Matsuri.

Hinamatsuri today and we have a couple of larger doll displays set up in some of the public areas like the breakfast hall. Although we have several complete sets, we haven't put up a full 7 tier display this year.

Kanshin-ji, historically significant temple and plum tree hotspot in southern Osaka. Both main hall and the statue of Kannon within are national treasures. The grounds also contain a grave containing the head of famous 14th century samurai Kusunoki Masashige.

Wandered up to the top of the village today because there are a few early blooming cherry blossoms up there. And in a couple more weeks, the Mitsumata and Sanshu will also be in full bloom. One of my favourite hidden little areas with a wonderful view.

Amanosan Kongo-ji is another important temple here in Kawachinagano. Considered a "Women's Koyasan" in the time when Koyasan only allowed men to enter. During the 14th century it was also a temporary palace for Southern Court emperor Go-Murakami.

A short stroll in fine, if crisp weather yesterday. I keep meaning to climb this mountain, it looks like the kind of peak that might have once had something interesting at the top.