
Laughter is All You Need
(A Zen day in Okuizumo )
Hello!
This is Nagisa, a Tomodachi guide from the San’in area.
“Tomodachi” means “friend”.
I enjoy showing you around my lovely hometown as a friend and making memorable moments together throughout the trip!
Last weekend, I have got a chance to spend a day in Okuizumo with 2 friends from Indonesia. It was the first time for them to come to the San’in area and I am glad I could show them the very best of Okuizumo!
For the first stop, we went to Obara Dam.
We enjoyed beautiful mountains and a vast lake spreading out before us, which was chosen as the best landscape in Shimane in 2012.
This place is literally surrounded by nothing but mountains, a lake and sky. If your life is feeling hectic, I recommend you to come here and take a deep breath to maintain your inner peace.
We took a lot of pictures, because why not!
Then, we headed to “Oni-no-shitaburui gorge”, which is designated as a National Site of Scenic Beauty.
Look at those stones formed naturally by a rapid stream. Aren’t they just magnificent?
We were very lucky to be able to enjoy the colorful trees, which you can only see in the early autumn.
We took a stroll along the walking trail and appreciated the spectacular natural surroundings while chatting and laughing so loud that it seemed to almost echo around us.
We had a tea break in the middle of the mountains.
What a great day to have a cup of tea in front of this beauty!
How Zen it is!
Thanks to Aisa for preparing tea and cups with lovely messages on them for each of us!
It was an especially cold and windy day. Your messages and hot tea kept us warm!
For the last stop, we went to watch the sunset at Tataranoie Rice Field.
Okuizumo was once famous for iron manufacturing, and the people here made rice fields by effectively utilizing the cut-over land. Now, Nita Rice is one of the regional specialties in Okuizumo.
It was, unfortunately, cloudy and the sunset was not clear enough to see well.
However, we shared a lot of laughs and conversation, which make the trip memorable and precious.
Before they got on the bus, we promised to meet again in Hiroshima.
Hopefully see you soon!