Hamada, Port city in western Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Hamada is a port city on the northwestern coast of Honshu, stretching from the shoreline inland toward mountain slopes. Small fishing harbors alternate with areas where the foothills come almost down to the sea.
The area served as an administrative center during the Edo period, when local clans controlled the castle and surrounding lands. Later it developed into a small port for trade along the San'in coast.
The name comes from Iwami, a former province with strong ties to traditional craftsmanship. Walking through older neighborhoods reveals workshops and shops where local families have made masks and costumes for regional performances for generations.
Getting here involves taking the San'in railway line, a highway, or the regional airport near Hagi. From the train station, most places in the center are reachable on foot or by local bus.
Squid fishers head out at night and use bright lamps to draw animals toward the surface. The nearby aquarium displays sea life from this coastal region and keeps sea lions that appear during short shows.
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