Summer in the shadow of the Mountains

Now that things are finishing here in Tottori, one of our teachers has decided he should orient us to the Tottori region. A trifle late, I'm sure you can all agree, but I am not objecting since he is allowed to use a University van to drive us to various crazy places. Today we went to Uradome beach, and then to Amadaki (which simply means rain waterfall, I think), where we took many pointless pictures. Uradome beach is quite stunning, and can be viewed in the associated Illustrations. The sea at Uradome is completely still, so still that a trio of girls were floating about 300m from the beach on big blow-up rings without any fear of losing control - probably they wouldn't even get their hair wet if they fell out either, since the sea was so shallow. This sort of sea is just fine with me.

The waterfalls were beautiful too, although our teacher worked us into a fine story with tales of the bears which roam the area looking for hapless foreigners to eat. It was also very hot, although around the waterfall it was a lot cooler. Near the waterfall was a little buddha shrine, a picnic area and a famous tofu restaurant (which we didn't visit). Amadaki is another example of how rapidly Japan becomes wild after one leaves the cities - this place is half an hours' drive from Tottori on winding country roads (maybe 17 kms as the kurasu flies), but completely silent and haunted by bears and wild boar. There is a winding track which leads up to a 1300m mountain top (we didn't walk this - it was too hot), and the stream is completely clean and free of rubbish. If one has a car in this country it is very easy to do a morning jaunt into the wilds, wrestle a few bears and be back in time for rice cakes and tea at lunch. I shall have to try it someday ...