Exploring the depths of Shimane - A trip to Sanbe and Yunotsu, where history and nature coexist, nurtured by the breath of active volcanoes

Ai Nishimura
Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.

A day of relaxing nature fun at Nishinohara, Sanbe Sightseeing Lift, and Sanbe Onsen

Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, is about an hour's drive from Izumo Enmusubi Airport, and access has become easier with the opening of the San'in Expressway. If you're traveling by train, we recommend taking the San'in Main Line for a leisurely trip while enjoying the spectacular views of the Sea of Japan.
Oda City is a place where nature and culture come together. It's the perfect place for a trip away from your everyday life to heal your mind and body. The beauty of each season unfolds, and you'll discover something new every time you visit.
The symbol of the town is Mt. Sanbe, which is part of Daisen-Oki National Park. It is a healing field surrounded by seasonal beauty and abundant nature. The mountain has multiple peaks and a grassland at its base.

With its soft new greenery and pleasant plateau breeze, Nishinohara was the perfect season for a light hike.
If you take the Sanbe Sightseeing Lift, you can take a stroll through the air to the summit at an altitude of 854m. The ridges of the Chugoku Mountains, pastures, and vineyards spread out in the distance before your eyes.
After getting some exercise, head to "Yama no Eki Sanbe." On the terrace with a spectacular view of Mt. Sanbe, you can enjoy a meal made with local bread and herbal tea. You can bring your own food, so it's easy to stop by even just for a break.
There are also plenty of experiences to get in touch with nature, such as making Japanese essential oils using plants from Sanbe. You can enjoy Sanbe with all five senses.
As I was relaxing and looking at the view from the terrace, my eye was caught by a group of people riding e-bikes. This was a tour organized by Sanbe Tours. The electric-assisted bikes made it easy to ride around the undulating roads. This was an activity that allowed me to feel the breeze and experience every corner of Sanbe in depth.

"Breakfast in the Sky in Sanbe" has been very popular for the past few years. This is an event where participants gather one hour before sunrise, take the lift to the top of the mountain while it is still dark, and enjoy breakfast provided by popular local shops while watching the sky gradually brighten. Coffee shops, restaurants, and a German bread shop in Iwami Ginzan cooperate to prepare a delicious breakfast.

After hiking or mountain climbing, or taking in the morning air, we recommend taking some time to relax and soothe your body in Sanbe Onsen. Sanbe Onsen's waters are "warm" and rich in iron and salt. They are known for being gentle on the skin and warming it to the core, leaving you feeling warm and comfortable for a long time after you leave the bath. Shimane Prefecture is also known as the "beautiful skin prefecture," and has been chosen as the number one prefecture in Japan for beautiful skin many times. Perhaps the source of this is the blessings of nature.
Forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and take a break in a quiet hot spring in the mountains. This is a luxury that can only be experienced on a trip to Sanbe.

Sanbe is a great place to escape to the summer and enjoy stargazing in the summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and sea of clouds in the winter. Why not spend some active time here?

Sanbe Mountain Station

Sanbe Sightseeing Lift

Sanbe Tours (Reservations for breakfast in the sky, E-Bike tours, and stargazing events)

"Water speaks." A time to experience the blessings of food through the spring water of Mt. Sanbe

The underground water that quietly irrigates the land at the foot of Mt. Sanbe is a blessing nurtured by volcanic activity.
As the rain slowly filters through the layers of volcanic ash, impurities are removed and the water emerges above ground as clear underground water. The people of Sanbe have lived close to this bounty of nature, incorporating it into their lives and carefully protecting it.

This underground water creates several landscapes that are essential to talking about Sanbe's climate. The first place we visited was Wasabi Field Kajika Farm, a quiet farm that spreads out in the mountain valley. Terraced fields suddenly appear on a slope along the road that you would miss if you were driving. Native wasabi is grown in stone-lined rice fields where clear water flows from the upper to lower levels.
Native wasabi is smaller than bred wasabi, but its flavor, spiciness, and aroma are all outstanding, and it has a sticky, yet rich, condensed flavor that is not watery. It takes three years to cultivate, but that only makes it possible to develop a deeper flavor. It is the season when the flowers bloom. Under the lovely white flowers, preparations for seed collection have begun. The harvested seeds are planted back in the rice fields, thus continuing the cycle of passing on the seeds.

Sanbe is also known as a soba restaurant, where you can enjoy "Sanbe native soba." It is characterized by its freshly made aroma and smooth texture, and the taste is further enhanced by using underground water from preparation to boiling. Wasabi, which is served with soba as a condiment, and "wasabi rice," which is topped with grated fresh wasabi, are also famous dishes.
Located at the source of Sanbe Onsen, Sanbe Onsen Soba Cafe Yumoto is a place where you can enjoy both soba and hot springs. After tasting the fragrant soba noodles made with 100% buckwheat flour, you can relax your body and mind in the hot springs that flow directly from the source.

After your meal, we recommend stopping by "and people," a small cafe that specializes in serving coffee. Outside the cafe is a clear stream, surrounded by tranquil nature.
Coffee is a drink that is best served with quality water. A cup brewed with Sanbe underground water has a clear taste without any unpleasant flavors, bringing out the original aroma and richness of the beans. The owner will politely serve you and will help you choose beans to suit your tastes. You can purchase your favorite beans as a souvenir and enjoy the afterglow of your trip at home.

While tasting the food made with Sanbe's underground water, I was able to experience not only the feelings of the people who have continued to cherish and protect this water, but also the quality of the ingredients that are rooted in the bounty of the land, and the people who live while preserving traditional traditional flavors.
It was also a time when we got a glimpse into the life of Sanpei, a place that lives in close harmony with the blessings of nature.

Wasabi Field Kajika Farm

Sanbe Onsen Soba Cafe Yumoto

and people