Along the Sea-of-Japan coast of Western Honshu lies Japan’s San’in region.
This mystical land, that is synonymous with Japan’s creation mythology
is home to a number of revered shrines and temples
as well as an abundance of stunning natural scenery.
Unconnected to the rest of the country by shinkansen
the San’in region retains an atmosphere that contrasts greatly
with that of Japan’s bustling big cities
and is the perfect place for those wishing to get a taste of traditional Japan.
And this is exactly where we’re going.
I’m Sam Evans, staff writer for japan-guide.com, and over the next few days
I’ll be traversing this extraordinary area to experience a different side of Japan.
Here’s the plan:
We’ll fly from Tokyo to the San’in region.
The main attraction for Day 1 will be the famous Izumo Grand Shrine
and beautiful nearby coastline.
On Day 2 we head east to Adachi Art Museum and its celebrated garden before ending in
Matsue City where we’ll explore the castle.
On our third and final day, we continue east to Mount Daisen, which is that tallest mountain
in the region is the home to the important hillside temple Daisenji.
So follow along as we experience traditional Japan in the San’in region.
Day 1
Upon landing at Izumo Airport, we’ll pick up our rental car and head over to the exalted
Izumo Grand Shrine in Izumo City.
Following this we’ll take a scenic drive along the coastline to Cape Hinomisaki
and take in the stunning views from the top of Hinomisaki Lighthouse.
On our drive back we’ll make a stop at Inasa Beach
before continuing to Tamatsukuri Onsen town
where we’ll end the day with a meal and a bath in a traditional ryokan.
This is Izumo Taisha often considered to be the oldest shrine in Japan and certainly one
of the country’s most important.
Now this beautiful shrine has deep ties with Japan’s creation mythology.
So we’ve just left Izumo Taisha and now we’re on our way to Cape Hinomisaki.
So this is Cape Hinomisaki, known for it’s beautiful views of the ocean
and it’s really tall lighthouse.
We’re going to check out this area and then we’re going to go checkout Inasa Beach before
staying the night Tamatsukuri Onsen, a traditional hot spring town.
So we’ve arrived at our ryokan in Tamatsukuri Onsen
and now we’re going to enjoy a nice dinner and a hot bath.
What a perfect end to an amazing day of traveling.
Day 2
Today we’ll start bright and early with a visit to Yaegaki Shrine
before heading on to Adachi Art Museum and its beautiful landscape garden.
Come afternoon, we’ll make our way up to the city of Matsue where we’ll explore the
historic Matsue Castle and finish with a delicious seafood feast at a nearby popular restaurant.
So we’ve arrived this morning at Yaegaki Shrine.
And out back they have this special Mirror Pond.
Now at this Mirror Pond they have an interesting custom where people put a coin on top of this
special piece of paper and then lay it on the pond’s surface
and the amount of time it takes for the coin and the paper to sink
signifies how much time it will take for that person to find their soulmate.
So this is the Adachi Museum of Art which which was established in 1980 as a fusion
between the founder’s passion for Japanese garden design and art.
The complex is best known for its award winning garden which can be enjoyed all year round.
So let’s go and check it out.
Now we’re on route to Matsue Castle, one of only twelve castles in the country whose
main keep has survived since the feudal era.
One of the best ways to explore the castle is through a boat tour in the castle’s moat.
Day 3
Our final day will see us drive to Yasugi Kiyomizu Temple for some traditional Buddhist
experiences lead by a monk
before continuing on to snow-capped Mount Daisen
After making our way around Daisenji Temple, the mountain’s main temple
it’s back to the airport where our trip will come to an end.
So we’re on our way to Yasugi Kiyomizu Temple, a hillside Buddhist temple that offers visitors
the chance to participate in such experiences
as sutra copying and meditation guided by a Buddhist monk.
Daisenji Temple where we are now is located on Mount Daisen
the tallest mountain in the entire Chugoku Region.
Now from this temple visitors can join the trail-head to hike to the summit of the mountain.
And that concludes our exploration of the Sanin region.
Thanks for joining me.
I hope this video has been enjoyable and perhaps even inspires some ideas
should you decide to plan a trip in the area.
For more information about the Sanin region or to watch another video
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Happy travels.