An Old Style Trip to Shima Hot Spring vol.3 [Taking a Stroll through Retro Town]

Summary

• Having a walk around the retro part of town during your restful Shima trip.
• The clear and beautiful river with natural treasures, the “Shima river potholes(四万甌穴)”
• Visit the important national cultural site “Hinatami Yakushido temple（日向見薬師堂）”.

Hello, this is Fujiko.
This article is the 3rd installment following An Old Style Trip to Shima Hot Spring vol.2 [Enjoying the Restful Footbaths and Public Baths]

While Shima is famous for hot springs, in this installment I will touch upon some other charming features about Shima.

Shima River and Natural Treasures “Shima river potholes（四万甌穴）”

Now then, have you ever seen a pothole?
Potholes are big holes that can form naturally in a river bed.
This occurs when stones and sand are caused to repeatedly spin in place by the river current, eventually eroding the river bed below.

Deep colored water in potholes.

The pure water of Shima river refreshes our mind.

I was affected just by looking at the potholes and watching the flow of the clear blue river. You may find it to be a nice diversion.

Access to Shima river potholes（四万甌穴）

It takes over 30 minutes to walk from the bus stop “Shima Onsen（四万温泉）”, the terminal of the shuttle bus “Shima Onsen Go（四万温泉号）”. Though walking down through the village might be quite fun and good for one’s health, it is convenient to take a local bus and leave the street open for cars on their way to the “Shima river potholes（四万甌穴）”, I ended up walking one way, and taking the bus back. The bus comes once every hour during daytime hours, and takes about 8 minutes to arrive at the “Shima river potholes（四万甌穴）” from the bus stop “Shima Onsen”. (one-way : 380JPY)

The bus stop “Shima Ouketsu Mae（四万甌穴前）”

There is a café nearby“Shima potholes（四万甌穴）”.

Visit the café while waiting for the bus. Make sure to check the store holidays below.

B: Mori no café“KISEKI” 10:00-15:00 Store holidays: Wednesday &Thursday WebSite

I found Momotaro’s falls, and a bus stop that looked like this.

On the way to the “Shima river potholes（四万甌穴）”,

Cute wooden deer made me smile.

Enjoying take Pictures in the Retro Town

We can spend relaxing time and feel nostalgic at Shima.
Walking around the good old hot spring village you’ll find your photograph collection increasing bit by bit.

Here, shops are like sets from old movies.

C: Snack &café Joy 0279-64-2347 11:30-13:30 19:00-0:00

D: Yanagiya game parlor 0279-64-2520 10:00-21:00 Store holiday: Thursday

You can play 2 types of pinball games.

And,

I found a retro-style sign.

This sign also has a Showa era vibe.

Winsome wooden dolls.

Important National Cultural Site “Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）”

“Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）” was built in the Muromachi era (A.C.1336-1573), and enshrines a deity called “Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai（薬師瑠璃光如来）”, who gives people the divine favor to heal all kind of illnesses.

E: Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）

In Japan, “Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）” is one of few buildings designed in the style of China’s Tang dynasty.

Toward “Yakuoji Temple（薬王寺）”, use the steps.

F: Yakuoji Temple（薬王寺）

Visiting the celestial precinct in the fresh morning air, one feels at peace.

Break time at the café.

Access to “Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）”

The only way to “Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）” is by foot, because no bus runs to the area. From the bus stop “Shima Onsen（四万温泉）”, walk in the opposite direction of Shima potholes（四万甌穴）, and you will see a small street lined with shops called“Ochiai Dori（落合通り）”. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the temple from the bridge “Ochiai Bashi（落合橋）” which is located at the end of “Ochiai Dori（落合通り）”.

Looking at the falls from “Ochiai bashi（落合橋）”.

When you get across the bridge, turn left and walk along the road eventually arriving in the Yuzuriha（ゆずりは） area.

After passing a café and a few hotels,

The route which climbs up a hill appears on the right side.

And from this rest stop,

We can see G :Koizumi’s falls.

Across “Hinatami Bashi（ひなたみ橋）”, there is a sign overhead which reads “Hinatami Yakushido temple（日向見薬師堂）” to the left, “Shima Dam” to the right.

It takes 5 minutes from this sign to “Hinatami Yakushido temple（日向見薬師堂）”.

One can visit the Hinatami public bath &footbath nearby “Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）”, as I mentioned in the previous article An Old Style Trip to Shima Hot Spring vol.2 [Enjoying the Restful Footbaths and Public Baths].

If time permits, you might want to visit “Maya’s falls（摩耶の滝）” which is 2 kilometers away from “Hinatami Yakushido Temple（日向見薬師堂）”.
It is said that the falls is a spiritual vortex and grants good luck in the ways of romance.
We can enjoy hot springs, walk around the village and hike through nature’s bounty in Shima.
To be continued.

The Shima trip series:

An Old Style Trip to Shima Hot Spring vol.1 [Aboard the comfort bus “Shima Onsen GO”]
An Old Style Trip to Shima Hot Spring vol.2 [Enjoying the Restful Footbaths and Public Baths]
An Old Style trip to Shima Hot Spring vol.4 [Spending Pleasant time at Your Accommodations: Onsen, Tatami Mats &Buffet] with a Featured Hotel List
An Old Style Trip to Shima Hot Spring vol.5 [Local specialties, gifts and souvenirs]

（ふじこ）