Greetings.
I am a man in a suit who has fallen into the world of Minecraft.
A little glimpse of the finished path before we begin.
Today I am building a Japanese shrine on the hill west of the castle town.
Seeing those stone steps and the red torii gate beyond the lanterns makes me want to follow the path farther.
After last time’s treasure hunt in the ancient city, it is a change of scene above ground.
First, let us return to the hill before any of this was here.
A long path from the riverbank to the hilltop
Here is the hill before work begins.
Grass covers the slope, with trees above and no shrine in sight.
It is close to town, but this spot could become quite a different scene.
From the water’s edge, the bank rises right in front of me.
The path will have to connect this place to the hill above.
That should feel rather different from an entrance with the building immediately behind it.
There is a flatter stretch partway up the slope.
Looking toward the woods above, there still seems to be a fair way to go.
This terrace will link the steps and the approach path.
First, the route for the steps takes shape in the slope.
The entrance leads into the bank.
Having a way in gives this hill a direction to follow, rather than just a view to look at.
The flatter stretch is being prepared for the path too.
There is still grass here, but this is where I want the lanterns to stand.
Little by little, it is starting to look different from an ordinary slope.
By dusk, stone walls and steps are appearing in the bank.
A grey route is beginning to run through the hill.
Even this much makes it feel more like the entrance to a shrine, which is rather pleasing.
Higher up, the slope is still full of trees.
The shrine grounds will sit here, connected to the path below.
That feeling of entering the woods should suit the place nicely.
The castle keep peeks through the leaves.
Oh, I like seeing the town from this side.
A shrine up here would offer not just a building to visit, but a view as well.
As the steps connect, I look down along the approach.
The straight path leads toward the water.
At this stage, the stone lanterns still have lanterns inside; their final light blocks come later.
Beyond the red torii gate stand the pillars and lattice of the haiden, the shrine’s worship hall.
There is no roof yet.
Even the wooden frame is already giving it a distinctly shrine-like shape.
This view is also from before I choose the final lights for the stone lanterns.
The path looks like one continuous line from the grounds to the riverbank.
With the first torii gate so far below, it really feels like a high place.
Turning toward town reveals the keep, the Inui turret, and the roofs below them.
It is the reverse of looking up at the hill from town.
Having somewhere to step back and look makes even the arrangement of familiar buildings feel fresh.
Back at the meadow viewpoint, I look toward the hill again.
The red torii gate and green copper roof peek above the trees.
They do not dominate the view, but there is clearly something up there now. I rather like that.
From the edge of the grounds, the keep is easier to see than it was through the trees.
Green leaves, white walls, and dark roofs.
Looking back at town becomes another reason to visit, quite apart from the shrine itself.
Through the stone gate and up to the green copper roof
Now let us follow the finished approach from the water to the shrine.
The entrance is the first torii, a stone shrine gate.
Through it, the steps continue straight ahead.
Remembering the bare bank, it is surprising how much more inviting a simple route makes the scene.
For the finishing touches, I replace the lights inside the stone lanterns with ochre froglights.
The bright squares fit beneath the stone caps and remind me a little of paper screens.
Stone lanterns line both sides of the straight path.
Above them, the red gate contrasts with the stone gate down by the water.
It is nice to have a landmark that makes me want to keep going.
From the level stretch, the route to the hilltop is easy to follow with my eyes.
This was a slope of grass and trees before.
With steps and lanterns in place, the atmosphere has changed enormously.
Now for the broad staircase.
There are landings along the way, and more steps beyond them.
The gate is visible, but not quite within reach yet. The long approach is part of the pleasure too.
Through the second, red torii gate, the worship hall comes into view.
Up here, the green copper roof is much clearer.
Grey steps, a red gate, then a green roof—the colours change as the path continues.
At the front are a rope decoration and a bell.
The green copper roof rests above wooden pillars and white walls.
Its quiet colours give the building a different character from the castle keep.
I look from a slight angle, past a stone lantern.
A small triangular roof detail sits in front of the main roof, with the entrance canopy projecting below it.
This angle shows how the roofs overlap, which is lovely in a different way from the front view.
This is the temizuya, a small pavilion for cleansing one’s hands before worship.
There is water in the basins, with the blue surfaces clearly visible.
A small place like this beside the larger hall helps the grounds feel complete.
Behind the worship hall stands the honden, the main sanctuary.
There is another roof beyond the wooden enclosure.
Rather than ending at the front hall, the scene has a little more depth beyond it.
A bow and a photograph in front of the hall.
It is pleasing to have this building waiting at the end of the long climb from the river.
There is now somewhere near town to enjoy a change of mood.
Lanterns at dusk, with the path and town below
As daylight fades, the lanterns begin to stand out.
Bright points line a path that looked grey during the day.
It is the same route, but it feels a little quieter now.
The hanging lanterns at the worship hall are glowing too.
Wooden pillars and gentle light beneath the green roof.
I like the daytime view, but this is another hour when I could happily keep looking.
From the grounds, the line of lanterns leads down to the riverbank.
The distant sky carries the colours of sunset.
Looking back along the route I climbed makes the hill and the water feel connected all over again.
The town is gradually taking on the colours of night.
Lights in the keep and turret show through the trees.
Today, the hill overlooking town has gained a shrine and a long approach path.
Both the walk up and down and the evening view feel like something worth bringing home.
Our town has one more place where I want to linger.
That is all for this time.
Greetings.