24 May 2023

Making Memories at Matsue, the City of Water

The transit from South Korea back to Japan gave us our first real glimpse of time at sea as Heritage Adventurer sailed towards Matsue. We enjoyed the relaxed start to the day with John's Introduction to the Japanese Language and Osnat's Overview of the Adachi Art Museum and Garden - our first destination.

The Adachi Museum was stunning. Having been voted the most beautiful garden in Japan for 20 years running, it was obviously superb. The unique aspect was viewing it through windows as a living art display. The form of the landscape is quintessentially Japanese - with each tree, scrub, flower, stone and water feature carefully placed to make a pleasing image. Beyond the living art were the galleries of painted artworks which were impressive in their own right. The ability to experience them as a complement to the gardens gave a new definition to an immersive experience.

We then arrived into the city of Matsue for a boat ride through the town and around the castle on the surrounding moat. It was a different and quirky way to see the 'City of Water' as we wove our way along the waterway and had to duck low while the boat's roof was lowered to pass under some of the many bridges.

Back on board Heritage Adventurer we watched in awe an incredible farewell and traditional Japanese performance of song, dance, drum, flute and shamisen (three-stringed lute) as we left the port before another excellent dinner and a chance to discuss the day's activities.

Image (c) by: T.Thorpe