Having used the torii from Takashima's Shirohige Shrine in two previous posts, I thought I should at least provide some context for the scene.

The shrine is tucked in a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the mountains and Lake Biwa. I'm sure the location seemed appropriate when it was founded (the main hall was built in 1605), prior to cars and trains and heavy weekend traffic, but now it's got a road passing between it and the lake.

A hundred years ago there was perhaps a footpath running along the lake, but by 50 years ago there was a road and a train track pushing through (the latter can be seen in a photo on the shrine's website). The train has now been rerouted through a tunnel, and the road widened.

Having been on my way to Anthony's first skiing experience, I didn't stop to explore the area at all, but from the signs I recall, there are paths up into the mountains that seemed interesting.

I didn't enter the shrine grounds, but did take a moment to snap a picture or two of these big bundles of straw hanging from a big straw rope slung across the landside gate.

It was extremely windy that morning, and so these things must have been blowing around frantically. Doesn't show in the pictures, though.