Riding the Kurushima Strait

Fortress Ruins Island

Riding the Strait of Kurushima

It's hard to describe the bridge, you have to experience it. The islands are mostly uninhabited. There is one settlement on a larger island that is sparsely populated.

Ocean weather ship of Quickwater at Strait of Kurushima

Riding the straight of Kurushima, more information can be found here.

More information on the bridge route can be found here.

Ocean weather ship of Quickwater at Strait of Kurushima

At Imabari, you can take a cruise of the Strait of Kurushima and enjoy the ocean ride, view the tidal pools and witness the magnificence of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge (4km/2.5mi). The world’s first three successive suspension bridge. The bridge at its highest point is 604 ft. (184m) above the ocean water and the bridge itself is 213 ft. (65m) above the ocean water, enabling the passage of any size ship through the Kurushima Strait.

More information can be found here. 

The cruise leaves from underneath near the bridge

For dinner after the cruise, also a stop for cyclists

Scenic overlook

古い亀の海 (Old Turtle of the Sea)

A review - Three Stripes in the Sun

This is a movie that is not well known but is remarkable in its story, cast, location and it is based on actual events. Sgt. Maj. Hugh O'Reilly is stationed in post-war Japan and his disdain for the Japanese is transformed when he goes to an orphanage, where the deplorable condition that the children live in, moves him deeply. The cast is interesting, Aldo Ray is likable enough in his role but the cast is carried by Dick York and Chuck Connors (The Rifleman). Dick York and Chuck Connors provide the humor to this movie and this is one film where Chuck Connors can be seen playing baseball, a profession he did in real-life. "The Rifleman" played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics and professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs (1951). 

The movie was shot in 1955 on location in Japan. It is a glimpse into post-war Japan and examines the relationships of the Japanese in their changing attitudes towards the occupation by the Americans, who also must examine their own prejudices towards the Japanese. It's an enjoyable movie and well worth the time to watch.

 

An interview with Yuko O'Reilly in tribute to her husband. 

An excellent review of the movie can be found here.

The oldest hot spring in Japan

An early morning visit to the oldest Onsen in Japan. Although it is a creaky, old, funky building, it is  the heart of Matsuyama. Architecturally, it is a combination of traditional Japanese architecture and an exhibition of vibrant, every day Japanese life. On this particular day, an exhibition of textiles was on display, as part of the sliding screen doors that shade the floors of the onsen.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/hotspri/dogo.html

This is the only onsen in Japan that has a onsen for use by the Imperial family only. It is open to the public for a tour but not for use. It was last used by Emperor Hirohito.

The crane is the symbol of the onsen and is said to be how the onsen was discovered. It is said that the crane was healing itself in the waters of the hot spring when the spring was discovered. 

I wrote about my onsen experience in a previous posting here.