Mizuki Shigeru Road - Tottori Prefecture

 The good thing about a group tour is that one often goes places that one wouldn't normally go on their own. Such is the case with our visit to Mizuki Shigeru Road.

Many people arrive here by a special train. This is the front of the Sakaiminato JR train station.

This is the train.

The other end of the train.

From the train station you start walking along the Mizuki Shigeru Road. The first thing you will probably notice is the bronze statues along the road. 

Are you confused? Yes? What's going on here? Well, this street is dedicated to the late artist and author Mizuki Shigeru. You can read more about this town and Mizuki Shigeru at these sites and many others.

http://www.sakaiminato.net/foreign/en/mizuki/

https://www.tottori-tour.jp/en/sightseeing/835/

However, if you're like me and are comfortable walking around blissfully ignorant of all the history and background and ready to just enjoy a nice walk on a beautiful day... here we go!

Tofu delivery boy character.

Emi was completely familiar with the author and the many imaginative characters having read all the books when she was a child.

Here's a dose of reality in the middle of a road based on fantasy.

A dog has to do what a dog has to do.

Time to move on down the road.

Emi's having a great time.

Strangers in a strange place.

There are 153 bronze statues on this 800 meter long road.

Even the public restroom is a tourist attraction! 

After leaving Mizuki Shigeru Road we visited Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture.

Per Google: Izumo Taisha Shrine is located in the city of Izumo in Shimane Prefecture, a one hour train ride west of Matsue. It is one of Japan's most important shrines. There are no records of exactly when Izumo Taisha was built, but it is often considered the oldest shrine in Japan, being already in existence in the early 700s as revealed by the nation's oldest chronicles.

Sometimes I feel like a shrine is a shrine, if you've seen one you've seen them all. What! Okay, they're not all the same, and this one is certainly special.

And, it's old too! Old is good.!

I decided to change my camera to the black & white mode. That should make things really look old.

A standard tourist picture.

The lady with the flag was our local guide.

Postcard quality.

This place is very peaceful. 

Last shot of the day: The flag of Japan flies over the shrine.

Question: How big is that flag?

Answer: It's the size of 75 tatami mats! That's a big flag!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Bonus shots from around Yokohama!