07 Jun 2023

Immersive Beauty at the Adachi Museum of Art

Today was a day for taking steps - a lot of steps, as Heritage Adventurer arrived at the port of Sakaiminato for our visit to Mount Daisen and later Matsue.

The journey to Mount Daisen was via a landscape of city, 'suburbs', and country. We travelled up the slopes to the start of an easy but steady ascent, walking through lovely nature among the Japanese 'cedar' trees. It was a pilgrimage from shrine to shrine up the holy mountain while the Tori gates, Buddhist statuary, babbling stream, cicadas and calling birds all contributed to the feeling of reverence for this holy place.

Lunch options were both aboard or ashore. At Matsue we continued walking, this time, from floor to floor through one of the few remaining original castles in Japan. The formidable rock walls, 'stone dropping' windows, arrow and gun slots, and steep stairways immersed us in what it would be like to have challenged the castle's defences. The structure itself was impressive, with pillars and beams exposed, sporting an incredible view over the city and moat worth the climb.

After an active day of walking it was nice to see that the Adachi Museum of Art was a gentle stroll and change of pace. Having been voted The Most Beautiful Garden in Japan for 20 years running, and housing an astounding collection of traditional and modern Japanese art, it was hard to know where to look next. The windows showed garden as art, and the galleries showcased paintings as art. A wonderful contrast and convergence.

Back aboard Heritage Adventurer we proceeded with another nightly recap and a preview of tomorrow's day at Hagi. We were delighted about having an extra, well-earned course with dinner.

Image on file (c): C.Finch