Blogs from Shimane, Japan, Asia

Haïku du jour : Tombée de la branche Une fleur y est retournée : C'était un papillon ! (Arakida Moritake) Mihonoseki Petit port de pêche près de la presqu'île de Giso qui abrite le sanctuaire shinto de Mihojinja, nous a réservé une merveilleuse surprise : depuis nos chambres au ryokan Fukumazan, sur le quai du port, une vue époustouflante sur le mont Daîsen enneigé par delà le bras de mer du Japon. En soirée le propriétaire du ryokan nous emmène dans son minibus jusqu'au phare pour admirer la mer qui scintille sous un magnifique ciel étoilé... read more

The blog backlog is still on the backburner - in the meanwhile, here's some cherry blossom photos :-) まだ書いていないブログが多いですが、当分この島根県で撮った桜の写真をご覧下さい。 日本語でコメントしたい方、「Private Message」をクリックして下さい。... read more

We left Hiroshima and had to take the train north towards Hamada City to reach Tsuwano which is south of Hamada City. The journey there was on a train that was not Shinkansen but was still comfortable and the views from the train were spectacular. The journey was made through some beautiful mountainside and the colour of the scenery was wonderful. Tsuwano is a small town with a population of 9,000 people. It is known as little Kyoto in Japan with its beautiful feudal style buildings and castle situated on top of a mountain. It is also known for its Washi paper, Sake breweries and there local steam train that runs still once a day. We arrived in Tsuwano at 11:00am and went straight to the visitors Information office. The people in there are very helpful ... read more

jak pech to juz na calego! przyjechalam do Matsue, bo mialo to byc male, urokliwe miasteczko (140tys. ludzi- to jest male miasteczko, jak na japonskie warunki ;) ). Glowna atrakcja, to przepiekny zachod slonca za jeziorem i za gorami (w pierwszej trojce najpiekniejszych widokow w Japonii - oni tu chyba maja ranking na wszystko: najladniejsze widoki, sciezki, trasy pociagiem) Mialam zostac jeden dzien, bo ilez to mozna upajac sie widokiem zachodzacego slonca, jak sie jest samemu, a nie jest sie romantycznym poeta? jednak pierwszego dnia spoznilam sie na zachod ok 10 min! zawsze mnie zaskakuje, jak to slonce szybko zachodzi (rege, pamietasz poscig za sloncem na Krymie?). zatem decyzja: zostaje na 2 noce. Ale nie tylko na zachod slonca sie spoznilam, bo na ostatni autobus do hostelu tez, wiec "nocleg" w Internet cafe (jeszcze nigdy mnie ... read more

Actually, there was more than a pot - way more. Discovered in 1526, at the peak of its production around the early 17th century one third of the world's silver came from the Iwami mines. Many of the technologies and methods used here spread to other parts of Asia. One of the mine shafts is open to the public, the many others are closed off with grates at the entrance. Getting into those would be one way to not be found in a hurry... 500 sounds like a pretty good number - Gohyakurakan Created to commerate those who had died working in the mines, the initial plan was to create 16 stone arhat/rakan (Buddhas), but the idea grew and despite problems raising the funds eventually it was settled that there should be 500. These aren't 500 ... read more