We visited Shima Onsen Sekizenkan, a hotel, onsen and bridge that inspired Miyazaki’s 千と千尋の神隠し, “Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi” or “Spirited Away” in English. Big Sister was in elementary and Little Brother was in nursery school when the movie came out in 2001. It has a special place in our hearts.

It was so nice to see that the hotel and town have no images from or mention of the movie. But on the road, on the approach at a distance from the village, there is a “melody line,” a stretch of pavement that plays a stanza of the movie’s theme “Itsumo Nando Demo” when crossed over. Lovely. A two lane road through forest. Can the forest hear it as cars pass? Not sure.