Advertisement
Published: February 17th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Matsue castle
One of the originals- still standing strong Today was excellent, I really, really enjoyed it. I made my way from Hiroshima to this little town called Matsue on the northern coast of Japan. I caught the 7am bus, which was a bit of a stuggle to get up so early but I slept some on the bus so I made up for it. I sort of wish I hadn't slept on the bus becasue the scenery was beautiful, we had to make our way across the mountain ranges that go through the middle of this part of Japan and we drove along small winding roads with thick forest on either side, it was really nice. But like I said I didn't see much of it becasue I slept some of the way.
It took 3 and a half hours to get to Matsue from Hiroshima, so I arrived around 10.30am and about 15 minutes just outside of Matsue it started to rain, really hard! I thought great, this is just what I need, I only have one day in this place and its going to rain on me, but just before we arrived at the station it cleared up and it became a beautiful sunny day. It
was a bit cooler than Hiroshima has been over the last few days and because its situated on the water there was a strong wind all day which I can tell you was gladly welcomed after the last few days of humid heat!
Anyway arrived at the station and promptly deposited my elephant sized backpack into an elephant sized locker, went to the tourist information office and picked up a map and set out for the day, and what a day it was! I was told that apart from Hiroshima, if you're in this part of Japan then Matsue should be on your list of places to visit, and that it was a beautiful place. Well, I'm so glad I listened to that information because I had a fantastic day and this town is more than beautiful, its gorgeous!!!
First I went to Matsue castle, and I really just thought that it would be the same as the other castles that I had already seen in Hiroshima and Iwakuni but this was better. For starters it was the original that was built in the 17th century and was actually used by the lords and samurai of the time,
they had preserved it really well actually. I reckon if you closed your eyes you could imagine the samurai walking around the castle with their swords. The wood was old and the stones were old and the doors were rusting but it had a rustic old charm and I loved it! The view from the top floor of Matsue and surrounds were good but I think that the inside of the castle was better.
After that I went and took a boat tour of the rivers that wind their way around Matsue, and that was the best experience that I've had since arriving in Japan!!! The boats that they used were these little ones made out of wood, long and skinny, and they had a shade cloth over the top and the men that drive the boats wear those triangle shaped hats that I actually associated with Vietnam or somewhere like that, you know they sort of look like baskets placed up side down, but it was really authentic-looking. In true Japanese style you take off your shoes before boarding and sit on a tatami mat that they had placed down and then the tour took about 50 minutes.
They take you around the rivers and also the moat of the castle, but I really can't explain how good it was, from the river most of the time you can't see the roads and houses, it was just this thick forest on either sides and trees hung down over the river and ducks and turtle and fish would swim past. They also played traditional Japanese music with a shakohatchi on a tape, which sort of sounds like a flute but a bit better I think. With the wind blowing in your hair and the water lapping at the side of the boat it was an unreal experience, very romantic actually, where are all the men when you need them? Also at times we had to go under bridges and they were so low that they had to lower the roof of the boat mechanically so we could fit, it was amazing, and quite funny because we had to lie down so our heads wouldn't be hit! The old guy that took us around was really funny, he would crack jokes amongst his commentary and at times when we passed a bird or something he would pretend to ask for
permission to pass, he did this a few times and then at one point we passed a house that had the seven dwarves garden gnomes on a fence next to the river and the old guy stopped the boast and in turn asked if they may please let us through, then he made us ask too!! It was really funny. When we were in the dense forest parts it felt like I was in the Amazon or something (no that I would know, but you get the idea) and then when we were in the more urban parts when you could see the houses either side it felt like how I would imagine the canals of Venice to be. Really I can't praise it enough!
After that I went walking around the town and saw some old samurai houses and a few museums, and I went to this art and crafts museum which was really funky. There was a place where you could (as a couple) make your own rings and when I say make I mean from scratch. You actually get given some flat metal which you use a special tool to put writing on or whatever you
Matsue
A sunset made in heaven want and then you torch it yourself and make it into a circle shape and well I don't know the exact procedure but the end result is personally designed and made rings that look as good as if you had bought them in a jewelers! Not that expensive either. Once again, where's my man? If anyone out there is looking for a really romantic place to come in Japan I've found it: Matsue.
At the end of the day I walked back to the station to collect my backpack before coming to the youth hostel and walked next to the lake that Matsue is famous for, the sun was still shining, the sky was a brilliant blue, the wind was blowing and therefore all you could hear were the waves of the lake crashing on the bank and the rocks, this place is incredible. Now do you see why I titled this entry as heaven, surely heaven has to be as good as this?
The trip to the youth hostel was a bit longer than I thought, took a good half hour from the centre of the town by bus and then I had to walk another 10
minutes, up a very steep hill I might add, which wasn't easy with my backpack. The sacrifices you make for a cheap hostel hey? It's actually a really nice place, set up on the hills with a great view of the lake from the dining room. The owners are really really nice and when he saw me walking up the driveway with my bag he rushed to help me with it, he's only a young guy, mid 20's I think and runs this place with his wife. He helped me find the cheapest and best way to get back to the station tomorrow because I have to catch another early train: 7.30am, but its going to take me about 45 minutes to get there first! Alright going to go now, on a time limit here, only a few minutes left! Write again soon...
Advertisement
Tot: 0.093s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 13; qc: 51; dbt: 0.0599s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb