Snowy Mount Daisen and the Magnificent Ogamiyama Shrine
Today, I took a drive out to Mount Daisen in Tottori Prefecture with Miho, the wonderful host I've been staying with in Shimane.
Even in February, Mount Daisen was still deep in snow, creating a breathtakingly beautiful winter landscape.
We visited Ogamiyama Shrine, located near the base of the mountain.
The natural stone approach to this shrine is apparently the longest of its kind in Japan.
Walking down the snow-covered path, you are eventually greeted by a massive shrine building radiating a solemn and powerful atmosphere. Inside, the ceiling is adorned with spectacular paintings.
The most striking is the "happo-nirami" (all-directional glaring) dragon, painted in such a way that its eyes seem to follow you no matter where you stand—
it was truly overwhelming and magnificent.
Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya
Situated on the sacred slopes of Mount Daisen, Ogamiyama Shrine is a monumental center of mountain worship featuring the longest natural stone-paved approach in Japan. The shrine’s inner sanctuary, or Okumiya, is a grand wooden masterpiece that blends seamlessly with the ancient cedar forests, offering travelers a powerful spiritual journey through breathtaking mountain scenery and historic Shugendo traditions.
Entering Conan Town
After the shrine, we made our way to Hokuei Town.
This is the hometown of Gosho Aoyama, the creator of the famous anime and manga "Detective Conan", and the entire town is dedicated to it.
The local station is officially nicknamed "Conan Station," and you can find Conan statues and illustrations scattered everywhere. It’s incredibly rare to see a town so thoroughly immersed in a single piece of pop culture, and it really shows the massive impact of the series.
Conan Town (Hokuei)
Hokuei Town in Tottori Prefecture is a must-visit destination for fans of Detective Conan, serving as the birthplace of its creator, Gosho Aoyama. Known as "Conan Town," this charming area features character-themed landmarks, bronze statues, and the immersive Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory museum, all within walking distance from the uniquely decorated Conan Station.
Unforgettable Beef Bone Ramen and Evening Sake
After exploring Hokuei, we went out to eat Tottori's soul food: Beef Bone Ramen.
Even though I was already pretty full, it was so incredibly delicious that I finished every last drop and immediately wanted to eat it again.
We then headed back to Miho's house, where we shared some local Japanese sake.
Tottori is actually considered by some to be the "birthplace of Japanese sake". The sake had a beautifully gentle sweetness and umami that perfectly highlighted the natural flavor of the rice. Between Miho's continued hospitality and the rich food culture of Tottori, it was a perfectly fulfilling day.
