Welcoming family to our countryside corner is always a treat for us. But when the visitors are first-timers to Japan, it is an extra treat awaiting. Not only do we get to help introduce one’s first experiences of the wonders of this beautiful country, but we also get to relive the same wonder and excitement we had when we first came to Japan.
Living in Japan for the six years as Jesse and I have, it can be easy to get acclimatized to the ways of Japan. Of how there is a vending machine on almost every corner, even in these rural parts of Japan. How well-maintained the streets are. How the rice fields sway like a vibrant green wave as a stray cool wind gently cools us in the summer heat. But having the excitement of first-timers so close by allows us to see Japan through their eyes and relive the wonder of our own first experiences here.
During their visit to our rural area of Japan, Jesse’s family got to experience the unique countryside perspective of Japan. We took them to see the local monkeys, enjoyed some BBQs, enjoyed refreshing river swims, and explored some of the region’s captivating attractions. The video showcases the highlights of these attractions:
📍Underwater Observation Tower
The Ashizuri Underwater Observation Tower, built in the 1980s, may look like a villain’s hideout, but it’s actually a natural aquarium. It’s a super cool structure built into the water so you can see the natural sea life. I think everyone, from kids to grown-ups, turned to their childlike wonder as schools of fish swam by. We ended up spending more time than I thought we would, hunting for the tiny blowfish doing its thing and even catching sight of a sea turtle popping out of the water.
📍Kongofukuji Temple
Kongofukuji Temple is one of the famous 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the furthest south of Shikoku. We arrived just in time for a busload of pilgrims in their customary white jackets, triangular hats, and bells forming at the foot of the main hall, chanting the customary Heart Sutra — an experience I am glad my family got to see.
I would have also loved to have taken the family to the rocky bluff of Cape Ashizuri nearby. On a previous trip two years prior, Jesse and I walked through the trails under the canopy of low-hanging trees that gave us shade down to its heart-shaped natural cave of Hakusan-domon. But in this summer heat, we opted to go swimming at the beach at our next destination.
📍Kashiwajima Beach
We decided to escape the summer heat by driving over an hour to Kashiwajima Beach for a swim, rather than spending more time outside. Despite the long journey, especially with our two kids in tow, the white sand beach and clear blue waters made the trip worthwhile for us as Canadians. This beach is usually crowded during the peak season, but since it was only June and considered too early for other travelers to swim, we had the entire beach to ourselves. We took Pancake, off the leash and enjoyed splashing around. We even had the chance to see a manta ray!
📍Doi Pearl
I’ve always been really excited about the idea of visiting the Doi Pearl farm in Uwajima, a family-owned business run by the Doi family. They farm a special kind of oyster in the coastal waters while also providing visitors with more in-depth experiences, like making jewelry, learning about how they farm the oysters, and learning how to tell the different qualities of oysters.
In our experience, the Doi family brought out a bunch of oysters, and each family member got to choose one to open and see what pearl was inside. As an extra treat, there was an option to turn the pearl into a custom piece of jewelry for a small extra cost. One of our friends, Jesse, generously gave me his pearl, and I was able to create a beautiful pair of earrings for myself. It was such a memorable and delightful experience!
