Tottori’s Beautiful Sea and Miho Shrine

When you think of the Sea of Japan, the image that often comes to mind is a harsh, cold, and rough sea in winter. But the Sea of Japan around Tottori in summer is absolutely stunning! Bathed in bright sunlight, it boasts a rich palette of colors, from deep blue to highly transparent emerald green. Every time I visit Tottori, I feel compelled to go see the sea again.

The deep blue sea stretches out with Mt. Daisen in the distance.

The sea turns emerald green in the shallow rocky areas.

In some spots, you’ll find a beautifully gradient sea, with a shimmering emerald green stretching beyond the white sand beach, and then giving way to a deep blue ocean further out. It’s so captivating that I find myself mesmerized repeatedly while driving along the coast.

In the sea where there’s a “No Poaching” sign, if you look closely, there are so many sea urchins!

If you cross the bridge north from Sakaiminato, a peninsula extends eastward, and at its tip lies Miho Shrine, the head shrine of Ebisu-sama. I was intrigued by its architecture from photos, so I decided to make a little detour to go see it.

The magnificent Honden (main sanctuary) and Haiden (worship hall).

The impressive Haiden, said to be modeled after a boat storage shed, features an exposed beam structure with no walls or ceiling, leading directly to the Honden beyond. Whether viewed from the front or at an angle, it’s just so cool and its sheer size is truly overwhelming.

Aoi-Ishidatami Street (Blue Stone Pavement Street) next to the shrine.

Next to the shrine is a quaint stone-paved alley. It’s said that this area flourished during the Edo period as a port of call for Kitamaebune ships on their western route, with many shipping agents gathered here. The stone pavement was supposedly laid to facilitate the efficient transport of goods. Under the eaves of each house, there’s a signboard explaining the origin of its trade name and family crest, creating a really nice atmosphere.

The high-speed jet ferry heading to Okinoshima Island.

I heard there was a port nearby where ships depart for Okinoshima Island, so I decided to stop by. I really like the unique atmosphere of ports heading to remote islands. And the high-speed jet ferry to Okinoshima seemed to be exactly the same model as the one I use to go to Izu Oshima. I’d love to visit Okinoshima someday too.

Miho Seki Lighthouse also has a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal.

At Miho Seki Lighthouse, where you can gaze at Okinoshima Island itself and the ships heading there, there’s a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal, and I had a lovely lunch. It was a pleasant surprise to find such delicious food in such a secluded spot. Beyond Okinoshima Island, it seems Takeshima Island exists, and I was struck by how much information about Takeshima, including distances from Korea and Japan, was written on the map.