天橋立 – Amanohashidate
Amanohashidate on the Japan Sea coast in northern Kyoto Prefecture is known as one of the three most beautiful views in Japan. I’ve also been to Miyajima in Hiroshima, but I’ve never been to Matsushima, a group of pine-studded islands in Sendai. Steadfast windswept trees jutting into the sea like the cherry in this picture and the pines of Matsushima are a common Japanese poetic allusion, and you will notice that pines in the gardens of Japanese houses are often pruned and tied to bamboo poles in an effort to guide them into stretching horizonatally to mimic a coastal tree leaning into the wind.
This view is from the Tango Peninsula (western) side of the bay. From here you are supposed to stand on a small platform, back to the sandbar, bend over and view it with your head between your legs, which is supposed to make it look like a bridge to heaven (the meaning of the kanji in the name). I think I rather preferred the views around the peninsula
Thanks for the beautiful picture.
Doug
Berkeley, CA, USA
If you do get to Matsushima, try to do so during Obon. If things have not changed in the last 10 years, they have an absolutely *fantastic* fireworks display over the water. Truly breathtaking.
That’s one of the three most beautiful spots in Japan? I gather from your writing that Miyajima is another; while Miyajima was pretty, I don’t know if I could call it “top three” in a country so full of beauty. I have the impression that Amanohashidate is only average — your camerawork can make a sidewalk glow with inner beauty, and Amanohashidate just sorta… sighs. One of my favorites places will probably always be around Hirosawa pond and Arashiyama. So peaceful, so beautiful. Perfect for a picnic or introspection.
Take into consideration that it’s a scan of a grimy old print; the scene is actually quite beautiful, but it is kind of arbitrary to assign the three greatest vistas in Japan. When I went to Miyajima, it was low tide, so instead of a beautiful torii gate in the sea, it was in the mud. I walked right up to it. bummer. I have a picture of atorii in Lake Biwa on the site that is pretty good.
I’m currently trying to convince myself that I am going to make a book of photographs of kyoto.
With a little editing of posted comments, you could actually have something there (between pictures, description, and comments). Do I need to come back and have Mr. Jameson help convince you? (Granted, that could be fun…)
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