Japan 6.5: Yonago's huge insects, some magnificent gardens, and Matsue

    After arriving in Yonago, I simply felt too exhausted to do the Mount Daisen hike, so I decided to take the day off to relax.  I eventually did go out for a short while to check out the Yonago Waterbird Park.  Reviews were unclear as to whether you could actually walk around the wetlands, so I kept my expectations in check.  

  Before going into the building there, I walked the path, hoping for views of the water, but shortly ran into blocked off side channels and a dead end.  While walking back, I caught sight of an insect that looked interesting.  It attached itself to a tree that was absolutely swarming with large insects.  I stayed there until the smaller insects buzzing around me became too annoying.

  The building had a small entry fee, and had some information about the surrounding wildlife, but only offered screened views of the wetlands, with spotting scopes.  The only thing out there within view  were a few ducks.

  The next day we left towards Matsue.  Our first stop was to do the short hike up to see the Gassantoda Castle Ruins.  There wasn't really anything to see of the structure, but the views were nice.

  Just five minutes away was the Adachi Museum of Art.  The museum not only had fantastic and varied art, but it claims it has won best garden of the year for twenty years in a row.  The museum itself did not allow photography of the art, but it did allow photography of the gardens.  You were not allowed into the gardens, but able to view it from the windows and a few outside observation areas.  Miles surprisingly enjoyed some of the art in the museum.  We stopped for a short snack in the cafe with views of one side of the garden.

  The last stop of the day was to the Yuushien, a peonie garden.  It was a pleasant, short, circular walk.

  It was difficult to find a hotel in Matsue that had an easily accessible parking lot.  I ended up going with Hotel Ichibata, just a little west of town, with the castle just north and the rest of town to the south.  It was a very nice and spacious hotel, with an absolutely incredible buffet breakfast, along with a nice onsen.  We would be staying for three nights.  

  The first day, I took Miles out with me.  We took a circular path, beginning with Gesshoji Temple.  Situated amongst local housing, it was a fairly large complex with monuments, gardens, and a large turtle statue. 

  Afterwards, we walked toward the Shiomi Nawate Street.

  There are some former residences on this street, but having been to many of them before, I chose to walk the path with beautiful architecture, and stopped inside one second floor handicraft shop.  

  The final destination was the castle complex.  We quickly visited a spot that I cannot find the name for on Google maps.  As it was empty, Miles tried to spring across the path, but was yelled at by an attendant nearby, which did not make him happy.

  Just down the road, we visited the Jozan Inari Shrine, filled with hundreds of fox statues.  We had the place all to ourselves.  I tried to convince Miles that a nearby cat crying out was actually a fox spirit.  He did not believe me.

    The castle itself gated behind two large doors.  We paid the fee to visit the castle and were given plastic bags to carry our shoes while we walked around.  Like the other castles I have visited, each floor was fairly small and mostly empty, with each level a fairly steep climb up a ladder to an even smaller room.  There was very little to see, but the top made it worth it.  There were beautiful views on all sides.