Treasure Hunting

In Japan, legends of treasure are often vague; some started out that way, and others have become so in the course of time. Various problems lie behind this, such as the frailty of human memory, the fact that on occasion the individual who knows the location best has died, and finally there is the problem that in a mountainous Japan, rediscovery is difficult, even with the best directions.

Although Japan isn’t abounding with tantalizing tales and accounts of lost loot, hidden hoards, and dreams of wealth beyond imagining, there have been a few old accounts of Japanese mountain bandits and their loot filled lairs, the whereabouts of the Meiji resistance era loot, and the stories about Tokugawa’s bullion somewhere in the hills of Mikawa.

I admit, these tales of lost treasure intrigue me, but only because they prove that what’s lost is never really lost and if looked for, can be found. I’ve been looking for a different kind of lost Japanese treasure – and I’ve recently found it located high up in the Suzuka Mountains, Shiga-ken.

It’s a natural mountain treasure trove; un-dammed rivers at the top of the water shed, rare old-growth tree grooves, mountain springs, food growing on the hillside in abundance, the fury and the feathered abound, and fresh air.

I give to you the map. Go there if you like. And live.
http://kenelwood.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/suzukamap.jpg

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