Shimane Prefecture

Town
Tsuwano
An old town where koi swim beside the street
Tsuwano is a small former castle town in a mountain valley of western Japan, where colorful koi, ornamental carp, swim in a stone channel running beside white-walled streets. Stroll with the fish, then step into a church with a tatami-mat floor and the old school where samurai children studied. It is about two hours from Hiroshima by shinkansen and limited express, so it suits a night's stay or a stop on a trip through western Japan.
Do
Climb spiral stairs to the top of a lighthouse
Sixteen of Japan's lighthouses, many built in the late 1800s to guide ships, are open for visitors to walk inside and climb. Wind up the narrow spiral staircase and step out onto the balcony at the top for a view of the horizon and passing ships. Entry is a small donation paid on the spot, and no booking is needed.
Do
Take tea inside a century-old storehouse
A kura is a traditional storehouse with thick earthen walls, built to keep rice, sake or family treasures safe from fire. Some old kura around Japan now hold cafes, where the heavy walls shut out the noise and you sit with tea and a homemade sweet in a hushed room. They are scattered across the country, so pick the one nearest the place you are already visiting.

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