The Dome seen from the boat on the river

 The Dome; the tide is relatively low.

There is a route which connects the island of Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park directly by boat: The World Cultural Heritahe route. My guests and I often take this when we travel from the island to the park. It cruises on the sea and river. It goes fast on the sea but slows down on the river and That's when you are allowed to go out on the deck. You see the city from the river and eventually go under the reconstructed T-shaped Aioi Bridge - the intended target for the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. Then the A-bomb Dome appears on the riverbank and you arrive at the park. While on the boat, you see a round tank in the distance. It's just a gas tank. You also see a dome-like building to the north of Peace Park. It's part of the Children's Science Museum - a planetarium- and not related to the Dome. But overseas travelers often react to them. 

Scenes from Hon-jima, one of the venues for the Setouchi Triennale 2013

A photo taken from a small passenger boat connecting Kojima in Okayama, Honshu and Hon-jima island.

Thirty-minute ride on the boat to the island and Sacchi and I did a little walking around the port looking at artworks.

 Like this one, a clay house made by those from India.

They were from inland India and had never seen the ocean. The octopus relief on the wall, not seen in this photo, has more legs than they really are but looks very vivid and alive. 

 

This one was peaceful, in the middle of a little orchard of oranges. 

 Colorful and pretty but profound message.

Wooden pieces and sticks from Rikuzen-takata, one of the most devastated areas by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, were colored and used as the material of this artwork, comprehensively entitled Disintegration and Regeneration. Yoko joined from here.

 Another scene from the same site.

 Tinnitus 

 Bridge

What does the bride connect? An artwork at an old abandoned temple.

 To be here

The artist talked to us, which made a difference. We managed to come here by bike thanks to our lucky mistake. After Yoko joined, we walked around the vicinity and came back to the port accidentally but some of the rental bikes were back and we rented them for our continued tour by bike. 

 Departure

And our tour is over. 

ANDO Museum in the Honmura district of Naoshima

 

ANDO Museum is one of the newest permanent additions to Naoshima, opened in the spring of 2014. The exterior looks like a traditional house commonly seen in the island but inside stands Ando's concrete. Besides the slanting concrete slab, Ando's two significant works are introduced inside: the Church of the Light and the Row House of Sumiyoshi. The museum uses only natural light; thus the light does a magic as it changes all the time. Under this glass cone lies basement. Go down there to find out how the basement let light in. 

Shikoku offers unforgettable memories through its nature and tradition

the Pacific Ocean at the Ashizuri area

Some of the stone steps at Kotohira Shrine

Here's one examples of a tour all around Shikoku:

In Kagawa Pref., the Ritsurin Japanese Garden and Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum should not be missed. Kotohira Shrine, which transformed itself into a pure shrine at the beginning of Meiji, was fun too but you have to tolerate 785 stone steps to the main shrine building (but there's a way to skip the first 365 by taking a taxi). You are welcome to hike up another 583 steps to visit the inner shrine. It's a challenge but you will have a feeling of conquering and achievement. The view you command after the hike will refresh yourself.

Then in Tokushima, you've gotta try crossing the vine suspension bridge. See the Yoshino River below. While reaching the vine bridge, you will enjoy looking at the gorge and rustic setting surrounding it. Another destination I fully recommend is Tairyu-ji temple which involves a dynamic aerial cable ride. The temple stands on top of the mountains. You will see pilgrims, whether they are serious or casual, visiting the Shikoku 88 temples on the looped route in Shikoku.

In Kochi, you should not miss the places associated with Ryoma and John Mung (John Manjiro or Nakahama Manjiro). They are inspiring and represent the Kochi spirit. Katsurahama beach is easy to go and good to take a walk but never go near the water. Once in a blue moon, unexpectedly violent waves would come and take you into the water. Ashizuri Misaki, though quite far from central Kochi, offers you some inspiration. Kongofuku-ji temple, one of the 88 temples on the pilgrimage route, is a must to visit. They have a garden with fabulous stones and rather interesting items including limestone pillars. Also Kochi Castle is authentic and walking up to the central citadel gives you a lot of photo opportunities and encounter with intriguing items on the castle buildings such as Ninja blockers. Kochi has a beautiful river called Shimanto. Several companies offer river cruises. Or if you are a biker, try riding a bike along the river for some distance.

Finally in Ehime, you have to bathe at the Dogo Onsen public bathhouse. If you are too timid, do not despair. Try a guided tour inside (but in Japanese). You will see the imperial quarters of the whole complex and glimpses into visitors chilling in the lounge. Matsuyama Castle is also good. Shikoku has four old castles from the Edo period which retain their original castle towers. Kochi and Matsuyama castles are major two.

There's more Shikoku has to offer: indigo dying experience will be one of them and you can bring back your dyed T-shirt or something; local food should not be missed; different kinds of natural beauties will be appreciated depending on where you are in Shikoku; combinations of the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and the Yoshino River and Shimanto River expand your natural experiences in Shikoku.

The artistic islands of Naoshima, Teshima, Inujima, and others in the Seto Inland Sea are the places you should definitely go. You can make a great tour covering these islands, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Shikoku. It will be a grand tour, away from the golden tour route Japan beginners would not like to miss.

It's a beautiful country, Japan is.  

Trail at Ashizuri Misaki lined by primeval camellia trees

Dogo Onsen public bathhouse is fun

Here's a picture of the famed Dogo Onsen bathhouse built in 1894. The photo shows the present rear of the building. The three-layered gables on the right were part of the building once exclusively for the imperial visit. Presently the imperial members stay and bathe at hotels and the imperial chamber of the bathhouse is not used anymore but the bathhouse offers a guided tour to this chamber. There's a vantage point where a great photo of the whole bathhouse including the statue of a white heron on top of the highest roof, which is not visible in this picture, can be taken. Well just go there and walk around. I wish you could find that spot!
There's a good ice cream shop in the shopping arcade, named Dolce. Their citrus sorbet is so good.

Blessing from the garden

One of the large round eggplants growing in the home garden. All this summer and at present too, regular crop of this plant has been enjoyed. Veggies for daily meals right from the garden is simply gorgeous and gives you quality life. But I am not the one to take care of them but cook and eat them for the family. I love the eating part !

Katsura hama beach

Katsura hama

The beach is a great place for moon viewing. Part of the TV program, Ryomaden (the story of Ryoma), was taken here. Kochi has always owed a lot to this romantic figure. Making up 2% of Kochi Prefecture's gross production and 40.9 billion JPY nation-wide, the economic effect of the drama Ryomaden was huge.