Horikawa Pleasure Boat in Matsue / 松江・堀川巡り

英語版のサイトに "Horikawa Pleasure Boat in Matsue" のページをアップロードしました：
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/index.html

国宝の現存天守で知られる松江城ですが、お堀もほぼ完全な姿で残っています。
お堀が当時の様子を今に伝える例は珍しく、そのお堀を巡る遊覧船も運行されています。

"Horikawa Pleasure Boat in Matsue" のページへどうぞ：
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chugoku/HorikawaBoat_E.html

日本版の散策記は下記です：
http://shanehsmt.html.xdomain.jp/Travel/Japan/Chugoku/Matsue.html#Horikawa
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My English site:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/index.html

Matsue Castle was surrounded by inner and outer moats.
Matsue is a rare case that moat system from the Edo Age remains.
Please refer the page of Matsue Castle:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chugoku/MatsueCastle_E.html

Now, a pleasure boat tour is in operation through the moat system.
There are three boarding points in Matsue City.
One of them is located to the west from Shiomi-Nawate Historical District.
Please refer the page of "Castle Town, Matsue":
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chugoku/Matsue_E.html

The bellow picture shows the "Fureai-Hiroba" Boarding Point from the boat.

A pleasure boat goes to the east from Fureai-Hiroba Boarding Point.
Then, the boat took a left and went under the Inaribashi Bridge.
The boat went into the inner moat located to the west of Matsue Castle.

During the Edo Age, many trees were planted to obtain food for emergency when a war or a battel breaks out. The scenery from the boat looks as if you are in a dense forest.

After passing through Matsue Castle, you will see buildings of Shimane Prefectural Government.
These buildings are located on the site of the third bailey of Matsue Castle.
You will see stone walls of Matsue Castle.

A pleasure boat goes into an outer moat to the south, in the site of the third bailey.
At the south end of the moat, the ship goes into the moat, named "Kyobashi" Moat, located at the southernmost and goes to the east.
This area is the Matsue downtown and the width of the moat is wide.

The modern western building on your left is "Karakoro Art Studio", the former Matsue Branch of Bank of Japan. The building was built in 1938.

Then, you will arrive at the "Karakoro-Hiroba" Boarding Point.

From the "Karakoro-Hiroba" Boarding Point, a pleasure boat goes further to the east, then it goes into the "Yonago" Moat to the north.
The "Yonago" Moat is located in the residential area.
You will see also trees from a pleasure boat.
A grey heron was standing in the moat.

At the north end of the "Yonago" Moat, a pleasure boat goes into another outer moat located to the east-west direction and goes to the west.

You will see Matsue Castle on your left.
The outer moat merges into the inner moat.
A pleasure boat goes into the inner moat and goes under the Kita-Somon Bridge.

Please visit the homepage article for more detail:
"Horikawa Pleasure Boat in Matsue":
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Chugoku/HorikawaBoat_E.html