Our 2nd full day into Hofu, we just went exploring, exploring, exploring. We found a main arcade, or street, that was very interesting. It was all covered, like an inside mall, but went straight through the city. We followed it to the top, and found Tenmangu shrine. This shrine is very big and authentic. It doesn't get too many tourists, and there were actually a couple monks there, and interesting prayer pillars, and such. It was super-beautiful, and from this shrine on the hill, you can see the entire city (as shown!). :)






This shrine has been worshiped as the "God of Study" by students preparing for entrance examinations.There are about 12,000 shrines of this kind surviving in Japan, but it is said that, of them, this shrine was the first to be built.