21. Hiikawa (Shimane, Tottori)

Photographer’s comments: This is a sacred river, flowing through the ancient land of Izumo, home of the gods according to Japanese myth. It was on the banks of this river that the legendary eight-forked serpent Yamata no Orochi was slain by Susanoo, the impetuous brother of the sun goddess. Some people believe that the myth of the serpent who demanded an annual sacrifice had its origins in the damage caused by the river’s annual floods.

River data: Rises from a source in Mt. Sentsū on the border between Tottori and Shimane Prefectures and enters the Izumo plains before passing through Lake Shinji and emptying into the Sea of Japan. In its middle stretches, the accumulation of sand and silt means that the riverbed is actually higher than the surrounding land. Length: 153km; Grade-one river.