Tottori Yokai Travelogue: Izumo Part 2 (A second yokai appears!)

Let's go worship!

I'm full and a little sleepy
Passing through the large torii gate and walking along the magnificent pine tree-lined path,
I can see it! A large shrine that is said to have once towered into the sky
Even if it stands directly on the ground, its size is
The size is so large it's hard to believe it was made by people in ancient times.
In the Izumo Taisha style, we prayed with single-minded concentration, "two bows, four claps, one bow."
Usually, monsters are exorcised or exterminated.
This may depend on how they are treated, but in my case, yokai are also considered to be targets for matchmaking.
There is nothing more exciting than encountering various modern-day supernatural phenomena.
I hope you have a wonderful encounter!!!
 

Chilling Power

Since you came all the way here
As I was walking around looking for a power spot,
Located in the Kitajima National Museum, to the right of the shrine
There was an Inari shrine and a Tenjin shrine.
First, the Inari Shrine. The moss on the shrine is so divine.
It has such an amazing atmosphere! See!

And Tenjin Shrine, which is said to be the origin of the famous Issun-boshi.
Sukunahikona no Mikoto was enshrined there.
A small shrine stands alone in front of the roaring waterfall.

I felt a shiver run down my spine and my body tense up.
There's something here.
 

It's the one from Princess Mononoke!

Next, we went to the Shimane Prefectural Museum of Ancient Izumo History to learn about the history of Shimane.
I decided to touch it firmly.
Shimane seems to be a major steel manufacturing area, and in the steel manufacturing history section,
Something like this

Ahh!!! I've seen this before!
Ghibli Ghibli! Mononoke Mononoke!
This is the scene where Ashitaka helps the ladies at the Tatara Factory and becomes very popular!
I was a little excited, but we were just two guys traveling.
It's exciting without being too giddy.
Try riding the bellows for yourself!
…..it was less challenging than I thought it would be…
 

Another monster?!

There is an explanation corner about ancient tombs, bronze bells, and bronze swords.
Here it is again. Shimane's explanatory monster
She's a guide at the history museum.
This person is extremely knowledgeable! And very passionate!
It's so easy to understand and full of passion!
Such was his passion that he even criticized the items excavated in other prefectures.
In other words, the love for Shimane is overflowing.
I would have just casually watched it and thought, "Hmm..."
Each corner is a completely different experience making for a fun social study tour.
I see. Historical museums are filled with people who are passionate about their hometowns.
I realized that it could be so much fun having everyone go around with me.
His explanations are concise, more detailed than anyone else's, and above all, heartfelt.
Somehow, I felt like I was starting to like Shimane too.
I felt as if I was under a spell.
This is a true guide! Or rather, a monster!
 

Finish off with a visit to Shimane Winery

Next up was a winery! A friend on Facebook recommended it, so we decided to stop by.

2km from Izumo Taisha Shrine? I thought it was within walking distance, so I walked.
Looking back, this was my first mistake.
It was surprisingly far away. My friend also went bird watching, which is his hobby.
So it took longer than I expected.
(Thanks to that, I was able to see some egrets and thrushes, so that was good.)
After more than 30 minutes, I arrived at the station, just as I was starting to sweat.
As soon as we arrived, we quickly toured the factory.
Gulping down drinks at the tasting corner (nasty customers) will make all your fatigue disappear.
Wow, the sweet Shimane wines are delicious.
The dry one is too easy to drink, like water, so it somehow feels unsatisfying.
This is the one I recommend!MARIE"The faint scent of green apples
I think a lot of women in particular would get hooked on this.
However, there were no local yokai here (laughs).
What if there was a monster in the tasting booth explaining the products?
Sales are likely to increase! That's what I thought from a monster's perspective.
...After drinking for a while, I was about to go home.
I missed the bus and had to walk back to Taisha again.
When I got back, I ate the specialty "Zenzai" in a fit of rage...
Umm….what is this, it's amazing, it's delicious!
(Zenzai made with Nitta rice is the best.)
I managed to regain more than the amount of walking I had done.
 
Ichibata Electric Railway, commonly known as Bataden
I have never been on such a charming train.
Hmm? Isn't this the one with No-Face and Chihiro?

 
After walking for more than an hour, the group was exhausted.
In the soft twilight time at dusk
I headed to my accommodation feeling like I was either dreaming or waking up.
According to my friend, the stationmaster was apparently a famous character.
We couldn't meet this time. We'll have to wait until next time.
 

Monsters and Gods

Just before going to sleep, I touched on the history of gods and thought about monsters.
All I could think was that there was a solemn atmosphere there.
Both monsters and gods have human-like features.
I get angry, I laugh, I cry, I'm happy, I get jealous
Gods and monsters in Japan
Generally speaking, it's something that's close to home.
Even though he is a god, he makes mistakes.
Some of them look no different from monsters.
It all started with the skin of the Inaba White Rabbit, now completely red.
Yamata no Orochi, Izanami, Yomotsushikome, etc.
There is nothing strange about these things even if they are considered to be monsters.
The theory that monsters are the corrupted form of gods also made sense.
People often say that Japan is a non-religious, atheist, or multi-religious country.
Not at all. First of all, based on Buddhism,
Some people worship various things, including monsters, as "gods"
It is a folk custom that has been worshipped.
The origins of these stories lie in tales about gods and monsters.
On the first day, I was able to experience Izumo Taisha Shrine first-hand.
The Yamato blood flowing within me began to boil.
Perhaps this power will bring you closer.
Izumo Taisha is exactly
 
I am Japanese!
 
It was a place where I could feel this deeply.
I fell in love with Shimane after just one day.
 
Continued in Tottori