Nichinan

Written by: adekun on 21 July, 2008 11:54 pm - Filed under: tottori — 3 Comments »

Just off route 180 in the town of Nichinan is a small set of waterfalls near an old ryokan. It’s just a short walk from the road. Inside the former hotel we watched a weaver at work on an old loom. Hanging on the walls were many traditional patchwork pieces. Coffee was served with a danshaku potato and miso wrapped in hoba. (continue reading…)

Tags: japan, off the beaten track

Iwami ginzan

Written by: adekun on 27 May, 2008 11:15 pm - Filed under: shimane — 4 Comments »

If you want to see a couple of sights in Japan it usually works out cheaper to sign up to a package tour. The downside is they run a tight schedule to allow plenty of shopping time at the numerous ‘gift’ stops. We got a call the previous evening to say the visit at the most interesting point on the itinerary was cancelled. There was still Iwami Ginzan a significant silver mine that operated during the 16th and 17th centuries. (continue reading…)

Tags: japan, temple

Sanbutsuji

Written by: adekun on 6 May, 2008 9:46 pm - Filed under: tottori — 6 Comments »

A little way from nearby Kurayoshi is the town of Misasa. While the town is famed for it’s radon spas, Sanbutsuji set upon Mitokusan (Mt. Mitoku) really draws the crowds. The temple’s pinnacle is Nageiredo hall. Back in 706 it is said to have been thrown in the mountain by a monk. It rests between two and three hundred metres above a steep gorge, seemingly defying gravity. (continue reading…)

Tags: japan, off the beaten track, temple, travel

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Written by: adekun on 5 February, 2008 7:14 am - Filed under: hiroshima — 5 Comments »

On Sunday we spent a few hours at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park. Although the setting is at odds to the camps at Auschwitz, it is none the less moving.

I was keen to find out what the museum cited as reasons for the attack and what mention it gave to activities in Asia prior to WWII.
For me the often stated reason never answered the questions. Reading at school, it was easy to spot contradictions. It just seemed the most palatable. What does seem common is Truman’s and Tibbets’s sentiments, and that of Bomber Harris. (continue reading…)

Tags: japan, travel

Miyajima

Written by: adekun on 4 February, 2008 6:05 pm - Filed under: hiroshima — 3 Comments »

Early Saturday morning accompanied (and funded) by my wife’s aunty, I boarded a bus bound for Hiroshima. Instead of the expressway we took a route that meandered south through small snow covered towns. Even half way through the four hour journey the signs outside read 0°C. By lunchtime, having been collected by her boyfriend, we were aboard the JR Miyajima Ferry. Since the island is sacred trees are not cut for lumber. Aside from the vista, the first surprise were wild deer roaming about. From the terminal it was only a short walk to the Itsukushima Shrine.

The heavy rain washed away the plan to visit Iwakuni, as did the traffic to the plan to visit the naval museum at Kure. I did get to bed early though.

Tags: japan, temple, travel

Kiyomizu Temple

Written by: adekun on 30 January, 2008 6:18 pm - Filed under: tottori — 4 Comments »

Over the New Year we visited the nearby Kiyomizu Temple. Recently rebuilt, it not as impressive as the one in Kyoto (of the same name), but we came for a different reason, as did hordes of other people. I only got rough idea of the history and have since forgotten most of that. Over 1200 years ago some holy lightning appeared above a mountain. A temple was built at the site to venerate the god(dess) of mercy; bodhisattva Kannon. During the Edo period the temple was enlarged under Lord Matsudaira. There has been a history of fires, hence the reconstruction. It forms part of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Tags: japan, off the beaten track, temple, travel

Kochi Trip

Written by: adekun on 19 February, 2007 12:41 am - Filed under: japan — 3 Comments »

Yesterday I went on a package tour to Kōchi on the island of Shikoku. We made good time and as we crossed the Grand Seto Bridge the gloomy skies began to subside. Although I was unable get any reasonable shots from within the bus, the views were striking. The series of bridges span the Seto Inland Sea which is home to around three thousand islands.
Once we arrived, our group descended upon a local ryokan for lunch (held at eleven as we over an hour early). We then had our ‘free time’ to explore the castle. The ume (asian plum) had just begun to flower.

Back on the bus we travelled the short distance to Katsura Beach, a quintessential Japanese scene.

Tags: castle, japan, travel