Travel through Japan’s Heritage
Text:Chihiro Naito
Photos:Teppei Sasaki
- A journey to trace the tales of Japan’s heritage for smooth, velvety skin
Miwa Ishihara, a freelance news presenter active in the San-in area, traveled to Iwami no Kuni. While following the tales of Japanese heritage sites, she discovered new attractions of Iwami through “tools to connect with the gods” such as Iwami Kagura and Japanese sake.
The hotel on the second day of the Iwami trip, which Miwa Ishihara started from Hamada, is the Onsen Resort KAZENOKUNI located in Sakurae-cho, Gotsu. This is a hot spring and accommodation facility located on a hill that is a 30-minute drive from the center of Gotsu. The property covers a wide area, with accommodation buildings, hot springs, cottages, glamping tents, tennis courts, a dog-run field and many more facilities that are ideal for small groups and families.
("Image courtesy of "Iwami - Nostalgic Countryside”)The nature of the spring is simply alkaline, which is soft and smooth to the touch, and is reputed to make your skin smooth and beautiful after bathing.
("Image courtesy of "Iwami - Nostalgic Countryside”)The main event of the evening was watching Iwami Kagura, so Miwa had to eat dinner beforehand. At the “MORIKAZE KITCHEN” restaurant in the hotel, you can enjoy the chef’s signature dishes in traditional Japanese courses made with local ingredients in a bright and modern interior.
*Dinner for guest
First, toast with a craft beer from the “Iwami Beer” brewery located on the grounds of this hot spring resort. This is the first drink to soothe away the fatigue of a day's travel.
“The menu features a wide variety of locally produced alcoholic beverages. It is nice to be able to taste so many delicious foods in Shimane at once, such as grilled Nodoguro (shore dotterel) with salt.”
The best part of traveling is the delicious local cuisine and the relaxing hot spring bath. At KAZENOKUNI, you can have a great experience with both.
Miwa, who had enjoyed her dinner with some drinks, was a little tipsy when she went on to the Iwami Kagura Theater “Mainoza.”
Text:Chihiro Naito
Photos:Teppei Sasaki
Miwa Ishihara
Born in Shimane Prefecture. Formerly a news presenter for San-in Chuo Television Broadcasting. Currently renowned as a freelance reporter and as a presenter, narrator, seminar lecturer, and writer. Miwa has deep knowledge of Japanese sake and is a certified SSI Kikisake-shi (a specialist in the service and sales of sake who can entertain customers appropriately). Having visited many breweries in the San-in region as an evangelist for local sake, in 2013 she published two books, “Shimane Shuraku Tanbou” and “Tottori Shuraku Tanbou,” to promote the appeal of the region’s local sake. A member of San-in Good Things Expedition.