3 Weeks in Japan - The Post COVID Version!

[Matt_01]

When I created the link to my TRs the easiest way I found to create it (including hyperlinks) was in Pages or Word and then just copy and paste into your AFF signature block, others may have done it differently.

 

[rbjhan]

Really enjoying your TR and when I travel solo I am also able to cover a lot of ground in a relatively short time frame. MrsM is making noise about heading back to Japan so I am really liking the number of photos you are posting as we have some similar (family travel) I have others that are similar (solo travel) and may use some of your experiences to construct the next family trip.

Also I am curious, the last 2 photos in post 95 are you using a tilt shift lens or is the effect via an app or post processing. It has been a while since I did any real research into the the technique as I sold my Nikon kit FF and fast glass 10 years back.

Sharp eye!
It was an art filter from Olympus, name is Diorama. Indeed it was a bit like tilt shift...I only use this one for panoramic shots, to get the almost miniature feel.

 

[rbjhan]

When I created the link to my TRs the easiest way I found to create it (including hyperlinks) was in Pages or Word and then just copy and paste into your AFF signature block, others may have done it differently.

And where is this signature block...? I am really slow today
Too much travelling might not be so good! Just decided to cancel my Feb coughet trip....

 

[Matt_01]

And where is this signature block...? I am really slow today

On the AFF page where you see your user name (top right) next to the mail and alerts icon. Click on your user name and you should see Signature. On my account it is just above the Log out option.

 

[rbjhan]

On the AFF page where you see your user name (top right) next to the mail and alerts icon. Click on your user name and you should see Signature. On my account it is just above the Log out option.

hmmm, I'm only seeing this?
And nothing in the Preference section....

 

[Matt_01]

@rbjhan your account options seems to be different from mine.

 

[rbjhan]

@rbjhan your account options seems to be different from mine.
View attachment 311361

 

[RooFlyer]

@rbjhan your account options seems to be different from mine.

Customising signature may be a privilege of paying AFFers 'Supporter'?? @support, is this the case?

 

[rbjhan]

Customising signature may be a privilege of paying AFFers 'Supporter'?? @support, is this the case?

At least I'm not too slow then

 

[support]

Signatures are a benefit (of many) of a paid account.

 

[drron]

Matsue castle certainly is worth the effort. It was one of the excursions we had from a cruise around Japan in April 2016. We did the boat trip around the castle as well. Also stopped at a commercial peony nursery attached to a wonderful Japanese garden on the way back to the ship.

 

[jrfsp]

Fantastic report! Ive booked my first trip to Japan for June 23. Plenty of ideas now

 

[rbjhan]

Fantastic report! Ive booked my first trip to Japan for June 23. Plenty of ideas now

June is normally hot and humid, I hope you like the conditions!

 

[jrfsp]

June is normally hot and humid, I hope you like the conditions!

Yes i did see that but ill be escaping the MEL winter so suits me fine

 

[rbjhan]

Yes i did see that but ill be escaping the MEL winter so suits me fine

Good for you! I'll never be able to go to Japan in summer, missing all the fun festivals!

 

[rbjhan]

Lunch time again!
I had already decided what to eat - the famous Tai Chazuke 鯛めし from Minami-Kan Ryokan.
The ryokan is by the Ohashi river, some rooms have great Lake Shinji views...hmmm if I come to Matsue again I think I know where to stay!


Tai Chazuke


Looked a bit different right? Where was the Tai fish?
They actually break the fish down, together with egg white and yellow, all into power form...


Delicious!

 

[rbjhan]

Finally we came to the last stop before Tokyo, Izumo!

Dormy Inn Izumo
Excellent location, 1 min walk (if that) from JR Izumoshi Station.


Does the room look familiar? (hint, Okayama)


Excellent public bath on the top floor, with outdoor bath.


Lounge outside


Great views too.


All that for only 6400 Yen!

Spent quite some time in the onsen & lounge & massage chair, eating ice cream, doing laundry....
Finally ventured out of the hotel, hmm, I realised there might be some problems.
You see, Izumo is even quieter than Matsue! by 6pm there's literally nothing and no one....
Oh but they all went to the Izakayas! I tried several and they were all fully booked or had very long queues...and I didn't see any interesting restaurants nearby!
Damn I hate it when forced to eat konbini dinner, sigh.

 

[rbjhan]

Anyways, the next day I got up early for a morning soak, had another Sukiya breakfast and time to finally go see Izumo Taisha!


From JR Izumoshi you either take the bus or Ichibata Densha (private railway) to Izumo Taisha.
I am generally a train person (not bus person) so ofc I took the train!


Funny thing here was, you can use IC card to buy a trian ticket but the gates do not take cards...guess it's cheaper to upgrade some ticket machines than the gates!

And here we are!


Izumo Taisha 出雲大社 is probably Japan's second most important shrine, after Ise Jingu ofc.
Okuninushi no Okami is enshrined here, apparently he is the deity of good relationships and marriage (no wonder the charms here are so expensive! )

Every year, during the 10th lunar month (normally in November) all Shinto deities gather at Izumo Taisha for a meeting, so this period is known as "Month with Deities" in Izumo and "Month without deities" everywhere else in Japan. Sadly I was just a few days late for the festivals held here.

Torii gate marks the entrance to the shrine grounds.


Note that the trail is divided into 3 lanes here, visitors are to take the left and right ones only. Central one is said to be the path for the deities.

 

[rbjhan]

After a bronze torii gate I came to the main shrine grounds. Immediately upon entry there was the worship hall with a sacred straw rope. The rope separates divine space and indicates the presence of a deity, it is quite common in Shinto shrines.


Behind the worship hall is the Main Hall (Honden), just like in Ise visitors cannot enter.
However here there's only one set of fence (I think) and you can walk around it, getting some reasonable views of the structure.

The Honden was originally built before Buddhism came to Japan, so without outside influences it is the purely Japanese architectural style. It is very tall, but according to studies it used to be even considerably taller, on some large pillars (we'll get to that later).

Here you can see the main hall behind fences.


Different angle.


Kaguraden with an even more impressive rope!


And here's another mini rant.
Remember I was collecting Shuin. During this trip some temples/shrines would not write on your Shuin book as per tradition. Instead they will sell you a printed/written one, I was not happy about it but what can you do, COVID blah blah blah. Mind you, these places are all cash only, so my money is clean but not the Shuin book!

Anyways, Izumo Taisha is pushing this to a new limit. Here's sign actually says, if you buy a new Shuin book here they will write on it, otherwise only pre-written ones. I was like WTF?! I was not going to give them money for that!



This blatant money grabbing kinda ruined my feelings for Izumo Taisha, sigh.

 

[rbjhan]

The main street leading up to Izumo Taisha is lined with restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops.
Most of the restaurants sadly were doing that 3 types of soba thing
Finally found a seafood place!
I had a crab on rice...


Note: Sea of Japan coast is where you go to eat crab in winter. Not to be missed!

After lunch I went to the Ancient Izumo History Museum next to Izumo Taisha.
This place is fantastic!

日本書紀 Nihon Shoki.






Remember I mentioned earlier Izumo Taisha used to be much more imposing?
They have models here.


Especially this one! See the white dots on the stairs for size...


Some other important Shinto shrines from all over Japan.


I bought a foreigner ticket at the entrance (half price), later they actually found me inside and gave me some souvenirs! How sweet.