Masuda, Coastal city in Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Masuda is a coastal city in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, that stretches across mountainous terrain along the Sea of Japan. The city lies near the border with Yamaguchi Prefecture and combines mountain landscapes with access to the sea.
The Masuda clan ruled this area from the 12th century and transformed it into a center for ink painting. The painter Sesshu Toyo lived and worked here in the 15th century, leaving behind important artistic traces.
The Iwami Art Museum in the Grand Toit center displays objects from the region and rotating exhibitions about Shimane heritage. Visitors can see works by local artists and traditional crafts from nearby mountain villages.
The city is accessible through Iwami Airport and the JR San'in Main Line, with regular connections to Tokyo and Osaka. The mountainous setting makes much of the journey winding, so allow extra time for travel.
The Ikoji Temple was founded in 1363 and has a garden that Sesshu himself designed. This garden is now recognized as a National Historic Site of Japan and shows the painter's philosophy in the arrangement of stones and plants.
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