Izumo-taisha (Shimane)

Japanese  ⇒ Nippon burari SHOT
Izumo-taisha, Izumo Grand Shrine, located in Izumo, Shimane, is one of the most ancient and important shinto shrines in Japan.
Honden, the main hall at 24 m high, is designated as a National Treasure of Japan.

Kagura-den, Kagura Hall with large shimenawa (sacred straw rope) which is 13 meters long and 5 tons in weight.

Inside of Kagura-den

The large shimenawa seen from the inside of the Kagura-den.

鏡の池, Kagami-no-Ike, a pond next to the Kagura-den.

島台の松, Shimadai-no-Matsu, a big pine tree on the Kagami-no-Ike.

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National Treasure Matsue Castle (Shimane)

Matsue Castle located in Matsue city, Shimane pref, is one of five castles in Japan designated as National Treasures.

Garden viewing from the  top of Matsue Castle.

360 degrees landscape of Matsue city can be overlooked from the top of Matsue Castle.

 A view of Lake Shinji from the top of Matsue Castle.

Yomegashima Island is the sole island in Lake Shinji.

  Horikawa Sightseeing Boat circling the castle moat.

The castle moat

The old pine trees along the moat.

　Lafcadio Hearn’s Former Residence & Memorial Museum.

The writer Lafcadio Hearn, who became one of the first Westerners to take Japanese citizenship under the name of Koizumi Yakumo.

Shiomi Nawate Street    Around here were samurai residences (buke yashiki) for a middle-class samurai in the Edo period.

 Majestic pine trees over the fence

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National Treasure Hikone Castle (Shiga)

Hikone Castle is located in Hikone-shi Shiga.

Hikone Castle is one of five castles in Japan designated as National Treasures.

Genkyu-en Garden 　　 This garden was created in 1677 by Naooki, the 4th lord.

This landscape garden has the atmosphere of the gardens in the Edo period.

 The moat of Hikone Castle.

Black Swans swimming in the moat of snow.

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