06/08/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Chugoku Area

Iwami Ginzan, an old silver mining village 　石見銀山

October 29th. Relentless rain all night and no let up this morning. We are planning a trip to Iwami Ginzan, a pre-Edo era silver mine that was still operating in the early Showa period. We know this involves a 45-minute walk, so are reluctant to go there until the weather improves; as the forecast promises. Finally, we set off in the opposite direction and drive along the coast towards Izumo Taisha though we have no intent to visit that place again. We just want to view the coastline. Reaching the Taisha, we turn around and head back the same way we have come. The sky, out over the sea, is […]
Inari Shrine at Matsue
06/08/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Chugoku Area

Matsue castle, ‘plover castle’　松江城

October 28th. Matsue Castle We head for Matsue to visit the castle. The castle, or the remaining, very fine black tower, is original – built in 1611. This trip all seems to connect with Sekigahara as the previous one was all Meiji restoration. We wander the castle grounds but do not enter. We do go into the large, nearby Meiji era building that was built for a visit of the Meiji emperor that never occurred. The crown prince who later became the Taisho emperor, whom nobody wants to talk about very much, did show up. The building is empty of anything, including interest but it looks good from the outside. […]
Daisen-ji
03/08/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Chugoku Area

Daisen-ji temple　大山寺

October 27th. Daisen-ji Temple As we drove out of Shinwa no sato Shiro Usagi michi no eki this morning, I noted that the sea was on the other side of the road but it was not the most picturesque spot. The michi no eki was busy early, but quiet enough during the night. Daisen, or more specifically Daisen-ji Temple, is our first objective and we steadily drive towards and up the mountain. We are surprised, on arrival, that such a famous spot is so run down. The temple is rather sad and stands in not perfectly raked gravel but in what looks like the car park of a roadside ramen […]
autumn colour
23/05/2019 / Last updated : 14/07/2020 d.d Drive Chugoku Area

Mitou to Kameoka　美東から亀岡

October 12th. ’17 Mitou Service Area After some hesitation, as it had been raining all afternoon, we left home about 9pm. The rain had eased but there was still a fine on and off drizzle on the windscreen. We had an uneventful drive straight through to the Mitou service area on Chugoku Expressway and arrived about 11.30pm. By the time we had set up the bedding and had a nightcap, we slept around midnight. Mitou SA to Gareria Kameoka michi no eki Mitou was quieter than expected and we slept reasonably well for a first night of a trip. We woke around 8am. And left Mitou between 9 and 9.30 […]