10,000 years ago, the Shimane Peninsula was a long narrow island running parallel to the coast of Izumo.
Looking at a map, it is not hard to imagine as the two large bodies of water, Lake Shinji, the 8th biggest lake in Japan, and Nakaumi, a large lagoon, take up much of the space where the sea used to be.
Even 1500 years ago, at the time of the first Izumo myths, much of what is now land was still estuary and marsh. The peninsula is the land at the heart of the Kunibiki Myth, wherein a kami pulls land from three other places to make the peninsula.
In pre-modern Japan, coastal shrines and temples used their lanterns as navigation guides for ships at sea.
In the Meiji Period, with the opening up of more and more ports to foreign shipping, Japan began building western-style lighthouses.
In 1899, Hamada and Sakaiminato ports were opened to foreign trade, and in response, Hinomisaki Lighthouse was built.
It opened in 1903, and I believe it was the tallest lighthouse in East Asia at that time.
It remains the tallest lighthouse in Japan and was made an Important Cultural Property a few years ago. It is also included in the top 100 lighthouses of the world.
It is 43 metres high and built out of a cut-stone exterior and brick interior.
The light, which has the biggest lense in Japan , is 63 meters above sea level and can be seen from 40 kilometers away.
For a small fee visitors can climb to the top and enjoy the fantastic views.
There is a really nice walk around the cape....
With a major shrine nearby, the two small fishing villages have a collection of ryokan and minshuku and a modern, luxury Onsen
This visit was on mid-summers day, 2020, and I was on day 7 of my walk exploring the details of the Sea of Japan coastline....
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