Amanohashidate

We stayed in a ryokan (Japanese inn) on the canal that leads from Aso Kai (inside Amanohashidate) to Miyazu Bay on the outside area.

Just on the other side of the small bamboo fence was a trail along the edge of the canal. The tidal range is only
one foot here but all the water passes through this canal during tide changes.

 The bridge swings to open, allowing larger vessels to transit. Smaller boats pass under the closed bridge. On the other side of the bridge is the sandbar that stretches to the other side of Amanohashidate.

Temple grounds leading to the rotating bridge.

This bridge rotates 90 degrees to let larger vessels through. The tidal range here is about 12 inches so
high and low tides are not a problem.

Houses similar to these lined the shores of the bay. Bottom floor is a boathouse. The family used to live upstairs, now
that floor is used to store fishing gear.

We went on a cruise around the bay. Our driver/guide had the Japanese speakers laughing and even got in a joke
or two in English. 

Shrine leading to Karamatsu Park atop the nearby hill.

Birds and people are the same around the world.

Karamatsu Park looks over the bay and Amanohashidate, "The stairway to heaven" one of the three
best scenic places in Japan.

I rode the cable car up and took the chairlift down.

After sightseeing around Amanohashidate from a good part of the day we loaded our bus for the twp-hour ride to Kyoto.