There are two (or maybe three) places around here that I still haven’t been to. The reason I never went is that I knew full well there isn’t much to see compared to their reputation. Still, I’d have to go at some point, so this time, when my schedule got messed up and left me with loads of free time, I went.
The bridge on the way to the Sand Museum.
It was really overcast. It drizzled on and off, too.. For a museum tucked away in a corner of the countryside, they’d done it up pretty nicely..
Nima Sand Museum
This place became famous through Sunadokei (“Hourglass”), a manga that was made into both a film and a TV drama. I bet a few people back in Korea know it. The film was really well made, too. I found it moving, which made me want to visit all the more.
One day’s worth of sand
Kind of romantic, isn’t it.
One year’s worth of sand
It’s a model.
The world’s largest one-year hourglass, up in the ceiling
They say it’s an hourglass that gets turned over once a year.. It was smaller than I expected.. Apparently it weighs a whole ton.. but it wasn’t very impressive. Admission is 650 yen, and it felt a bit thin for that.. Still, since there isn’t much else to do around here, more people were coming to see it than I expected.
Kotogahama Beach
It’s a beach famous for its singing sand – it showed up in the manga too – and because it was raining that day the sand didn’t sing, but it was nice and quiet.. Then again, coming out to a beach with nobody on it is a bit.. A beach really needs some bikini beauties.. *cough*..
A roadside rest stop on the national highway on the way back
Having no one around is sometimes good and sometimes bad.. It’s nice to see a view like this once in a while, but every day would be a bit much..
A swallows’ nest..
Honestly, a swallows’ nest under the eaves of your own house is a bit of a nuisance, since you have to clean up after them.. Still, it’s lovely to look at. Living alongside nature, you could say.. Things like eco and environmental friendliness are bound to have two sides to them.. We need to live a little more leisurely.