As the floor plan shows, the lower levels of big Japanese resort hotels have something for everyone. Last week, in Kirishima, Kyushu, Japan, I walked through the hotel’s amusement area dressed in a yukata, clutching a towel, heading for the stairs to the outdoors hot springs. People were laughing and joking and drinking. Their… Continue reading Channeling Eva Gabor in Kirishima
Category: Japan
Channeling Eva Gabor
Posted Channeling Eva Gabor. Karaoke and worse.
Unzen-Amakusa National Park
Unzen-Amakusa National Park. Every time I saw a sign pointing to a peak, I climbed the peak.
Unzen
Unzen: my view and room. Monks came in 701 AD to reflect on the 84,000 tortures awaiting wrongdoers in the afterlife.
Unzen
Today I go to the mountains of Unzen: bus from Kumamoto, ferry, then another bus.
Kumamoto Blossoms
Blossoms are at their peak around Kumamoto Castle.
The Joy of Bullet Trains
First bullet train ride on this trip. I’ve died and gone to heaven, or, Kumamoto. An official gave me some stickers.
Senganen Garden
Walked around Senganen Garden, Kagoshima, created 1658. It uses the bay and Sakurajima volcano as “borrowed scenery.”
Mt. Takachiho
Kirishima … National Park. Ridge trail, then climb (Mt. Takachiho, 5,160 ft.). Most of the trail was 2011 ash.
Mushroom Cloud
Pulled back the drapes this morning and saw this mushroom cloud. Sakurajima, 20 miles away, was active.