360 Degree Views of Matsue

 

Matsue, the capital city of Shimane,  is actually quite small, with a population of less than 200,000.

Not much in the way of high-rise buildings; in fact, the tallest is only 70 meters high.

However, from the top floor of that building, there is a 360 degree observation deck that is free to enter.

The building is the Sanin Godo Bank headquarters, and the observation floor has a separate entrance and elevator from the rest of the building, and so is open on weekends and holidays when the rest of the building is closed.

Matsue Castle, around which the castle town was constructed in the early 17th century, is visible.

The observation rooms are well air-conditioned in summer and have plenty of comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi.

Teramachi, the temple district is between the observation building and the main train station.

Great views over nearby Lake Shinji, the 8th biggest lake in Japan and where the sun sets.

The unique architecture of Shimane Art Museum, well worth a visit.

Yomega Island, site of a local legend....

Ohashi Bridge which gives its name to the river. Beyond is Shinjiko Onsen, a hot spring resort.

The previous post in this series on the sights of Matsue and Izumo was on the cute Jizo and 500 rakan at the Zen temple, Togakuji.

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Picturesque East Coast of Dogo Island

Dogo, the largest of the Oki islands in the Japan Sea off the coast of Shimane, remains one of my favourite places in Japan.

Like many places far from the Shinkansen, it has no overtourism.

On the first day of my three-day walk around the coastline of the island, I left the Sasaki Residence and started walking up the east coast.

The Oki Islands are a UNESCO Global Geopark which means there are plenty of signage in English, especially around the numerous sites of geological interest.

I have little knowledge of geology, though I do enjoy seeing land without vegetation.

In Okubo port there are examples of Green Tuff.....

Soft and makes for some nice eroded shapes.....

Then up along what is called the Kuboro Coast....

There are several observation decks with nice views, but walking, to me, makes the best way to view such coastlines....

Very little traffic, so no hazard for gently strolling....

Quite unusual to see a roadside Buddhist statue ........ every single temple on the Oki Islands were destroyed in the anti-Buddhist movement of early Meiji....

I was here in early June, 2016, so not too hot to walk, but with nice, long days....

The staggering quantity of concrete poured on Japanese coasts, building breakwaters for tiny harbours, and installing millions of tetrapods, need huge numbers of these crane-barge types of boats...

Kuroshima Island is the next major sight....

For the geologically-minded, the phrase is Mantle Xenoliths....

It's mid-afternoon as I approach Fuse, the largest of the fishing harbours of my walk today. Not big enough for a convenience store though. In fact I will pass no convenience store for three days. There is a single Yamazaki store on the island. No Lawsons, no Family Mart, no 7-11.....

The previous post was on the delightful, large Sasaki Residence, a traditional village Headmans residence.

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360 Degree Views from Mount Shirataki

 

Mount Shirataki is a 226 meter high mountain in the north of Innoshima Island in the Inland Sea between Hiroshima and Shikoku.

The Murakami, a clan of naval samurai used Innoshima as a base. A fake Murakami pirate castle lies a little further to the south. 

The Murakami erected a Kannon hall on top of the mountain to use as a watchtower overlooking the strait between Innoshima and Mukaijima.

With outcroppings of rock, the site was used by ascetics in their austerities and training and now an observation tower offers 360 degree views over the island and surrounding area

The views truly are 360 degrees and this would be a superb place to spend the night. I have done that several times before on islands in the Inland Sea and it is truly exhilarating to watch the sun set over the islands and then watch the sun rise the next morning.

But this time I was on a schedule and needed to get on to the next pilgrimage temple on the next island.

There are about 700 statues around the mountaintop, and I will cover those in the next two posts....

The previous post was on the Innoshima Sea Festival taking place in the waters below the mountain.