It’s time to go back on the road! After a long break in Kyoto, I’m headed towards the north along the Japanese Sea. I visited the mountains, now let see the sea!
Kinosaki onsen
Onsens are a tradition in Japan. You can find these hot springs almost everywhere.
So far, I had the chance to go to public baths but not the traditional onsen with water naturally warm thanks to volcanic activity.
But I’ve changed that this week by going to the small village on Kinosaki onsen.
As the name let it guess, it is the home of not one, but seven onsens!
The place where I stayed was an old Japanese house and the host lend me a yukata (a summer kimono), with getas (wooden sandals) and a furoshiki (bag made of cloth).
I wandered around the city in traditional clothes, as many visitors do.
Kinosaki Onsen at night time
It was a really pleasing to go from onsen to onsen to try them all.
Kyoto by the sea
Kyoto by the sea is the name of the region just above Kyoto, close to the Japanese sea.
I visited two towns, Amanohashidate and Ine. It took three hours to reach but it was worth it!
Amanohashidate is very well known for its long sandbar joining both sides of the bay.
Ine Funaya
Ine is a small fishermen village, famous for its Funaya, boat houses. it is so iconic that many Japanese movies and series are filmed here.
The village is along the bay and I did a small boat tour to really appreciate the architecture.
I also fed seagulls!
Personal interpretation of Funaya
Castles
After the castle of Matsumoto, I went to Himeji to paint its castle.
Named the White Heron due to its white color, it is truly an impressive castle.
Himeji castle
When climbing inside, you realised it is mostly empty because it was used as a military stronghold. However the garden around and the corridor in the fortifications were used as habitation, and gave a good impression about what it was to live in such a place.
But it is not the only castle I saw this week! I went to Okayama that has one also.
Not as impressive, it is still a gorgeous building, in black and gold tint.
Okayama Castle
Naoshima island
Finally, it was time to do a break from old heritage and visit a more modern island.
Naoshima is located in the Seto Inland Sea and hosts many contemporary museums and outdoor pieces from well known artists, like Niki de Saint Phalle and Yayoi Kusama.
Since it rained all day, I took refuge in the museums.
The most impressive one was the Chichu Art Museum.
Entirely underground except for huge light wells, it hosts several expositions.
Kabocha from Yayoi Kusama
From Claude Monet with piecesof the water lilies series to James Turrell with breathtaking light games, and finally Walter De Maria, the collection was really varied.
Since pictures were not allowed in the museum, the image on the right is not mine but belongs to the museum.
Time/Timeless/No Time From Walter de Maria
It’s hard to put into word the feeling to walk into these walls but definitively a museum I’ll remember.
Next week I’ll go even more toward the west, to the Chūgoku region. I have more islands of the Seto Inland sea to visit!