After “Reisai”, the annual ceremony in Kunozan Tosho-gu Shrine, I visited “Miho-no Matsubara” to see the “Hagoromo-no Matsu” pine-tree. There were only a few visitors seen despite Sunday due to, maybe, the earthquake and tsunami.
Now, here is a legendary story about this tree. Actually, I know 2 stories about it.
Once upon a time, a beautiful houri came down to Miho beach. She put her plumage ( Hagoromo ) on a pine tree and enjoyed herself bathing in the sea. Then a fisherman came to the tree and took the plumage out of it. She walked to the man and begged him for it saying “I can’t go back to the upper world without it”. The plumage was so beautiful that he couldn’t give it up. Finally, he said. “If you perform a dance of the heaven, I’ll let you have it”. She did as told and went back to her world.

New Hagoromo no Matsu

Old Hagoromo no Matsu

The other story is more fishy and humanly.
Once upon a time, a beautiful houri came down to Miho beach. She put her plumage on a pine tree and enjoyed herself bathing in the sea. Then a fisherman came to the tree and took the plumage out of it. She walked to the man and said, “I can’t go back to the upper world without it”. He fell in love with her at a glance and answered. “Only if you become my wife, I may get it back to you”. She followed his word but the fisherman would not return the houri to her for fear that she might escape. One day, while the man was away from home, she sneaked in the room and took it back from him, and finally, she could reach up to her world.

Now, which legend do you think is more realistic ? Anyway, the pine-tree “Hagoromo no Matsu” has been standing on Miho beach for about 650 years and, by reason of aging too much, another pine tree took it over for the next generation last year. Now the old tree has been preserved carefully under the special observation for recovery.

Miho-no Matsubara is also known as one of the best spots for Mt. Fuji. When I was there, it was hazy outside and I could barely see it, to my regret. On a fine day, you will find the view as in the right picture. Walking along the coast, actually 1 hour or so, you can find Miho Swimming Beach, Miho Aquarium, Natural History Museum, and the training ground of Shimizu S-Pulse of J League, the professional soccer team ! I’ll introduce them before summer.

Have a good day !

Miho-no Matsubara ( Hagoromo-no Matsu )
Access from JR Shimizu Station ： 20 minutes by Shizutetsu Bus Miho Yamanote Line to the bus stop “Hagoromo-no Matsu Iriguchi” and 15 minutes walk.
Admission ： Free

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