The Big Kochi Prefecture Adventure - Botanical Garden, Temple and Beach

 Today we're taking a self-guided bus tour. First we will visit the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden and then we'll go to the Chikurin-ji Temple. After the Temple we'll go to Katsurahama to enjoy lunch and a walk on the beach.

First up is the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden. https://www.makino.or.jp/

Here's Dr. Tomitaro Makino hard at work drawing a picture of a plant. 

Per the internet: Tomitaro Makino (24 April 1862 – 18 January 1957) was a pioneer Japanese botanist noted for his taxonomic work. He has been called "Father of Japanese Botany", having been one of the first Japanese botanists to work extensively on classifying Japanese plants using the system developed by Linnaeus. His research resulted in collecting more than 500,000 specimens, many of which are represented in his Makino's Illustrated Flora of Japan. Despite having dropped out of grammar school, he eventually attained a Doctor of Science degree, and his birthday is remembered as Botany Day in Japan.

The botanical garden is quite large and unfortunately when we visited there was a lot of major maintenance going on. So we just wondered around enjoying what we could enjoy.

When we stepped into the green house it was so hot and humid that my camera lens got all fogged up. I thought it would be fun to take a picture with the lens fogged up.

After wiping off my lens I started taking pictures of whatever looked interesting to me.

Hello Emi! Now, how do I get down from up here?

There are so many interesting and beautiful plants and flowerers in the green house.

There's a place in the garden set up for taking portraits.

Next we walked a short distance to the Chikurin-ji Temple.

http://www.chikurinji.com/

Of course we have to go up some stairs to get to the Temple.

Here we are at the entrance gate.

Next to the gate is a big bronze bell. Buddhist Temples always have a bell. 

Okay, let's go in.

Wow! this place is nice.

There's even a small forest here.

The temple grounds are magnificent. If one is looking for some peace and quiet, this is the place to be.

More stairs!

There's Emi wondering around.

There I am with the five-storied pagoda behind me.

This is the main hall.

Per the temple's website: The main hall, also known as the Monjudo Hall as it enshrines Manjusri Bodhisattva, was constructed in 1644 by Yamauchi Tadayoshi, the second lord of the Tosa domain. It is the oldest structure remaining at the temple today and has been designated a National Important Cultural Property. Built in the Muromachi period style, this one-story, gabled, five-ken square-wide hall with a shingled roof has a solemn appearance, yet features unique styles, even within the context of esoteric Buddhist temple architecture, such as the graceful curves of the Chinese-style eaves and the radiating fan-shaped rafters.

It would be nice to stay here longer but we have a bus to catch.

One needn't be a Buddhist to enjoy a visit to a Buddhist Temple; especially one as nice as this.

Next we got back on the bus and headed to Katsurahama.

Per the internet: Katsurahama is a beach in Kōchi, Japan, located on Urado Bay and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is a local recreation spot known for its statue of Sakamoto Ryōma overlooking the beach.

Yep, here we are overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The fist thing we did was visit Kochi Lighthouse.

Kochi Lighthouse was the first lighthouse installed and lit in Kochi Prefecture in June 1883 (Meiji 16). It is a white tower shaped at 15.46m in height, and its light reaches up to 19.5 nautical miles (approximately 36km) offshore, serving as a guide for ships sailing off the coast of Kochi Port.

Here's the statue of Sakamoto Ryōma overlooking the beach and Emi too!.

We ate lunch in one of the Katsurahama restaurants and then we went for a walk on the beach.

The sunlight was getting really strong and harsh so I changed to taking pictures in black & white. 

There's nobody else here! 

This bridge leads to a small shrine. This is as far as we went because... we had a bus to catch.

Next to the bus stop is a map of Kochi Prefecture. Where will we go tomorrow?

There's more to come on the big Kochi prefecture adventure!

All the best,

Mike

Bonus shots from Kurihama

The Big Kochi Prefecture Adventure - Kochi Castle

This time we visited Kochi city and some of the surrounding areas. Kochi city is in the prefecture of the same name on the island of Shikoku. We took an early flight out of Tokyo/Haneda and arrived in Kochi before lunch. So, of course the first thing we did was to eat lunch at the famous Hirome Market and then we visited Kochi Castel. 

This is the entrance to the park in front of the castle. It crosses over the moat that is still filled with water. One can see the castle high up on the hill overlooking the park. You can get to the castle from here but we're going to go a little way down the street and enter from the real entrance.

This is the gate/entrance to the castle. Let's go in!  

Our first good look at Kochi Castle.

Here's one in black & white.

After climbing up many stone stairs (there's always stairs) we arrive at the front of the castle. Of course we took our official "been there" photos.

One has to take off their shoes when entering the castle so best to wear nice warm socks if you plan to visit. A view of a tree from inside the castle looking out. 

The main object of visiting the castle is to go up a series of very steep steps to get to the top of the castle. When I say "steep" I'm not kidding. And, people are going up and down the same steps.

When you finally get to the top there's a room with a view of the city.

The view from one of the four windows. 

Time to go back down the nearly vertical steeps. 

Back outside and we're moving down the exit route. The clay roof tiles are amazing.

A last look back before walking out the gate.

Across the street from the castle grounds is a castle museum. We visited the museum and this is the view from the second floor museum lounge.

After this we checked into our hotel and started planning the adventures for the next day!

The adventure will be continuing soon!

All the best,

Mike

The big Kyushu adventure - part 3

The adventure continues! We are in Kagoshima Prefecture today and the first place to visit is: Kirishima Jingu Shrine

This shrine has a lot of history. Located in Kirishima City, Kirishima Jingu Shrine sits on a slope on the hillside of Mt. Kirishima, its buildings facing the summit of Mt. Takachiho. The current shrine was built in 1715 by the feudal lord of the then-Kagoshima domain.

Everyone gets in line to ring the bell and say a prayer.

I see some familiar faces near the end of the line.

The shrine's 800 year old sacred tree.

Moving on! The next place to visit is: Shiohitashi Spa Ryoma Park

This park is named after the famous Samurai Sakamoto Ryoma. It is said he was the first Japanese, along with his wife, Oryo, to go on a honeymoon. He did so in Kirishima and this park is one of the places he visited and where he had a bath in the Onsen. There is a statue of the couple in the park.

A lovely river runs through the park.

There is an indoor Onsen bath in the park and an outdoor foot bath too!

We're not slowing down... next stop is Kareigawa Train Station

Kareigawa Station is a passenger railway station located in the Hayato neighborhood of the city of Kirishima, Kagoshima, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu and is on the Hisatsu Line.

The station opened on 15 January 1903; 122 years ago. It's the oldest train station in the prefecture and is considered an "Attractive Tourist Destination". Well, it looks attractive to me.

Here I am, not so attractively standing in front of the station. 

And, there's Suzuki-san in front of the station.

That night we stayed at Ramune Onsen Senju no Sato

Please check their website. https://senjunosato-kirisima.com/

It was a unique experience. This place is deep in the woods and we stayed in comfortable little cabins. This is a picture of the men's hot bath.

The next morning we headed to the Sakurajima area to visit a Ginkgo nut tree orchard.

On the way there we stopped at Sakurajima Yogan Nagisa Park Footbath. The park has a beautiful view of Sakurajima volcano.

Per the internet: Sakurajima is an active stratovolcano, formerly an island and now a peninsula, in Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. The lava flows of the 1914 eruption connected it with the Ōsumi Peninsula. It is the most active volcano in Japan.

Website: Yogan Nagisa Park Footbath

This park has the longest foot bath I've ever seen.

We have arrived at the Ginkgo nut tree orchard.

website: Tarumi Senbon Ginkgo

Tarumi Senbon Ginkgo is sometimes described as "like a scene from a movie." As its name suggests, it is a famous spot in Tarumi City where 1,000 ginkgo trees are planted, and when the season comes, the entire area is dyed golden yellow.

We were a little early in the season for the "golden yellow" color but we had a good time anyway.

Yuko and Hiroko enjoying the walk through the orchard.

Next up... we visit Sakurajima volcano! Is it safe to visit an active volcano?

It must be safe, or maybe we're crazy! Because here we are!

Per the internet: Yunohira Observatory is the highest point on Mt. Sakurajima open to the general public. From the observatory, you can see a rough lava field and, at times, rising plumes of volcanic smoke. This spot commands a picturesque view of Kagoshima City and the calm waters of Kinko Bay. The night brings a beautiful view in which the pitch dark of Mt. Sakurajima contrasts with the lights of Kagoshima City. Taking inspiration from the name Sakurajima (cherry blossom island), the roof over the observation deck is shaped like a cherry blossom petal.

Mayumi and Emi at the Yunohira Observatory.

Yes, it's me. 

Now it's time to ride the Sakurajima Ferry. We're going to ride the ferry to get from Sakurajima to Kagoshima city where we will spend the night.

That's our ferry waiting for us.

We are underway! The ferry runs every 20 minutes.  One way takes approximately 15 minutes. 

Goodbye Sakurajima!

Passing by another ferry that's heading for Sakurajima.

Kagoshima city is in front of us.

Riding the ferry is fun! We will soon be moored in Kagoshima city and we'll be heading for the "Hotel Urbic Kagoshima".

The view from our room in the Hotel Urbic Kagoshima.

Kagoshima-chuo train station is right in front of the hotel.

Night out in Kagoshima City! We rode a streetcar to get to the Tenmonkan district for our last night out of our big Kyushu adventure.

It started to rain but that's okay, Tenmonkan has a covered arcade to walk in.

And, it's a nice covered arcade!

The rain stopped and we wandered the the back streets looking for a place to eat. 

There are a lot of nice expensive places around here. However, we are looking for a nice "cheap" place for our night out.

We finally found the right place for us and there will be drinking!

First... we'll order drinks and then we'll order food.

It's our last night. Tomorrow we'll be going to Kagoshima airport  to turn in our rental car and catch a flight back to Haneda airport in Tokyo.

A special thank you to Yuko for planning this fantastic adventure. Thank you to Suzuki-san for making the 3 hour drive from Kumamoto to Nagasaki. And, a big thank you to Hiroko for doing all the rest of the driving.

Here's looking at you kid!

The End!

All the best,

Mike