Sublime Lake Shinji in Shimane

Sunset and Moonlight at Matsue's Lake Shinji

Takako Sakamoto Sep 18, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Yomegashima Island under the moonlight</p>

<p>Yomegashima Island at sunset...madder red or gold sunsets at Lake Shinji are very famous</p>

<p>The larger Jizo statue on the left is made of Kimachi stone and is called 'Sodeshi Jizo', and the smaller one is made of Mikage stone and is called 'Sekkai Jizo'</p>

<p>The sun is setting in the west but there's still time till sunset. Yomegashima Island is radiant with a silvery hue</p>

<p>30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset are the so-called fascinating 'Blue Moments' of the day</p>

<p>In olden times the offshore of Yomegashima Island was rough, and ships were often wrecked. According to the locals these jizo statues were built to pray for the lost souls</p>

<p>An hour before sunrise...I was mesmerized by this mystic view</p>

<p>Mt. Makuragi is located in the north of Lake Shinji. From here, you can overlook the entire city of  Sakaiminato, and depending on the season and weather, a sea of clouds can be seen as well</p>

Sometimes, I get the urge to see sunsets in Matsue city, in Shimane prefecture. Here, there is the second largest lake in Japan, Lake Shinji.

The sunsets here have made this lake very famous throughout Japan. At 30 minutes before the sun sets, the lake turns red, and the drama reaches its climax when Yomegashima Island becomes silhouetted by the setting sun. This breath-taking view was selected as one of "The 100 Best Sunsets in Japan". The other highlight is the 'Moonlit Yomegashima Island'. Only a few people know about this magical view of the island under the moonlight, so this might be your chance to be one of its few witnesses!

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Find out more about Lake Shinji.

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...