I visit Tottori-sakyu, the biggest sand dune in Japan, covering 30 square kilometers.
Two hours after arriving the wind blew strongly and then ...
This is a view at the top of the ruins in the site of the old castle. I can imagine here a castle in some twenty years ahead or less. Let´s see if possible.
I visit the Prefectural Museum of Tottori which holds an interesting exhibition of pictures of Tottori of the last century and beside this Meiji building known as "Jinpūkaku" home of the lord of the Ikeda clan, Nakahiro Ikeda (1877–1948). The residence was designed by architect Katayama Tōkuma (1854–1917).
One buddhist temple on my way to Kannonin.
And three more thanks to meet a nice lady and her daughter who gave to me a ride around Kannonin and two shrines.
The Kannonin a buddhist temple with a nice garden inside where you can enjoy a great "matcha".
Ube Jinja is a beautiful shinto shrine located in an amazing place.
The deity enshrined at Ube Jinja, Takenouchi no Sukune, is a legendary figure said to have lived for 280 years. She served five emperors. Because of this, he is famous as a kami of longevity.
Finally I went to the Tottori Folk Craft Museum (Mingei Bijutsukan) small but with a huge collection of pottery and furnitures that is changing periodically, nowadays it was focused mostly in korean rakus and a few pieces of furniture on the first floor and Tottori crafts in the second. The museum has this small but unique temple beside.
I have begun with Lafcadio Hearn´s garden. Frogs concert was very relaxing.
To say Matsue it was to me to say Izumo Taisha, the famous shrine, so popular that according with a lady who talked to me at the Museum, 74 ceremonies -mostly weddings- are averagely cellebrated a month. I can not confirm, but a few of them were celebrated in the sunday I visited the shrine.
Only novices, masters of the ceremony and guests can go into the main shrine, so in the new one building, at least this sunday with ceremonies in both.
I took a picture with the teleobjective through the glass, paparazzi style, only to confirm you the wedding.
The oldest books in nihongo related to mithology talk about Izumo Taisha.
"Izumo Taisha -as Japan Guide explain- is dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, the nephew of the Sun Goddess. Because Okuninushi is the kami of marriage, visitors clap their hands four times instead of just twice during their prayers, twice for oneself and twice for one's actual or desired partner."
I don´t know the ground neither the bride but I wish them happy life.
I wish they remain tied as much as possible so well as this huge knots the shrine repeat every where, so of course in the ceremonies as you can see.
There are some other beautiful small temples in the complex and gardens.
And apart from heavy rains and few minutes of sun, sakura was noticeably present in that landscape and the way to go up to there from Matsue.
It is not a weeding cake but...
Beautiful confectionery specialized in Castela -Castilla-, with the famous spanish cake of that region name bring there by portuguese.
But Matsue is more than Izumo Taisha, it is a very interesting cultural city.
The castle -I asked for a voluntary guide, Miss Kyoko san, who explained to me a lot of things- is one of the most considered in Japan, the arquitecture of its tower distinguised from the others with protection system on chinese way.
pillars are also singular being built with several trunks and adjusted with iron, wood is mostly the original one in spite of restaurations.
Inside it holds a great collection of samurai armours.
From the tower you can have a beautiful view of lake Shinji.
The city is well known as "japanese venice" due to the so many channels and some boats to move around but "gondolas".
The saturday April 6th a sakura matsuri was expected with a parade. It was suspended for the rain nevertheless some people dress for that day continues aswell.
MeiMei-an tea room.
Buke Yashiki garden of a samurai residence.
It was not my garden, but it was during one quiet hour in the Tanabe Museum, One of the leaders in the Tea World.
Finally a visit to the Adachi Museum of art, a modern garden condecorated with many awards. Once more : すごい！
