Report of Mr. Andy Ly (from U.K)

From March 6,2013, six international students from Waseda University in Tokyo went on a three days tour to Shimane Prefecture. Each of them chose and wrote a report about three favorite spots from the tour.

Day 1 – Izumo Area

 Izumo and its surrounding area are famed for being the site of where many Shinto gods reside and a lot of Shinto folklore and mythology is associated with this area.  It’s said that the gate to the underworld is located in Izumo, the entrance of which is sealed to prevent the escape of the raging god Izanami! The Izumo Taisha Grand shrine is most famous in Japan for ‘enmusubi’ or matchmaking! Before entering the shrine, the first thing you will notice is the huge tori gates on the main road that leads to the Shrine area, one of the biggest in Japan. Within the shrine area itself, the first thing that struck me was the beautiful architecture of the roofs and the characteristic shimenawa straw ropes hanging on the front of the buildings. The roofs are constructed with layers of long precision cut strips of bark, adhered together to form one thick water-resistant mattress of bark. Attached to the ends of the roofs are beautifully crafted cross-shaped filial structures. A trip to the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo will explain the construction processes involved in detail, and you can also view several artefacts found in the local area, gigantic fragments of the original beams from the shrine and scale models of what the original shrines might have looked like in ages gone by.  Also of note, is the impressive display of excavated bronze swords in the museum, which was a significant archaeological find in Japan. There are several buildings that are undergoing a reconstruction and maintenance of the roof, which is undertaken every sixty years (due to be completed in May 2013). While in the area, make sure to try Izumo soba, the local delicacy. You will be served three medium size bowls of soba, each with a different topping served with dashi. A light, healthy and refreshing lunch!

 

 Day 2 – Matsue Area

Matsue Castle – As the main attraction of Matsue city, Matsue castle may not be as famous or big as its Himeji counterpart, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. This is the first castle I have visited since coming to Japan so I didn’t know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. The castle keeps most of its original features and is easily accessible and user-friendly to navigate. Within the beautifully antique interior are a number of impressive and original samurai armour and weapons on display, as well as models of the city and various other fascinating artefacts from the Edo period.  Spectators who travel to the top of the castle are rewarded with a stunning, almost 360 degree view of Matsue city and Lake Shinji. A short walk from the castle there are several museums that are available to spectators. I went to the Matsue History Museum where there were more facts and details about the establishment of Matsue city with a number of artefacts and trinkets on display.  In the café within the museum, you can enjoy some matcha green tea and traditional Japanese sweets from the selction on their menu, relax on the tatami, and look out onto the beautiful garden with Matsue castle in the backdrop.  One more surprisingly fun and interesting attraction is the Horikawa Boat trip. On this boat, you will sail gently ride along the moat around the castle, viewing several major sites and attractions in the comfort of a kotatsu. The boat also passes under several bridges and at some points the awnings of the boat have to be lowered! As well as the main attractions, Matsue has numerous temples and shrines dotted around the residential areas, each with their own individual look and character. Matsue city has so much charm and a long history it makes one wonder why there are so few tourists here. If you’re in Chugoku or Eastern side of Japan, make sure to add Matsue to your itinerary!  

 

Day 3 – Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Area

the Izumo Museum of Quilt Art – Not knowing much about quilt art, I was yet again pleasantly surprised by what was in store.  Although a little far out from the centre of Matsue, the museum is a refurbished Japanese house and within it lies a beautiful selection of quilt compositions, accompanied by the strikingly delicate ikebana displays. The quilts themselves are made from 200-year old kimonos, which go hand-in-hand with the antique feel of the house that they are displayed in. While you are here, be sure to check out the gift shop; they have a number of postcards, greeting cards, purses and other items, each with a piece of kimono incorporated, so that every item has its own uniqueness and charm. 

 Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine – Following the Museum, we travelled to the Iwami Ginzan Mine, a world heritage site. Prior to visiting the mine and mountain itself, we made a quick stop at a history museum, to learn more about the history and composition of the mine itself to better understand the site upon arrival. The museum has a number of Ipads available with English translations of the exhibit descriptions in the museum.  Our next stop was Omori, an old mining town at the foot of the mountain with a population of around 500, the structure of the village itself has remained largely unchanged since it was established several centuries ago. From the information centre, one may take a bicycle to ride up the road or take the scenic mountain route, which winds through some of the forest along the mountain. If you have time, I recommend taking the walking route! There are a number of graves, ruins and temples along the route, which you can explore making the walk to the mine itself is a pleasure. You may even encounter some of the monkeys that live in the forest along the way!  English audio guides are available from the information booth in the town.At the end of the trail, visitors may enter a part of the mineshaft. Along the tunnel there are a number of offshoots to other smaller tunnels until the route veers off and up to the exit.  Although the mine shaft itself is quite short, the walk up the path and the hidden ruins and beautiful scenery make the trip worthwhile.