Motonosumi Inari Shrine: Nagato Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture

There are 2 locations in Western Japan right now (both are on the main island of Japan- Honshu) that travelers just can't get enough of at the moment, and who can blame them!!  They are just so intrinsically Japanese that everyone just wants to see and touch these magnificent locations.

The Motonosumi Inari Shrine is one of them!  It is located in the far reaches of Yamaguchi Prefecture on the Sea of Japan side facing the 2nd largest city of Korea, namely Busan or Pusan depending on who you talk to.   The location is so remote that basically without a car or a private driver you literally have no way of getting here. Even with a car you are still looking at considerable driving time from either Fukuoka or Hiroshima which seems to be where most of the tourists are coming from.

Now, before you jump on a tour this attraction does come with caveats.  First and foremost, simple put when the weather isn't great, the attraction really doesn't live up to its reputation. However on a fine and sunny day you just cannot get enough of the locations beauty and its Japanese iconic image that is just so overpowering.

Just look at the contrast between these sets of photos to see where I am coming from.

The Motonosumi Inari Shrine on a rainy/ cloudy/ damp day:

As you can clearly see, the destination is still impressive but it doesn't have the wow factor that it usually has on a nice clear sunny day.  Check out the difference, its like chalk and cheese. The bright red Vermillion Torii gates obviously needs a more significant bright background to shine and highlight their real identity.

Other the flip side, check out these photos of the red Vermillion gates on a beautiful winters day. This is the reason why people want to go and interact with such a place. A day like this will etch those memories deep into your memory banks.  Even for me, who has been here multiple times in the last 3 or 4 years, a day like this makes the long drive well worth it.

Enjoy these pics and click on the photos to enlarge:

Check out the Motonosumi Inari Shrine here below on a map:

Learn more about the Motonosumi Inari Shrine from these videos below:

Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum- Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture

There is something about Green Tea that is very fascinating.  We all know that Green Tea is good for us, it's great for the brain and improves cognitive function, great for aiding digestion and it's an excellent drink to help with weight loss and for skin and eye quality.  The green tea industry in Japan is booming as demand from abroad has been peaking in the last 10 to 15 years. 

The best thing is that the Green Tea region of Ureshino is right in my backyard and its such an interesting and picturesque location to explore. I will endeavor to promote this region of Kyushu and give those Green Tea lovers insights into production techniques and the history of the town.

The best place to do this is at the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum located in the middle of the town.  It has everything that one could need to understand more about Green Tea in general.  

1) There is a quaint little museum in the building which although sign posted in English doesn't have extensive information.  However there is just enough to get the gist of what is going on within the historical background and the production process.

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

English guide is available

Background Information

Main floor

Interesting place to explore

Tea moments

Tea Production 

Tea regions of Japan

Tea fields

Stages of production

2)  There is a tea cafe located inside the building which allows you to try some of the various tea products. There are a multitude of hot and cold drinks as well as many different types of sweets to enjoy. 

Profile of various farmers

The menu

Tea Cafe

Plenty of seating

2 person table

Plenty of awards

3) The sales shop is a place where you can buy quite a few products to take home with you. Teas and sweets round up the products on offer.  They also offer a great selection of ceramic tea pots that shouldn't be missed. The ladies may I say are completely friendly and try to help you at every opportunity. I am sure you will enjoy the interactive experience.

Plenty of sweets

The teas of Ureshino

Tea options

Options galore

Tea pots

4) The tea fields outside are also a nice option to explore. On this cold wintery day (we had quite a bit of snow the previous 2 days) it was a pleasant surprise to see a white dusting of snow on the top of the hedges. The nature involved with these outdoor scenes are very powerful indeed and add to the overall experience of the situation.

I am sure you will agree that the combination of these 4 combined attractions make the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum a special place to visit.

Please check out the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum on this map below.

 

Please click on these videos below to see more of the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum:

Here are some photos of a recent family tour enjoying the experience of sampling Green Tea.

Traditional Japanese Tea Room

Preparing the tea

Reading the description in English

Lots of friendly staff