About the 12areas in San’in, Japan
Tottori Sand Dunes and the San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark Area
［Tottori City, Iwami Town, Tottori Prefecture］
On the Uradome Coast are San’in Kaigan Geopark, which was certified in 2008 as a part of Global Geoparks Network, and Tottori Sand Dunes, which have rugged dunes with a height difference of more than 40 meters. The Geopark Area is also blessed by an abundance of seafood that includes: Matsuba crabs, Swordtip Squid, and Iwagaki Oysters found at Ajiro Fishing Port and Tottori Port. The myth titled “The White Rabbit of Inaba” that is set in this area has been translated and published overseas.
Local Railway and Green Tourism
［Tottori City, Yazu Town, Chizu Town, Wakasa Town, Tottori Prefecture］
This area consists of countryside scenery, fields and mountains, as well as remains of old buildings and signposts from lodges and restaurants that stood in a row for travellers heading to Kyoto or Edo (currently Tokyo.) The railway facilities of the Wakasa Railway Line, with its nostalgic atmosphere, have been designated a National Tangible Cultural Property. Vacation rentals are also available, so you can experience the rural lifestyle of Japan.
Mt.Mitokusan and Misasa Onsen, Japan Heritage sites, and Nashi-no Hana Onsen Village Area
［Kurayoshi City, Misasa Town, Hokuei Town, Yurihama Town, Kotoura Town, Tottori Prefecture］
Mt. Mitoku, a Japan Heritage site, is a holy place for the practitioners of Shugendo(a religion unique to Japan centered on ascetic, mountain-dwelling practices.) By entering Sanbutsuji Temple’s Nageiredo Hall, which is situated on a steep mountain surface, your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and consciousness will be purified. At the Misasa Onsen hot springs, your six senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and emotion will be soothed. Hokuei Town is the hometown of Gosho Aoyama, the author of the world famous series Detective Conan. You can see bronze statues and other monuments of the characters there.
Sports resort:Mount Daisen and Kaike Area
[Yonago City, Daisen Town, Hoki Town, Nanbu Town, Hiezu Village, Kofu Town, Tottori Prefecture］
Mount Daisen （1,709 meters high） is ranked among the top three in Japan’s Beautiful Mountain Rankings, along with Mt. Fuji, and is a celestial mountain representative of western Japan. You can enjoy nature throughout the four seasons by climbing, touring by bicycle or skiing. Kaike Onsen, from where one can see Mt. Daisen, is the largest hot spring resort in the San’in region. From this place you can sightsee throughout the region.
Sakaiminato and Mihonoseki Area, with Yokai and seafood
［Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture; Matsue City Mihonoseki Town, Shimane Prefecture］
The area has one of the most largest fishing ports in Japan, which means there are many restaurants and a market serving seafood from the Sea of Japan, such as: crabs and tuna. Sakaiminato City is the birthplace of Shigeru Mizuki, the author who drew GeGeGe no Kitaro, the comic series on yokai （Japanese traditional specters.） Mizuki Shigeru Road is a popular tourist spot with bronze statues of yokai characters.
Matsue Castle and Adachi Museum of Art Area
［Matsue City, Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture］
From one of the most admired beautiful evening views from Lake Shinji, to the National Treasure Matsue Castle, and the nearby Buke Yashiki (former samurai residence) there are many tourist spots to learn about the culture and history of Japan. At the internationally well-known Adachi Museum of Arts and it famous gardens, you can appreciate the works of iconic Japanese- painters and artists, modern and contemporary.
Ancient Izumo and Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, The Place Where the Gods Gather
［Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture］
In Izumo, during the October in the lunar calendar （differs depending on year, but usually from late October to early December in Gregorian calendar） is called “kamiari-zuki” （the month of gods）. Which is when the myriad of gods throughout Japan are said to gather at Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine from all over Japan to meet about “en-musubi”. In this area, you can experience the world of Japanese myths through shrines, temples and a number of excavated ancient artifacts, which are the roots to the Japanese spirit.
Area of Tatara Iron Making and the Remnants of Iron and Fire
［Unnan City, Okuizumo Town, Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture; Nichinan Town, Hino Town, Tottori Prefecture］
From over 1,300 years ago, iron has been produced using high quality iron sand that has been burned for more than three days and three nights using charcoal made from the wood of the surrounding mountains. This method is called tatara iron making, which was designated a Japan Heritage in April 2016. In this area, people still make “tamahagane” which is the material used to make Japanese swords. Many buildings and historic remains create an atmosphere remnant of ancient times.
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine （UNESCO World Heritage Site） Area
［Oda City, Iinan Town, Misato Town, Shimane Prefecture］
About 500 years ago, one-third of the world’s silver supply was produced in Japan and a majority of that was mined from Iwami Ginzan. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the first industrial ruins in Asia and was highly praised for its environmental friendliness and harmony with nature. The 1300year-old Yunotsu Onsen and places alike from flourishing times even now remain in the townscape.
Area to Experience the Preserved Ancient Japanese Culture and Iwami Kagura
［Gotsu City, Hamada City, Masuda City, Kawamoto Town, Onan Town, Yoshika Town, Shimane Prefecture］
From the beautiful coastline of the Sea of Japan to the nature-rich mountains, Iwami Kagura has been popularly performed. Although it was originally a religious performance used to entertain the Japanese deities, the dance is popular in the Iwami region as a theatrical performance to entertain everyone from children to the elderly. In relation to an 8th century poet called Kakinomoto-no Hitomaro, even now, you can experience the ancient culture that still lives on.
The Streets of “Little Kyoto” Tsuwano（Japan Heritage Site）and Hagi（World Heritage Site）
［Tsuwano Town, Shimane Prefecture ; Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture］
In Tsuwano, using the 100 Landscapes of Tsuwano (drawings of the scenery and features from the mid-19th century), you can have fun strolling around town comparing the cultural assets that remain today to the scenery of when it was town that flourished around Tsuwano Castle. Hagi City is known for turning out many great men like Ito Hirobumi who was the first Prime Minister of Japan, and Yoshida Shoin who was his teacher; while also being known for the Hagi Reverberatory Furnace and other sites that are registered as World Heritage Sites from Japan’s Meiji Restoration.
Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark Area
［Ama Town, Nishinoshima Town, Chibu Village, Okinoshima Town, Shimane Prefecture］
The Oki Islands were certified as the sixth Global Geopark in Japan in 2015 （first in September 2013 and then in 2015 in accordance with the system transfer to UNESCO） for its magnificent natural scenery, precious plants, and traditional culture; all of which are preserved today by the local communities. This archipelago consists of four inhabited islands in the Sea of Japan to the north of the Shimane peninsula, as well as more than 180 uninhabited islands. Here, you can enjoy the magnificent island scenery with an ecosystem unique to isolated islands, traditional arts handed down through generations on the islands, and fresh abundant seafood such as oysters and fish.
