The beach in front of our hotel. No waves, which is why we drove down to surf there and another story, and no people. We just don't get Japan. So crowded and yet no one goes outside ever! The island is Aoshima Island that was once only connect by "washboard rocks" at low tide but they now built a bridge so everyone can get to the temple that is on the island.
One thing to take into account is the economy is pretty slow here, one prime example is the vacant prime beach-front hotel next to us. Awesome!
Over the bridge you can get a good view of the "devil/ogre washboard rocks" due to the geography where 2 different types of rock alterations were pushed up from the ocean floor to form land. The ocean waves have eroded away one rock and left the more dense one behind. That's our hotel in the background as seen from the island.
Of course some Japanese ladies with their umbrellas exploring the rocks.
And the big gate of the other side of the bridge, very picturesque!
Way back in the palm trees was another little temple.
The Japanese are so crazy about their baseball. Miyazaki is where Spring Training for baseball takes place so they had an entire board for wishes for the Tokyo Giants baseball team.
Back across the bridge was a little guy trying to give everyone rides on his rickshaw.
that night we headed into the city and checked out Heiwadai-koen (Peace Park). This 37 meter high tower was remarkably built in 1940 to promote peace, while at the same time, Japan was preparing to attack Pearl Harbor. Apparently the government and its people were not on the same wavelength.
The Haniwa gardens had many of these replicated clay haniwa (tomb gaurdians) from the excavated Saitobaru burial mounds. Kinda Creepy.
At the top of the park, was a lookout over the entire city. Yet again, a "small" coastal town of 1 million people. Small only in the eyes of the Japanese.
We attempted to find dinner using the lonely planet book but after spending 10 minutes looking for the first restaurant, we figured out it had closed and the second one we found had an English menu made about 5 years ago and they could make any of the dishes listed. Finally the waiter got so enbarassed that he just stopped coming over to talk to us and instead, sent over some random French prostitute looking girl who spoke a few English words. Needless to say, we left hungry and distraught. We had to go find gyoza because that is Brandt's favorite thing ever! Brandt did get to drink out of an awesome naked girl cup though!
On the way back from dinner, there were thousands of these birds in every tree. Their chirping was deafening, must have been mating season!
The nest morning we checked out South of Aoshima. First stop, Sun Messe in Nichinan. Basically the Japanese replica of Easter Island. They like to copy everything, and charge you to see it, but we are only there once so that's okay I guess.
This little guy reminded me of the African figure we bought dad for his birthday!
The look out tower...
And of course everything is built on a hill so either up or down the stairs with each step.
Next we headed to Udo Jingu, the shrine of wishes for marriage or childbirth. It is built into a coastal cave on the cliffs above the ocean. Sometimes getting somewhere is half the battle...so here are the steps to get there...
Another wish is to buy 5 lucky stones, or undama, and attempt to throw one into the depression on the back of this "turtle rock" for good luck. Neither Brandt nor I could get one in. We'd better hold on tight!
On the way back we got yummy fresh mango ice cream - Oishi!
Brandt thought this motorhome was so cute, and so Japanese size (small).
We checked out the shore a little more...
And found yet more completely deserted Beaches...not one person in sight!
We did find one beach we a few people, where we saw this very smart lady walking in high heels on the beach. Apparently, that is why the Japanese don't go to the beach much.
After running out of things to see, we headed back to the hotel for some wine and cheese before heading out to dinner...not using the lonely planet book this time.
We found this awesome bistro with AMAZING food. Much better than our dinner the first night and cheaper! Brandt was also psyched to find a local Miyazaki microbrew called Smoking Mole Pale Ale.
Another restaurant catches all their squid fresh for you to eat.
Japanese parking, this bar comes up behind your car wheel and will fold down once you pay. Pretty mart actually. Took us a while to figure out how to pay though.
The next morning we headed up north to the Saito Burial mounds - "very famous" as Miho told me. There are over 300 kofun (burial mounds) dating from 300-600 AD, shaped in mounds, keys, rectangles with no distinct significance in shapes.
After Saitobaru, we headed another few hours North to Takachiho Gorge, formed from lava flow during an eruption of Mount Aso. Very beautiful but just had a landslide so there are normally rowbaots you can rent to go through the gorge but they had closed it off for repairs. Boo!
This is the "very famous" Manai Waterfall and one of the top 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan.
The people of the area believed a deamon ruled the area and lived in this cave at the rop of the gorge. I wanted to see the cave so bad so we hiked all the way from the bottom river to above that bridge in teh below picture. And then, there was no cave, just a sign that we couldn't read and a stupid shrine that we coudl have drove to. Brandt was pissed!
Here is Takachiho Jinja, or the all cedar shrine. Everything is made from cedar in this shrine.
Here is the deamon that I think still exists because it made us climb straight up the side of the gorge for no reason!
1 comment:
Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing! I would have died if Grandma and Grandpa's motorhome had been that small!
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