I live in Sakurae-cho, a collection of villages and hamlets in Shimane Prefecture, western Japan. On the VISIT page you can see a map and more details on where Sakurae is, and how to get there, and the EVENTS page has a schedule of events and festivals that visitors are welcome to. Sakurae is a quiet and peaceful place, but before I tell you about what it has to offer, I'll tell you what you won't find in Sakurae. There are no Pachinko Parlors, no fast-food joints, no convenience stores, there is not even a video rental store. What you will find is a lot of nature; clean rivers, numerous waterfalls, steep, but not high, forested mountains, and friendly people living a traditional lifestyle that many Japan observers claim no longer exists. The NATURE has information and photos about the natural environment, and the CULTURE page information on the traditional and not so traditional crafts and other cultural activities of the villages. At the heart of the site are the WALKS I take exploring my new home. Another thing Sakurae has is broadband internet connection, and this page is my english-language portal to the Wakuwaku Web project, a pilot program whereby the people and businesses of Sakurae document and showcase the life of the village. Of course, most of these sites are in Japanese, and not much use to non-Japanese speakers, but, pictures and videos can be enjoyed anyway, and that is what the GALLERY page offers. On the LINKS page you can access related sites in english or japanese. If you have any questions about this site, about Sakurae, or about any of the people and products of Sakurae, or if you are interested in paying us a visit, then please use the CONTACT link.