Travel enriches the heart, beauty, and health.
I have read articles saying that traveling releases happiness hormones. Honestly, oh, I can truly feel them being released in my brain and filling my entire body. New encounters, meeting things I have never seen, been to, or touched before, tasting local cuisine I have never experienced, feeling an atmosphere I have never felt, hearing sounds I have never heard, smelling scents I have never smelled, and then the sunlight and shadows, the color of the sky and clouds, the wind blowing through my body, the stars at night, and so on.
I can feel it with my five senses, with my whole body.
Also, travel sharpens the five senses, receives a lot of inspiration, and brings a sense of being alive, excitement, and a feeling of gratitude and love welling up from the whole body,
a heart-pounding sense of excitement.
Travel is like an extraordinary celebration.
The excitement of travel is the best miracle drug that works for beauty, longevity, and mindfulness 🎵
This time, I would like to write about my “Izumo trip,” which I have wanted to go to for a long time but could not.
World Heritage Site: Iwami Ginzan
In October,
I went on a 3-day, 2-night trip to Izumo.
Early in the morning with my travel companions, we took a flight from Haneda to Izumo Airport and
arrived safely in Izumo by 9:30 AM.
We switched to a rental car and set off!
First, a World Heritage site!
We are aiming for Iwami Ginzan, which was registered in 2007.
About 60 minutes by car from the airport.
Iwami Ginzan requires you to park your car and switch to a bus, electric bicycle, or cart.
The bus runs once every 30 minutes, and the carts are small, so they fill up quickly.
We decided to head to Iwami Ginzan while exploring the town of Omori by bicycle (an electric one, of course).
The streets are lined with old lattice buildings, full of charm and creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
Sunlight hits the leaves of the trees, making them sparkle, and as I ride my bicycle, I feel a pleasant breeze on my body.
I look around as I ride deeper into the town on my bicycle.
On the way, I discovered a stylish bakery with an attached cafe that smelled delicious!
「Backerei Konditorei Hidaka」
A shop run by a master baker from Germany and his wife, a master pastry chef.
A bakery with the strongest tag team that you can’t go wrong with.
Everything looked so delicious that I had trouble choosing.
The taste was also absolutely delicious!!
Depending on the time, there can even be a line.
If you go to Iwami Ginzan, this is a recommended bakery located in the town of Omori.
I want to eat this again❤️
And furthermore, aiming for the Ryugenji Mabu mine in Iwami Ginzan, the electric bicycles zip along lightly through the dappled sunlight.
We left our bicycles in front of the rocky mountain and proceeded from the narrow stone entrance deep into the rock face.
The tunnel in the rocky mountain, just wide enough for one person to pass through, is cool and refreshing, continuing deep into the interior.
It seems this mine shaft was developed in 1715, and I felt deeply moved thinking about how they diligently dug through the hard rock back then, with great effort and dreams of silver and gold.
Being able to learn about parts of Japan I didn’t know before in this way is also a delightful experience.
Izumo Soba
Speaking of Izumo, it has to be “Izumo Soba”
Located on the way from Iwami Ginzan toward Izumo Taisha,
“Izumo Soba Kizuki”
has a wonderful atmosphere like an old folk house.
We arrived around 2:00 PM and the shop was already closed, but the staff kindly let the four of us in!
Ah~ encountering such warmth and kindness while traveling is also a wonderful experience.
Thank you so much😭
The round fish cake with a small hole in the center is the Shimane specialty “Ago no Yaki”
Hinomisaki Shrine
We head toward Hinomisaki Shrine, located near the coast in the northeastern part of Shimane Prefecture. At Hinomisaki Shrine, Susanoo-no-Mikoto is enshrined in the Kami-no-Miya (Upper Shrine), and Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined in the Hinoshizumi-no-Miya (Lower Shrine).
This is a shrine with a vivid vermilion color that truly defines the color of Japan.
You can enjoy the colorful carvings on the shrines.
It is said that there are 100 different types, ranging from animals and plants to imaginary creatures.
It is a beautiful, gorgeous, and exciting shrine, and
I felt a powerful energy there.
Inasa Beach
And, before visiting Izumo Taisha tomorrow, we stop by Inasa Beach to
enjoy the setting sun and receive some “sacred sand.”
After that, we reflect on the first day of our Izumo trip with Italian food and wine at our accommodation for the night, “NIPPONIA Izumo Hirata” and “Trattoria 814” on the Momen Kaido.
Summary
Since I woke up early on the first day, I was able to learn a lot about the charms of Shimane Prefecture.
The excitement, calm feelings, and gratitude that I cannot feel in daily life are definitely nourishment for beauty, health, and the heart 🎵
The journey to beauty continues.
(To be continued in the second half)
