Overview
It's been a while since I wrote a travelogue.
...Or so I thought, but then I remembered that I went on an extreme trip back in January this year. What was I thinking?
So, here's the story of my visit to the westernmost point of Honshu, Bishanohana.
The Westernmost Point of Honshu, Bishanohana
This is the view from the parking lot. It's quite the mystery why there’s a dinosaur statue welcoming us, but apparently, it's because dinosaur footprints were discovered in the area.
Leaving the dinosaur statue behind, we head toward our goal: the cape.
It only takes a short walk to reach the cape.
A few mysterious objects come into view.
Companion: Oh, how cute.
Midori-san: Why is there Sumikkogurashi here, lol... Oh, wait! Because it’s at the “corner” of Honshu, of course!
There’s a monument with a poem inscribed on it. The poem is from the Manyoshu anthology: “Nagato naru Okitsu Karimajima Okumahēte Waga omou kimi wa Chitose nimogaru”. According to the nearby plaque, it was composed in 738 AD during a banquet by the governor of Nagato, dedicated to a Minister of the Right. The explanation says, “Just as Okitsu Karimajima in the land of Nagato lies deep in the ocean, so do my feelings for you run deep. May you live for a thousand years.” It’s a poem using a place name to express the wish for long life.
...And that Okitsu Karimajima, according to the plaque, is that island you can see from the cape: Futao Island. It seems that the poet’s feelings for the recipient ran as deep as the distance to that island in their heart. Isn’t that quite elegant?
The binoculars provided here are free to use! That’s fantastic!
The End
Thinking about “the westernmost point” reminds me of a motorcycle tour to Cape Tappi from ten years ago.
At that time, I visited properly with my trusty companion and a Cub motorbike. It’s quite something. The photos were taken with a flip phone, not a smartphone, giving that old-school retro feel to the article.
