Sculptures by the lake – 宍道湖畔のオブジェ

There are a number of sculptures located in the park next to the art museum and along the lakeside promenade. Among them, twelve bronze rabbits appear to be running toward the shore. Known as the ‘Shinji-ko Rabbits’ and designed by Satoshi Yabuuchi (well-known for having created Sento-kun, mascot of Nara City). They are based on the legend of the White Hare, the hero of which is Okuninushi, the deity of Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine. It has become popular to rub the rabbit second from the front for good luck, and to place Shijimi clams before him for even more!

Another sculpture by the art museum is the ‘Wind Gate’, which was built by Kiichi Sumikawa, one of the design supervisors of Tokyo Sky tree – the tallest free-standing structure in the world. A steel looking sculpture that forms a heart shape when viewed from the right direction facing out towards the lake is a monument to the writer Lafcadio Hearn [See Matsue, Home of Lafcadio Hearn].

There is a pleasant walkway all the way from Shinjiko Ohashi Bridge (where the lake feeds into the river), past Shimane Art Museum along the lake shore, and leading to the sunset viewing spot. The morning, noon, and evening views of Lake Shinji are all worth a visit, and the lake’s close proximity to central Matsue makes this easy for those staying overnight in the city.

Lafcadio Hearn wrote of the view of the lake: “Long reaches of faintly-tinted vapour cloud the far lake verge, — long nebulous bands, such as you may have seen in old Japanese picture books.” [More info on Lake Shinji]