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

The big Kyushu adventure - part 2

 After a long drive we have arrived in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto!

We're staying the night here in the Hotel Choseikaku.

https://www.hotel-chouseikaku.com/ 

After checking into the Hotel I went for a walk around town with my camera while everyone else went here to the Banpeyu Hinagu Onsen Center. https://hinagu-spa.com/

The Onsen center looks very nice. There's a foot bath in front by the entrance.

I happened to walk by just as Hiroko was coming out. I can see Mayumi and Yuko in the background.

Time for a group picture in front of the Banpeyu Hinagu Onsen Center.

This is a scene from my walk around Yatsushiro City.

While I was walking around I saw this pottery shop so I decided to go in and take a look.

This is Takada ware Yatsushiro yaki pottery.

This is the shop's pottery master. He's showing me a chart of all the previous master's in his family history and where he is in the family tree. I bouht the cup that's on the counter.

From left to right is the process for making Yatsushiro yaki pottery. The white color designs are inlayed, not painted on.  

This is some beautiful stuff. Grey is the natural color of the pottery.

The shop's website is "here"

The next day we stopped at a roadside Michi-no-eki by the ocean while we were driving to  Kawauchi Takagi Onsen.

Kawauchi Takagi Onsen is one of Japan's top 100 hot springs!

Internet site with some good information is "here"

Before going to the public Onsen bath we decided to walk around and explore the village.

This is a bus stop. The bus only stops here a few times a day.

There's Hiroko!

This village is in the middle of nowhere and the tourist attractions are a bit limited here. 

Okay, this is the public bath house. It cost 200 yen per person. Let's go in! 

Ladies bath on the left, Men's bath is at the end of the corridor.

This is the men's bath. The water temperature is HOT!

There's Suzuki-san enjoying the bath.

After the bath it's time for a group picture.

And, one more with me in it.

There is so much to see and do in Kyushu. After Kawauchi Takagi Onsen we drove to Iriki Samurai District & Gardens.

First we went to a museum and then we went for a walk around the Samurai District. This place has a nice peaceful atmosphere.

A nice old Samurai residences. There's a some typhoon damage to the roof.

A nice open air place to live.

A nice old traditional toilet!

A freshly thatched entrance at this residence. 

There's Emi inside the garden.

This place is probably crowded on the weekends. Lucky for us we were the only people here today.

One last look at the Iriki Samurai District & Gardens before we're back on the road. 

Welcome to Tsurumaru Onsen!  We'll spend the night here.

Website is "here"

The Tsurumaru Ryokan bath is HOT! . 

On the other side of the bath under the window is a small door. On the other side of the door is an outdoor bath.

Check it out!

The rooms are very simple but the food at this inn is fantastic! 

This is our breakfast.

Group picture... breakfast in the dining room!

There is so much more to do on this big Kyushu adventure.

Part 3 is coming next!

All the best,

Mike