Chion-ji Temple | Review by BobbyJenny

After arriving at Miyama Kayabuki no Sato and walking around, I made a point of stopping by the Kaya-no-Sato Souvenir Shop to look for souvenirs. The shop has quite a few local Miyama specialties and keepsakes, and browsing through them really made it feel like I was traveling.

In the end, I chose a magnet shaped like Miyama to take home. Although it’s just a small souvenir, it feels especially meaningful. Whenever I see it, I’ll remember this visit to Miyama, the rows of beautiful thatched-roof houses, and the quiet, relaxing mountain village scenery around them.

I also bought a bottle of Miyama milk. It was nice and cold, with a natural milky flavor, and having a bottle after walking all around was really refreshing.

When I travel, I like buying small souvenirs. They don’t have to be expensive, but they let me bring home memories of the place.

While visiting Kayabuki no Sato in Miyama, I came across Noda Shop, a small store with a real local feel. Compared with shops at typical tourist attractions, it has a more down-to-earth, rural atmosphere. Stepping inside also gives you a sense of everyday life in Miyama.

The shop carries some local everyday items and specialty products. There’s no pressure while browsing; it feels more like casually exploring a small village. Stopping by to look around after getting tired from walking was also a very pleasant little moment during the trip.

What I liked most was how well Noda Shop fit in with the surrounding thatched-roof houses. As soon as you step outside, you’re greeted by Miyama’s distinctive traditional village scenery, with forests, fields, and rows of thatched-roof houses all woven together. It really has the feel of the Japanese countryside.

I joined a one-day tour of Miyama this time, so the schedule was fairly limited. When we arrived at Chii Hachiman Shrine, I only had time for a short walk near the foot of the mountain and couldn’t make it all the way up to the shrine, which was a little disappointing. The surroundings along the way were very quiet and enclosed by forest, with the natural atmosphere unique to the Miyama countryside.

Although I didn’t actually make it to the top, just seeing the shrine and the surrounding scenery near the entrance was enough to feel how different the atmosphere was from shrines in the city. It was less crowded and noisy than a tourist attraction, and more simple and peaceful.

My biggest regret was that there really wasn’t enough time. If I had planned an independent trip, I could probably have walked and taken in the scenery at a leisurely pace without constantly checking the meeting time.

So for now, I’ll keep Chii Hachiman Shrine in mind and save this small regret for next time. When I return to Miyama, I hope to allow plenty of time and walk all the way up to see the entire shrine for myself!