Matsue Trip and Tokusan Yukata Matsuri

I just got back from visiting Shimane Prefecture, where I met up with Asuka’s family for 3 days.I took the bus to Matsue city on Wednesday and stayed with Asuka’s parents, brother and his wife. The bus took a little over 3 hours and it went fairly briskly. (Picture below: Picking up a rock with silver in it)

On Thursday, we had a full day of sightseeing around the prefecture. We first went to a silver mine, which was reputed to produce the most silver in the world during the Edo period. (Picture below: Me looking bored listening to the history of sand)

We also decided to visit a sand museum. Yes, a sand museum. Small towns in Japan build the most obscure museums and attractions in order to get tourists to visit their towns. It actually works, since Japanese people just love traveling. Since it was about sand, it wasn’t that exciting. (Picture below: Group picture after dinner in our Yukatas)

At night we checked into this really nice Japanese ryokan (inn). We were the only ones staying their and that had a really nice private room and bath. We soaked in the bath then had a really good dinner.

I really enjoy Japanese ryokan dinners as the food is always great. We also had a few battles of Sake to go with 8 course meal and ended up having a good night chatting. (Picture below: Our small but rustic bath)

The next day we went sightseeing again and visited a lighthouse on the sea of Japan in the morning. It had a pretty good view of the Ocean and it was fun to climb all 96 steps to the top.

We also went to an English garden, which was actually pretty impressive as this British gardener created this huge garden full of some pretty amazing flowers and plants. In the end all the attractions where actually pretty random, but it was just nice to do a little road trip and visit various places with Asuka’s family. (Picture below: Asuka's dad side of the family)

The next day we had lunch with all of Asuka’s uncles at another really nice Japanese restaurant. The food once again was great. So I basically, just spent the whole week eating and drinking every day. It’s no stretch to see why I’ve gained weight here in Japan.

Asuka and I then took the bus back to Hiroshima and went to the Tokusan Festival in town. It happens during the first weekend in June and everyone brings out their yukatas (summer kimono) for the first time in the year.

I brought my yukata a few weeks back and the hotel we stayed in Saturday provided one for Asuka. (Picture below: Outside the shrine)

So we picked a yukata for Asuka, then went around the town and just soaked in the atmosphere. It gets pretty busy and crowded at these festivals, but it was fun meandering around the streets and waiting the various street foods.

We also met up with Rob and his girlfriend and spent some time chatting and eating on the streets.

This festival also has a tradition where you pray at the local shrine for a prosperous year. So Asuka and I dropped by at the temple, threw our coins into the offering box and made a few prayers. (Picture below: People throwing coins into the offering box)

It was a great night as I’ve always wanted to wear a yukata and go to a festival. It was also the last few days Asuka was in Japan as she left for Vietnam this past Wednesday to Volunteer for a month before I meet up with her. Only a few more weeks left in Japan and I’m finding the weekends are pretty much reserved up with things to do. It should be a fun filled last few weeks here.

Japanese Factoid#50- If you followed the news, you might have heard about the big hoopla over Japan and their insistence on their rights to hunt "Kujira" or whales. Traditionally, whale has been a part of the Japanese diet and even 40 years ago, kids use to have whale at schools for lunch. I've had whale a few times and it's not bad, a bit of a darker meatier taste. Not only can you buy whale you can also go to whale restaurants like this one I found in Osaka.