"What we pretend to be we often become." - Darth Krayt

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Japan trip
Day 16 - 21st June - Matsushima Bay (Part 4)

Here and there there were shops selling charms. Apparently it wasn't a temple monopoly.

Next I went to another of the islands (the one with Godaido) accessible by walking from the mainland.


Red Bridge


Godaido, open to the public once every 33 years


View through pine trees


I am amused by the shrine's dispenser vending machine presumably selling shrine-related material (apparently the thing the woman was tying to the rack - I thought you tied your wishes, not pre-printed material?)

The Japanese are not as obsessed with money as the Chinese but their temples are adept at extracting money from you. You tie the paper to the rack and wish it comes true, but this fortune is from the gods (implicitly) so why should you need to tie? Incidentally, that was the woman who was upskirted by the wind on the cruise (but who didn't seem to mind)


"Please use anyone"


Matsushima Bay Plaque


Island view


Nice drain. No, really.

To get onto the biggest (IIRC) of the islands accessible from the mainland I had to pay a toll:


"Fukuura Bridge Toll Gate... Historical Interest such as Kitchen Middens and an old Shrine of Benzaiten, the Goddess of Wealth, seduce visitors to pleasant stroll"
Err

I decided to have some ice cream first.


They had edamame (soybeans in a pod) ice cream. That sounded disgusting, but I should've tried that, since it was the closest to squid ink ice cream I'd seen (and might ever see).


In the end I settled for mango. Not as smooth and creamy as a real soft serve (colder and firmer when pressed out), but alright.


Me on Red Bridge to island


Red Bridge


Islands


From the middle of the bridge


Island shore


Moored boats


The mysterious view returns


I don't know why there're 3 ropes here. Maybe it's for efficiency - 3 people can pull them at the same time.


Guide to the view


Actual view


Map of Fukuura Island. Note that the toilet is listed as an attraction.

Like in Ueno Koen, the maps on the island kept changing orientation. Maybe it's a Japanese thing.



At one of the lookout points, I had my first mass graffiti (and the second graffiti) sighting in Japan. Tsk.

I also clambered down the slope to the beach for more intimate shots.


Near enough to swim or even wade




Seaside rendezvous


Picnic.


The Tourist Attraction Toilet. In all fairness, you have to admit that it is a nice toilet. I don't know why there's a chain though - maybe the place sees a lot of lightning.




At this point the fog was really heading in, so I decided to head to Sendai.


"Earthquake! Tsunami comes! Immediately Evacuate Quickly!" - More comforting words


Crap dispenser. It seems too many idiot gaijin use foreign coins on this one (or maybe their dispenser is lousy and can't tell Y100 coins from 1 cent-equivalent coins from elsewhere.