Always good for my soul Driving along the coastline from Hamada Beach on Highway 9 to Izumo is a beautiful drive. It takes approximately 2-3 hours (depending on how often you stop to take photos) haha. There is a little overlook with great views and picnic tables if you wanted to pack a lunch. Shimane… Continue reading A Coastine Drive
Adventures in Izumo! Perched on a huge rock at Inasnohama Beach is the tiny shrine of Benten-jima. Although tiny, this shrine holds great importance in the mythology of Izumo. This is the point believed to be the arrival place of all of the deities from throughout Japan during Kamiarizuki (“month with deities”) in Izumo. This… Continue reading Inasa Beach – Benten-jima
New Adventure as an Independent Consultant Hello friends! Many of you know that I am passionate about photography, art, and travel. And most of you know that I am over sixty and will be considering retiring from teaching in a few years. We all know that retiring on a teacher’s salary will most likely not… Continue reading Rodan & Fields
A day trip from Iwakuni In Japan the word for sunflower is Himawari. In July and August, Sera Kogan Farms, in Hiroshima Prefecture, has a Himawari festival which is definitely worth the approximately 2-3 hour drive from Iwakuni. Especially if you love sunflowers like I do! I stopped on my return trip from Matsue. The… Continue reading Sera Kogan Farm in Hiroshima Prefecture
A Place Where the Deities Gather Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine is one of the oldest and most important shrines in Japan. The current shrine was built in 1744 and is designated as a national treasure, but when it was originally built remains a mystery. The deity enshrined here is Okuninushi-no-Kami. In Izumo mythology, it is… Continue reading Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine
“I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” – Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice A Love of Books I love books. I love holding a book in my hands. I love turning the pages. I love the smell of books. I love to wander in a book store. So, I buy books.… Continue reading Tsundoku – Is this you?
A Little Slice of Paradise in Shimane, Japan I love to travel in Japan and I really fell in love with the Izumo area! The drive along the coastline is breathtaking and the area of Hinomisaki Cape is quaint and welcoming. (These photos were taken prior to travel restrictions.) Hinomisaki Lighthouse Standing tall above the… Continue reading Hinomisaki Lighthouse and Shrine – Travel Japan
“As you travel solo, being totally responsible for yourself, it’s inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are.” Author unknown We’ve all made wrong turns. Wrong turns in driving, in our decisions, and in life in general. It’s okay. There is always a chance for correction and we can learn to embrace the… Continue reading Embrace the Wrong Turns
A Unique Island Shrine Arriving in the daytimeor whenever you come–welcome, Ebisu!–Hakuin Sitting atop a rocky reef on Miyagajima Island is the small Ebisu Shrine, known also as Mont Saint-Michel of San’in. It is west of Masuda on the Kohama coast. During high tide, it is inaccessible by foot, as the small land bridge becomes… Continue reading Ebisu Shrine in Masuda
