So, I've been answering the "villa-phone" for two months and now is my chance to
go and see one.  The first one I get to visit is Ushimado.  That's fine by me 
because I live about 15 minutes up the road. Please forgive me if my reporting is 
not "fair and balanced".

Ushimado is fascinating from every aspect and that's exactly the reason why I live
here, but corny as it may sound, I did not know how good it was until I stayed in
the Villa.  Why would I want to pay for accommodation when I live so close?  In 
terms of encouraging out-of-towners though, I can think of few initiatives to rival
the Villa system: cheap, hassle free accommodation away from the hustle and bustle,
surrounded by clean air, "abundant nature" and friendly locals (not unlike myself).

When I was first given this assignment I almost laughed. Amongst my tasks was "Find
how long it takes from the Villa to such-and-such and check that the opening times 
and contact details are accurate." Sounds like an adventure game from my 
boy-scouting days.


As soon as I arrive, I grab one of
the bikes that you can use free of
charge (note to self: one of them 
has a baby carry basket) and head 
down the hill. I go no more than 
20 meters when I almost run over 
a tanuki (raccoon dog). "Only in 
Ushimado" I think to myself as I 
am reminded of a similar incident 
with an itachi (weasel) near this
very Villa last year. Ok, stop 
the watch. It has taken 52 seconds
to come down the hill, including 
a stop for a tanuki.

From the base of the hill, it's 
off to the 海遊文化館Kaiyubunkakan,
an interesting museum relating the
history of the town, harbour and 
international relations in the area.
I've been there before so I check 
my watch and keep moving. 1 min 57
secs.  Next is the old 中國銀行 chugoku ginkou which used to be a bank but is now
an art gallery and photo exhibition hall.  The pre-war photos don't look all that
different to today, except maybe those clothes and those awful haircuts!


Further down the road, I stumble across one of the
strangest houses I have ever seen. It's two storeys and 
the top floor points to the road. Oh, I get it. It's a
ship-house. "Only in Ushimado." Actually for some 
strange reason, it does seem to blend in with the 
scenery of the town. The yacht harbor clubhouse is 
shaped like a yacht, the town hall and the junior high
school look like hotels and the public toilets are 
shaped like windmills so a ship-shape house is cool 
too, I guess.  Across the road is a lighthouse, but 
unfortunately, it too is a decoration.  It was used in
the Edo period to guide the ships into port but the 
electric one on the seashore does all the work now.

From here, the road stretches out into Ushimado beach 
and finally I pause to take in the scenery. I come here
almost every weekend and just looking across the water 
brings temporary respite from my everyday runabout. 
Suddenly I remember･･･ I'm working. I check the 
stopwatch.

Next on my list of places to visit is Ushimado Shrine.  It's on top of the hill and
I've been there before too, so this time I set myself the challenge of counting the 
steps.  1, 2, 3, well I'm not the 2, 3, 4, brightest rugby player 4, 5, 6, in the 
world but 5, 6, 7, at least I know that 5, 6, 7, this exercise is 6, 7, 8, good for
my leg muscles and 7, 8, 9, I'll be feeling 8, 9, 10, much better for it 10, 11, 12
next time I play. Hold on a minute… I'm out of breath, and I am only up to number 
12･･･ must have miscounted somewhere because when I look back, there are definitely
more than that down there.  Oh well, we'll count them on the way down.  After 
throwing my offering into the moneybox I head back down again.  This time I take 
out my pen and paper and write down the times that I recorded this morning as I 
walk.  Before I realise it I am halfway down and have forgotten to count the steps 
again.  I think I need to take this job more seriously as I write down a guess: 214
steps. The sign at the bottom says it was 350 meters to the top, so it sounds about
right. Check the stopwatch and head back to the Villa.

Now I am standing at the base of the hill that took me 52 seconds to come down and
I can see the Villa perched way up there.  Then I realise that this bike has no 
gears.  I will be more motivated if I do this all in the name of rugby. I mutter 
to myself as I start to grind my way up the hill, weaving and zigzagging across 
the road in order to lessen the slope as I climb.  I last 3 minutes and 20 seconds
before I get off and start pushing.  The pedestrians I passed at the bottom this 
time pass me as I curse the so-and-so who invented the gearless bicycle.

Back in the Villa after a 20-minute climb and an even longer shower, I sit on the
lounge and leaf through back copies of the Okayama Insider and the Ushimado Villa
Guest Book.  The comments are from people telling me how relaxing it is to stay 
here.  It is, and that is why I come here every weekend, but next time I come, I 
won't be working and I won't be bringing my stopwatch.

	1. Go to the beach: swim, have a BBQ, relax on the sand, make a sandcastle, catch fish･･･ 2. Check out the architecture･･･ hotels, town hall, schools, houses, yacht harbour, public toilets. All very unique. 3. Trace the history of the port. See how the Korean missions to the Edo government passed through the town and the influence they had on the local culture.(海遊文化館 kaiyuubunkakan) 4. Swim with the dolphins or watch a dolphin show. You'll want a car or taxi to get there as it is a little too far to cycle, but wetsuits, snorkels and tanks are available for visitors. 5. Visit the Ushimado Sake Brewery. (Opposite the town hall) 6. Eat olive flavoured ice-cream. (2 minutes from the Villa door!) 7. Stroll around Maejima Island. It was the quarry from where the stones to build Osaka castle came. See the ruins and figure out for yourself how these massive boulders were mined and moved. 8. Eat locally produced oysters, locally caught fish and locally grown vegetables. 9. Play tennis on the courts which are a short walk away from the Villa. 10. Get up close and personal with a tanuki,(racoon dog) itachi (weasel) or a cow! 11. Go fishing. (From the sea-wall or beach or from the island of your choice by water taxi) 12. Visit the birthplace of Takehisa Yumeji, a famous artist. Close to Oku Station. 13. Paraglide or hang-glide from the top of the olive orchard. (Only experienced need apply) 14. Just RELAX???