<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nShoji Ueda<\/strong> was born in 1913 in Sakaiminato, a birthplace shared with another famous Japanese artist, Mizuki Shigeru<\/strong>, the yokai illustrator. From the age of 16, when he received his first camera, Ueda was fascinated with the still image. He founded a local camera club with 3 other photographers as a teenager. Ueda eventually found interest in his work from several exhibitions held in Tokyo, where he attended university, though he opened his own studio back in Sakaiminato. Ueda had a great love for the area he grew up in, and nearly all of his famous work was shot in Tottori or its neighboring prefectures. In particular, Ueda is known for black and white portraits shot in the Tottori Sand Dunes, a mixture of realism and surrealism that still fascinates audiences to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\nPhotographs made possible with permission from the Shoji Ueda Museum.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe stark minimalism and human emotion of Ueda’s work stand in contrast to the views of the scenery from his namesake museum. The location of the museum was selected based on the surrounding landscapes. The galleries of the museum are separated by open spaces with still ponds, within which you can see the grandeur of Mt. Daisen and its reflection on the water. Though the top of Mt. Daisen was obscured by clouds the day we visited, if anything, it only added to the dramatic view. Sitting in front of the window, I took a deep breath, as if I was breathing in the landscape framed before me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhether or not you love museums should not be a deciding factor in visiting this amazing place. As a photographer, I found Ueda’s work inspiring, but beyond that, the building is designed in a way to augment the view of Mt. Daisen, not a small feat for a mountain so grand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note: <\/strong>Photography is not allowed in the photo galleries, but the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography graciously made an exception for me to include images from the galleries in this article.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere To Stay and How To Get Around the Daisen Area<\/h2>\n\n\n\n There are many choices for accommodations around Daisen, from Yonago city hotels such as the Harvest Inn Yonago<\/strong> adjacent to the train station to the beachfront hotels and ryokan of Kaike Onsen. But if you want to stay on the mountain, most visitors opt for the Royal Hotel Daisen<\/strong>. With either a mountain or seaside view from your room and proximity to many of Daisen’s attractions, the Royal Hotel Daisen gets many visitors. Though a bit dated in decor, the service here remains impeccable, and the rooms, by Japanese standards, are enormous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are several options to get around Daisen, including the Daisen Loop Bus<\/strong>, which stops at all the attractions mentioned in this article as well as several others, plus popular hotels. You can take a taxi to individual locations, or you can charter a taxi for a tour, which we have a great tip to save you a lot of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTransportation Secret Tip: Chartered Taxi Tours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Here is an incredible money-saving tip for foreign passport holders traveling as a family or group. You can book a chartered taxi or taxi van on 8 different course options at a savings of 60% or more! As an example, a 5-hour tour consisting of 5 Daisen area attractions would typically cost a group of 4 people about 31,000 yen, but you can book it as a foreign tourist for 12,000 yen. For a group of 9 in a larger vehicle, the regular price is 43,000 yen, but the discount price is 16,000. For the convenience of having your own transportation and the cost per person, this deal is hard to beat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can view information about the destinations on the Yonago website<\/a>, but the special fare is not displayed as it is only available to foreign passport holders. Just keep in mind the price will be at least 60% less than what is listed. You can either call the company to reserve a taxi using the Interpretation center number (092-687-8008 within Japan or +81-92-687-8008 from an International number) or visit the Yonago-City Tourism Information center<\/strong> at Yonago station<\/strong>, and they will help you book it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nYonago Tourist Information Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou can reach Yonago and Daisen as I did, as part of a multi-day adventure from Hiroshima by bus<\/strong>, also visiting Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine<\/strong> and Matsue City<\/strong> with its iconic castle. The special bus fare to Matsue from Hiroshima is just 500 yen for foreign tourists, but if you prefer to travel directly between Yonago and Hiroshima instead, that bus fare is also discounted at just 2,000 yen. Yonago also has an airport which has convenient connections to major Japanese and international cities, including Tokyo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTonight, we return to Hiroshima by inter-city bus where I will begin the last leg of my adventure tomorrow, starting with an island in the Seto Inland Sea home to a population of rabbit inhabitants!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n