Joganjiyama Kofun and Daigo-ji

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Joganjiyama Kofun

   Not every great tomb is a mountain. Joganjiyama Kofun is one of the smaller, humbler mounds in the Furuichi cluster in southeastern Osaka, a patch of grass and trees tucked between houses, a rice field's worth of land that happens to be fifteen hundred years old. The ride labels it by a nearest town, Kashihara, but you are really in the Kawachi plain, where the Yamato kings built the huge keyhole-shaped tombs that give Japan's early centuries their name. Together with the Mozu group near Sakai, the Furuichi tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2019.

   Read the complete Joganjiyama Kofun write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Joganjiyama Kofun is where the day begins. Next is Kôfuku-ji.

2. 2. Kôfuku-ji

   In the early eighth century, when Nara became Japan's first permanent capital, the powerful Fujiwara clan moved their family temple here, and Kofuku-ji became one of the great temples of the city, wealthy enough to maintain its own warrior monks. Its five storey pagoda, rebuilt in the fifteenth century after one of several fires, is the second tallest wooden pagoda in Japan and a symbol of Nara, reflected in the Sarusawa pond below. The Central Golden Hall was rebuilt and reopened in 2018, and the National Treasure Museum holds the famous statue of Ashura, a three faced, six armed guardian with a strikingly human expression. Kofuku-ji is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara World Heritage Site. The pagoda is undergoing a long restoration and may be wrapped in scaffolding when you visit.

   Read the complete Kôfuku-ji write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Kôfuku-ji comes up about 32 km into the recorded legs. Next is Daigo-ji.

3. 3. Daigo-ji

   The oldest building in Kyoto does not stand in the city centre but in the southeastern hills, at the temple of Daigo-ji: a five storey pagoda completed in 951, which has survived fires, earthquakes and wars that destroyed almost everything else of its age in the city. The temple was founded in the ninth century on Mount Daigo, and its grounds spread from the foot of the mountain to the summit, linked by a steep path, with halls, gardens and sub temples along the way. It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.

   Read the complete Daigo-ji write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 67 km into the recorded legs you reach Daigo-ji. Next is back through Kôfuku-ji.

4. 4. back through Kôfuku-ji

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Kôfuku-ji write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Kôfuku-ji, late in the day. Next is Joganjiyama Kofun.

5. 5. Joganjiyama Kofun

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Joganjiyama Kofun write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Joganjiyama Kofun. That is the ride.