天橋立 (Amanohashidate)

My last trip during Golden Week was on May 3rd with other Brazilian students to Amanohashidate. It is said to be one of the three most beautiful views in Japan. Quoting form japan-guide.com:

"Amanohashidate, roughly meaning 'bridge in the heaven', is a 3.6 kilometer long, pine tree covered sand bar, spanning across Miyazu Bay on the Tango Peninsula, northern Kyoto Prefecture.

The sand bar is best viewed from the hills on either side of the bay, which are both accessible by chair lift or cablecar.

To view the sand bar as a 'bridge in the heaven', turn your back towards the bay, bend over and look at it from between your legs. Travelers to Amanohashidate have been doing this for more than a millenium."

Since we are poor students wanting a one-day-only trip, we took an early local train (to avoid the expensive limited express train and arrive on time to explore the place). By early I mean 6h22min from Kyoto station (plus another train to get there).

After almost losing the train (because we were waiting at the wrong plataform), a 3-hour-long trip during which we almost lost a transfer because the lady at the fare adjustment wasn't ready for 10 Brazilians rushing to get the other train... that was going to depart in 6 minutes... In the end those who went ahead hold the train until the others arrived. Don't ask me how.

Anyway, we managed to arrive at Amanohashidate station and rendezvous with the others who arrived from Osaka and who camped somewhere around the night before. After that, a pleasant walking through the sand bar and a hill to see the view. Huh? Yes, there was a boat to cross the sandbar and a cable lift to go uphill... so what? Don't you enjoy walking? Besides, they cost money.

(Note: Some were wondering if we didn't scare the Japanese boyfriend of a Brazilian girl who was there since we always took the harsh course. Guess not, but don't know for sure. It also reminded me of when Silvia and I were in Miyajima with a Japanese guy. Strangely enough, it seems I haven't posted about our trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima. I had promised to post it as part of the Reminiscences series, but never did it. Mind note: be careful about backlogs.

In time: that was my first time to Hiroshima and Miyajima, and included a visit to the Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima Youth Hostel and Itsukushima Shrine. The former and the latter are must visit places, and the Hostel is a nice place to stay overnight. The castle? Not impressive for someone who's visited Himeji Castle.)

Then we arrived somewhere we could do that famous stance to see the "bridge in the heaven". Well, it requires some imagination to see that. Strolling around, we noticed that there was a temple at the top, but we decided to call it a day and return (walking).

The trip back was smoother. Good thing, since we were tired. But still able to talk... especially someone I won't name here... heh. A fact that others have also noticed. It made the trip funnier anyway, so I'm not complaining.