Blogs from Tsuwano, Shimane, Japan, Asia

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

About 45 minutes from Masuda is this lovely little mountain town called Tsuwano. I liken it to Canmore because it's nestled in a valley, has only one decent street to walk down, and is a town people visit because all the good places are too far away. First on the agenda was the Taikodani-Inari-jinja, one of the largest Inari shrines in all of Japan. To see the shrine, you first proceed through a traditional gate and zen-like pathway before reaching the torii tunnel to the top. The custom is to throw a rock onto the top of the gateway for good luck. If it stays up, you're blessed and can continue; but if your rock doesn't stay on the gate, much bad fortune awaits in the form of papercuts and stubbed toes. So I toss my ... read more