出雲大社參拜換神砂全攻略! feat.夕陽百選絕美宍道湖日落｜5天4夜最強結緣之旅！【島根自由行/山陰地方】

Take the Horikawa Sightseeing Boat to circle the Matsue Castle moat, enjoying scenery that looks exactly as it did 400 years ago. Be prepared to lie on your side as the boat lowers its roof four times to pass under low bridges – it's a tight squeeze, but a unique experience! The boat is warm inside, even when it's 4°C outside.

At Yaegaki Shrine, try the 'Mirror Pond' fortune-telling. Float a fortune paper on the water, gently place a coin on it, and if it sinks within 15 minutes, your destined partner will arrive soon. If it takes more than 30 minutes, your destiny will take a bit longer. Mine sank in 6 minutes and 19 seconds!

Visit the Shimane Prefectural Museum of Art and find the art installation of 12 leaping rabbits. Pet the second rabbit and offer a clam shell from Lake Shinji to bring happiness and a good match your way. I used a McDonald's spoon to dig for clams!

Even if the sunset index is low, don't give up hope for a beautiful sunset at Lake Shinji! Head to the parking lot just south of the Shimane Art Museum, cross the street, and find a spot by the lakeside. Watching the sun sink into the orange-red water brings a pure sense of peace. I was worried with a 40% index, but it was gorgeous!

Visit Umi Shrine, which enshrines a sword spirit specialized in cutting off bad luck. On an 'Enkiri' (severing ties) wooden tablet, write down the bad connections you want to end and the good ones you want to start. Offer it with two bows, two claps, and one bow, then split the tablet apart, breathe on it, and place it into the 'cutting box.' Walk clockwise around the main hall, place the connection you want to keep, and take it home. I wished for the stock market to skyrocket!

Head to Inasa-no-Hama Beach to scoop sacred sand for exchange at Izumo Taisha. Bring a jar or Ziploc bag and waterproof shoes, as you'll be wading into the water. The rock in the sea, Bentenjima, has a sea god enshrined on top. I even caught a tiny fish while scooping sand – it's so fun!

After scooping sand from Inasa-no-Hama, bring it to Soga-no-Yashiro at the very back of Izumo Taisha to exchange it for sacred sand from the shrine. It's a bit tricky to pour the wet sand, as it clumps together, but you take half a cup of your sand and exchange it for half a cup of the shrine's dry sand, ensuring you take the actual luck of the place with you. Remember, you cannot bring the sand back to Taiwan!

At Mononobe Shrine, try your luck with the 'Lucky Crane' fishing game. It feels like playing a magnetic fish toy, but if you catch a crane, it's said to bring good fortune. I caught one, and it even says 'Mononobe Shrine' on the back!

To explore the Ryugenji-mabu Mine Shaft, first take a shuttle bus to Omori-cho Old Town. From there, rent an electric bike from Kawamura Bike Rental (or take a golf cart service) to cover the 3.5-kilometer stretch through the old street. The mine shaft itself is a fascinating walk, but be prepared to hunch over as the tunnels are low and narrow, perfectly preserving their Edo period appearance. You'll see drainage shafts and even narrower old tunnels where you almost have to walk sideways. Don't forget to check out the Shimizudani Refinery Ruins on the way, which has ties to Jiufen, Taiwan!

Visit Kigami Shrine, the protector of the Ginzan and Omori areas, known for its serene atmosphere. Discover a secret: stand directly under the dragon's head on the ceiling painting and clap your hands to produce the loudest echo. It's supposedly similar to the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko!

At Seiganji Temple, known for a monk's miraculous healing, you can pray for skin beautification. After praying, take a card, 'paint' it on the area of your face you want to beautify (like your T-zone or chin), and then hang it up. Don't be shy, everyone else paints their whole face too! Make an offering of ¥100 for better skin.

At Tamatsukuri Yu Shrine, you can make your own Omamori (amulet). First, buy a 'Wish-Granting Stone' at the office – the stone chooses you! Pray at the main hall (two bows, two claps, one bow), then wash your stone and pour water over the 'Madama' (a stone filled with divine power). Touch your stone to the Madama to receive its spiritual energy while making your wish. Finally, write your name, address, and wish on a paper, drop it in the wooden box, wrap your stone, and take it home as your personal Omamori.

At Yuyakushi Square in Tamatsukuri Onsen, you can bottle the natural hot spring water to take home as facial toner! Bottles are sold for ¥200. The water is genuinely hot, just like being in the spring, but in a convenient spray form. It's a fun way to bring the 'Spring of Beautiful Skin' home with you.

At the Koi-koi Well opposite Yuyakushi Square, spend ¥100 for a bag of 'Love Food.' If a carp shows up and eats your food, it means love is coming your way! Unfortunately, a duck ate my food instead, blocking my romance – my luck is terrible! The carp are usually swimming near the bottom, so you might not even see them.