Hakata Salt Icre Cream

Imabari is a sea side port and that provides a natural substance from sea water, salt. Salt ice cream is quite good.

Oyamazumi Shrine

Inside the massive grove of camphor trees lays the shrine. The shrine is fairly typical for a shrine of this size. Stone and paper lanterns line the walk ways along with sacred photographs and lines of sake casks from previous shrine dedications. Many smaller, secondary shrines dot the shrine perimeter.

Hayato's Dance

Oyamazumi Shrine, Omishima

The island of Omishima holds a place in history as an island in the path of a significant sea route between the old capital of Kyoto and the island of Kyushu, along with routes to western Japan and mainland Asia.

No one knows when it started but the shrine became an important stop for samurai who would visit the shrine and pray before going to battle. If the battle was a success, they would return to the shrine, offer a prayer of thanks and make gifts of their weapons, armor and other offerings.

The shrine is in a grove of Camphor trees, with a 3,000 year old tree in the center of the shrine grounds. Wrapped in ceremonial ropes, the trees are considered sacred. The guardian statues at the main gate are dressed in armor, reflecting the samurai influence of this shrine.

Yoshiumi Iki-iki Kan

A popular place for anyone who visits this island. The food is all locally harvested and locally grown. It does not get any fresher than this!
More information on this road-side/boat side stop