Honshu Island Part 1
Friday, 12 May 2023 8:11 am
Parked up amongst the Big Boy Trucks
Entered the southern part of Honshu island tracking our way north to Hiroshima then eventually back to Kobe, where we will store the truck for a week whilst we hear to Vietnam - The reason to gain again our 90day Japan visa.
Shimonoski Fish Market, followed by a great meal in one of the local food places
Lyn took the shopping bag around the fish market, but fish heads, scrap salmon, cockles and wafer thin Morton Bay Bugs just did not suit.
Drove onto Yamaguchi to see the most famous 5 teared pagoda.
This is how it should look...
This is how it was presented.
Under re-development - come back in late 2026 !
The Runikoji Temple was build by the local ruling family in 1471...
such history
The grounds beautiful and with the sent of incense - the atmosphere serene.
Camp 21: Remote car park
Today: 216 kms
Total: 2,687 Kms
Friday 12th May 2023:
Built in 1773 one of the five major Inari Shrines in Japan.
Talkodani-Inari-jinja
Lots of extremely bright red-orange and gold.
Parked up and overlooking the valley town of Tsuwano.
Chatting to another bike rider - Kohei.
The Kinrai Bridge.
An historical wooden 5 arch bridge built in 1673 spanning the Nishiki River.
The bridge is rebuilt every 20 years and is a National Treasure
Japanese lunch.
Into Hiroshima - it took us a few loops of small streets to find roadside parking.
8.15am on the 6th August 1945 the world changed.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial established in 1955 with the aim of bringing to the world the ramifications of atomic weapons.
The museum - like Nagasaki-gut wrenching and even brings tears to the eyes of the most toughened.
Very hard not to feel emotional.
UNESCO SITE
What has become known as the Atomic Bomb Dome was once a Product Exhibition Hall built by Czech architect in 1915.
It was at the bombs hypo-centre
The blast and the following radiation activity killed around 200,000 people before the end of 1945.
Children's Peace Monument.
It started as a commemoration of the child victim Sadako Sasaki who was a young 5 year old girl who died of Leukaemia. She wanted to make 1000 paper Cranes before she died. Ancient Japanese tradition says that one who folds a thousand cranes can have one wish granted.
School children around the world started sending in tens of thousands of origami paper cranes and they still arrive.
I see this bundle from Desmond Tutu.
The paper crane is a symbol of peace.
Camp 22: 7-Eleven car park
Today: 207 kms
Total: 2,894 Kms
Saturday 13th May 2023:
Typical of todays and many roads we follow.
Steep valleys and roads that meander around corners and sometimes cut through mountains.
SILVER lots of SILVER
Near the town of Oda on the eastern side of Honshu, silver was discovered in 1526 and was mined here until 1923.
Such was the importance of the site it was fought over many times by contesting warlords. In peak production in the 17th century up to 40 tons were produced and that equated to one third of the then global production.
This mine played a pivotal roll in Asian trade where silver was the key currency.
We could walk through the 160m long Ryugenji Mabu ( Mabu is mine shaft).
It was hand dug with picks at the rate of 3m every 10 days
You can see the chisel marks on the roof.
Sketches from that time indicate ve
Suction pumps for water using bamboo. Timber shoring up the roof, and the rock carried out on their backs using straw sacks.
They carried lamps made out of Turban shells
We walked the streets of the old town, many original teak buildings still in place.
Camp 23: Beach side car park in Izumo
Today: 126 kms
Total: 3,020 Kms
Sunday 14th May 2023:
Isumo-Taisha Shrine is one of the most ancient Shinto Shrines in Japan.
Records and paintings date it back to 950.
And what a auspicious day to visit.
We witness an important ceremony.
This is part of the original Shrine.
This top part sat 45m high on 6 sets of 3 giant Cedar Tree each 3 meters in diameter strapped together.
It was rebuilt in 1200 then in 1744 to its current height or 24m high
During renovations in 2000 they found were the remains of 2 sets of those giant 3m diameter Cedar Tree Trunks.
This area is now a National Treasure.
Yes its that wonky Eshima Ohashi Bridge.
Bit of a non event, maybe not enough Saki !
Camp 24: Long Beach Camp.
Our first ‘off pavement camp’
Today: 123 kms
Total: 3,143Kms
Monday 15th May 2023:
The sand dune complex near the town of Tottoni is a busy tourist location. You can even have your photograph taken sitting on a thin and mangey Camel. For extra few yen you have hire some ‘Laurence of Arabia’ clothing.
We so love Fraser Island !
We were however were impressed with the sand carvings in the Sand Museum nearby.
IMPRESSIVE +
Geological interesting the basalt columns in the Genbudo area.
Camp 25: Fine View Camp.
Today: 175 Kms
Total: 3,319 Kms
Tuesday 16th May 2023:
Time seems to have stopped in the fishing village of Ine.
The fishing boats although now with outboards are still stored under the house in its own water garage.
Amanohashidate the books say ‘One of japans three most scenic places’
Sorry I totally disagree.
Its a thin land strip covered in Pine Trees.
The most intersting was the Pine trees that appeared to be feeding on Saki.
Lyn takes credit for this photograph of three young ladies out walking their fluffy small dogs !
Back in the central highlands
Camp 26
Today: 111 Kms
Total 3,430 Kms