Tottori Prefecture

Tags: japan, photography, tottori

Before the monkeys of Nagano, we were as you might know (if you read the blog or my twitter account;) in Tottori Ken.

Tottori Autumn 2009


Tottori is the birth place of my wife so through the past years I have been there quite often, and I know it more than most of the Japanese! For people in Japan, Tottori is often known as the place where there are dunes (sometimes called the Japan desert !! o_O), and others who have interest in ski or trekking for example will know Daisen (大山 : The Big Mountain).

Tottori Autumn 2009


These photos were taken in the end of September in the middle of the harvesting season of the rice. It was actually my first visit in Tottori at this period of the year and so, the first time I saw the rice fields like this.

Tottori Autumn 2009


I first come to Japan as a Wwoofer in 2005 and worked in July and August in rice-fields and greenhouse.
In summer rice fields are like a muddy-water swimming-pool! I used to work barefoot (it was the most easy actually) and did not know at the time that sometimes there are some snakes in it... glurps...

Tottori Autumn 2009


I was lucky as the only animals I met in the tanbo (田んぼ = rice-field) were the ducks who were used as "organic insecticide".

Tottori Autumn 2009


Anyway it is a good memory and maybe one day I will have my own tanbo (who knows;)!

Tottori Autumn 2009


If you wonder why sometimes you see old ladies who walk with a "broken back", well that's why, hours and hours in the fields...

Tottori Autumn 2009


For other fields than rice we used the word ç•‘ (Hatake : field, simply...). So this one is a fig hatake.

Tottori Autumn 2009


The wind can be strong in this area that is why they installed 風車 (fusha = wind mill) to produce electricity.

Tottori Autumn 2009


Tottori Autumn 2009


The family's house is settled not far from a river and the sea.

Tottori Autumn 2009


The beach is... never ending. Some Tottori's spots are also well known among surfers.

Tottori Autumn 2009


Back home for a good lunch : rice, vegetables, fried fishes, sake and beers :)

Tottori Autumn 2009


And sometime a traditional green tea. It's bitter but I like it, usually some sweets are eaten at the same time.

Tottori Autumn 2009


A specialty from the area 葡萄 (grape). Nothing to do with the French one, it is huge!for the taste I still prefer the French's ;)

Tottori Autumn 2009


Some shots of Daisen.

Tottori Autumn 2009


Tottori Autumn 2009


Tottori Autumn 2009


Tottori Autumn 2009


Tombstones along the road, nothing unusual in Japan.

Tottori Autumn 2009


At an other corner of Tottori Ken (Ken meaning prefecture) :

Tottori Autumn 2009


Chizu city. This village (Itaibara) is in the middle of the mountain, not easy to reach but it's worth it. There is a nice café over there.

Tottori Autumn 2009


Well, time to take a plane to go back to Tokyo : last shopping if you forgot to buy some Omiyage (= お土産, small presents for your friends/co-workers)

Tottori Autumn 2009


Each airport and station in Japan has a souvenir shop for the Omiyage.

Tottori Autumn 2009


Tottori Autumn 2009


Tottori Autumn 2009


Anime local star : Gegege no Kitaro.

To finish with my favorites for the Lotte Fit's dance contest representing Tottori :



And



Yeah!! See you soon Tottori ;-)

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