28/03/18 I arrived yesterday in Matsue with the express bus -there is a deal exclusively for tourists – 500 yen. Despite me getting on the wrong bus again, as I realised quickly enough, the driver was too nice and dropped me at the next stop where by bus was coming anyway. 3h on the highway, nothing special to report, as the scenary was just the highway surrounded by trees. I only went to a cafe upon arrival where they serve white chocolate with some kind of pink syrup and green tea powder, weird enough to get me curious. It was very sweet as expected, but not bad. The hostel is litterally next to the main train station in Matsue, very convenient. As I have done a lot of walking in the last few days, I am happy to rest and work a bit on the computer to finally get the blog online. I went shopping for groceries so I won’t spend too much on food, to stay under budget as I will have to travel a lot in the next few days (and yes travel is quite expensive in Japan). Knut, the hostel, is also a bar/restaurant, very modern with wooden fresh deco. The dorms, equiped with fancy electronic blue lighted doorlocks, are on multiple levels and there is one just for women. Overheated as always, I share the room with 5 other girls. The one sleeping below me (another bunk bed) does not make any effort whatsoever to be quiet so she woke me a few times last night. The good thing is that by 8 I was fully awake so I could take my time to have breakfast in the community room (not so welcoming, as there is no natural light and no decoration at all). I check the brochures I took from the station, the area of Izumo looks nice, and I find a travel pass that allows me to take a few transports in the area for 3 days without limit. I caught a bus to Shinjiko Onsen train station, from there, a train to Kawato and there change to get to Izumotaisha-mae station. From there, the shrine is 10min walk, and I have a chance to check the restaurants ans shops on the main street leading to the shrine park. The temple of Izumo Taisha is home to the god of relationships and marriages, and people travel across the country to pray here every year,for a good match with a partner. It was built before early 700s.
On my way back to Matsue, the brochure says that the sunset is nice and famous along Lake Shinji, so I take the lakeline bus and stop at the art museum to meet other tourists who came to take their best shot at the sun. Nice view indeed, I just wish there were some clouds this time for the photos, it always looks better with something in the sky. If I have the time tomorrow I might check the Matsue Castle before heading to Osaka.
