Gansho-in Temple, with its gorgeous ceiling painting by Hokusai This old temple stands quietly with a green hill of Mt. Karida located behind it. A Chinese Phoenix painted on the ceiling of the main building is as big as 35 square meters. This masterpiece was painted by Katsushika Hokusai in 1848, when he was 89, a year before he died. The paint, which was mixed with some jewels, has enabled its brilliant coloring to be preserved until this day. Visitors are allowed to lie down on the floor and observe the composition of the work as well as to find a concealed illustration in the painting. Beside the main building is the pond where Kobayashi Issa composed his famous poem, while watching a frog fight. Entrance fee 200 yen/ Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in November,9 a.m. - 4 p.m. between December and March), closed on Wednesdays between December and March (if Wednesday is a national holiday, the following day is closed instead)/ 026-247-5504 30 min. walk from Obuse Station

Floral Garden Obuse, a symbol of the flower town This is the source of the tree planting and flower plantation campaign, in which the town of Obuse is actively involved. In addition to a green house containing 5,000 tropical plants (300 varieties) and a shop selling local flowers, there is a flower mansion equipped with a tea room. Among other facilities, a giant flower bed, planted with 35,000 flowers is very beautiful. Looking down on the small hill, you can see its Chinese Phoenix design, painted by Katsushika Hokusai as a motif. Entrance fee 300 yen between May and October,200 yen between Novenber and April/ Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in winter)/ 026-247-5487 20 min. walk from Obuse Station

Joko-ji Temple, even worn stone steps has a charm of its own Joko-ji, known as "the Physician of Souls in Karida" to the local people, is an old temple standing quietly at the foot of Mt. Karida. Passing through the Deva gate surrounded by wood, climb up the stairs on which our predecessors once went, to find the temple with a thatched roof in a quiet area. The building, constructed in the early Muromachi period (1392 - 1573), has been designated as a national cultural property. 30 min. walk from Obuse Station