{"id":80053,"date":"2021-03-22T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=80053"},"modified":"2024-11-25T22:17:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T13:17:48","slug":"4-day-itinerary-shimane-prefecture-from-iwami-ginzan-to-tsuwano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/4-day-itinerary-shimane-prefecture-from-iwami-ginzan-to-tsuwano\/","title":{"rendered":"A 4-day Itinerary in Shimane Prefecture: from Iwami Ginzan to Tsuwano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Riding northwards into Shimane Prefecture<\/strong>, I was treated to a whistle-stop tour of what the region had in store for me. The train took me through the ancient samurai towns, forested valleys, and beautiful coastal scenery, which I would be exploring in reverse over the next four days on a rural road trip, discovering the stories and people which make this pocket of Japan unique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The locals of Iwami \u2014 Shimane Prefecture\u2019s westernmost region \u2014 <\/strong>pride themselves on preserving the old ways of life. It\u2019s a place to tune in to the rhythms of the authentic Japanese countryside and discover some of the most unspoiled tourist spots in the country. Whether by rail, bus, or car, you\u2019ll find plenty to enjoy here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we cut a winding path through the scenic cedar woodland towards Mt Sanbe<\/strong>, I had no idea that there was actually another forest hidden away beneath our feet. That\u2019s because the mountain is actually a dormant volcano, which has erupted seven times in the past. The most recent one, around 4000 years ago, caused a gigantic flow of ash down the valley to the north, creating a fully organic Pompeii of ancient buried cedars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get a look into this subterranean lost world, we stopped off at Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest Museum<\/strong>. This marks the site that the lost forest was officially rediscovered by a farmer in 1983. The museum boasts two deep silos in which the earth and ash have been excavated, leaving only the millennia-old trees behind. Both are encircled by walkways, allowing you to climb down 13m below ground to observe them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
Day 1: Exploring Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Historic Surroundings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sanbe Azukihara Buried Forest Museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n