Appreciate the Small Things

Hello!
This is Nagisa, a Tomodachi guide in San’in area.
“Tomodachi” means “friend”.
I enjoy showing you around my lovely hometown as a friend and having memorable moments together!
Let’s explore San’in together!!

Last Sunday, I was lucky enough to spend a day in Okuizumo with a friend from China.
He is a master of solo traveling and has already been to almost all parts of Japan all alone.

We have learnt the secret of enjoying solo travel from him.

We went to the “Oni-no-shitabrui gorge”, which was designated as a National Site of Scenic Beauty.

Look at the colors of the mountain!
This view of the colorful mountain is only available from late October to early November.

And then, we found the biggest rock sticking out!
You can see the size of the rock here (I was really scared of it rolling off…).

Can you see the ivy here?
It might be difficult to see but there is ivy coiling around the trunk of a tree.

He found this and we talked how great the nature here is..!

We went to the Itohara Memorial in the afternoon.

The Itohara family once prospered as one of the 9 Iron Masters in the area and owned this enormous residence with its gorgeous garden.

There is also a museum where you can learn the history of the Itohara family and iron manufacturing.

This whole place is a National Tangible Cultural Heritage Site.

Look at the gorgeous leaves colored with red and yellow!

He was happy to find a mantis just outside of the garden.
Can you see the little baby next to him?

Finally, we went to the “Ooe-no-sato residence” to make rice balls with Mr. and Mrs. Wakuri!

We had a lovely time together chatting and laughing.

The rice is called “Nita rice” and is harvested in Okuizumo by Mr. Wakuri.
It was new rice (harvested in this autumn) and it was so delicious that my guest ate 4 big rice balls!

We enjoyed the rice with the scenery of the rice field in front of us.
If this is not a luxury time, I don’t know what is.

At the end of the day, I found out the key of solo travelling.

“Appreciate every little thing.”

There are a lot of things to see and appreciate in this world that we take for granted and easily miss out on.

You might want to stop for a while and take a look around.
You will find a new world.