namBa H!PS

 

Though sometimes I make spelling mistakes, the title of this post is not one of them.. .... this is really how the building is named.

It was designed by one of my favorite Japanese architects, Shin Takamatsu, a Shimane- born architect.

It is an entertainment complex and opened in 2007.

The red structure running up inside the hourglass-shaped cavity is actually a free-fall type of amusement park ride called YABAFO.

The complex is home to restaurants, spas, pachinko parlors, and karaoke. There is even a golf studio and the exterior of the building is used for rock climbing events.

The above photo seems to be a love hotel. I spotted the composition while walking around Namba Hips...

The previous post in this series on Osaka was on Namba Hatch, the nearby music venue...

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Ebisu Shrine on Miyagajima Island

 

Miyagajima is a small island connected to the mainland by a sandbar that at the highest tides disappears beneath the water.

However, the tides along this stretch of Japan Sea coastline are really quite small and my guess is the highest tides of the year probably cut off access for just a few hours on a few days a year.

That has not stopped some local tourist websites claiming it to be the San-in Mont St. Michel.

The Ebisu Shrine, a branch of Miho Shrine, was established at another site in 1709.

It was moved here in 1867....

There is nothing of note at the shrine, though the views of the shrine are quite cool and the views from the shrine are good...

The previous post was on the walk over the headland from Iinoura.

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Upper Saigo Bay

 

The main port of Dogo Island in the Japan Sea off the coast of Shimane is Saigo.

The mouth of Saigo Bay is less than 300 meters wide, but the bay opens up with a long arms headong West and North.

These shots were taken at the northern edge of the bay where the main road that encircles the island passes.

This was the first day of my 3 day walk around the circumference of the island.

The Sea of Japan coast has some of the best and most dramatic coastline in all of Japan, with Shimane and the Oki Islands ranking near the top.

It was a beautiful, still day, enabling clear views....

The Oki Islands are a favored destination for scuba divers..... or if you dont dive, you can take an underwater viewing boat...

The previous post in this series on the Oki Islands was on one of the mysterious, unique trees on Dogo.

If you would like to subscribe by email just leave your email address in the comments below. It will not be published and made public. I post new content almost everyday, and send out an email about twice a month with short descriptions and links to the last ten posts.

Iinoura Coast

 

The first settlement on the coast in Shimane after entering from Yamaguchi Prefecture is Iinoura.

I started here on day 33 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage has taken me through Okayama, Hiroshima, and now Yamaguchi, so only two prefectures to go.... my home prefecture of Shimane, and then Tottori.

First stop was the local shrine, a Hachimangu. Like many shrines along this coast, it was necessary to cross the railway tracks between the entrance and the main building.

The Hachiman triad are Ojin, Jingu, and Tamayorihime. Seconday kami are a pretty complete subset of Izumo kami, including Susano, Okuninushi, Kotoshironushi (Ebisu), Ukanomitama (Inari), and Ichishimahime.

From Iinoura, a narrow road winds around the steep headland known as the Iinoura Coast.

About 1.2 kilometers offshore is Sansho Island. In 1904, locals planted trees on the island to celebrate the victory over Russia in the war. The saplings all died, but locals tried again to no avail.

The small harbour of Iinoura.....

Looking up the coast to where I will be heading......

As with people all over the world, the japanese name rocks and formations after what they look like. The dark rock in the centre-left of the above photo is called Ningyo Iwa, Doll Rock, but I don't see it myself.

Around this small Buddha statue were numerous large signboards. Apparently, there used to be a grave up above the road. It was for a man called Taga Korebe, who died in 1619, and stipulated in his will that he wanted to be buried where he could see the Korean Peninsula in its entirety.

He was a sea captain employed by the Kamei Clan in what is now Tottori, and made many trade journeys to Korea, Okinawa, China, and Taiwan on behalf of the clan. Exports were swords, copper, folding screens, and lacquerware. Imports were Silk fabrics, cotton, ceramics, medicines, and books. When the Kamei took over the Tsuwano Domain, he came with them and was made headman of Iinoura.

The final photo is of Miyaga Island and its Ebisu Shrine, the subject of the next post in the series.

The previous post in this series on my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage was on the Itsukushima Shrine in Esaki.

if you would like to subscribe by email just leave your email address in the comments below. It will not be published and made public. I post new content almost everyday, and send out an email about twice a month with short descriptions and links to the last ten posts.