Asia – Page 14 – Journeys 3.1

As we near the end of our visit to Japan, I’ve been going through our photos looking for examples of “only in Japan.” Ryokan, Yufuin, Northern Kyushu A ryokan is a traditional Japanese guest house. Multi-course dinners and breakfasts were served in our room. After dinner, the table was moved and futons and duvets were… Continue reading Only in Japan

Hike on a Sacred Mountain

Hiked on a sacred mountain then dropped about 100 low-value coins into the donation box at a shrine. We’ve been accumulating small change (worth a total of about US$4) and didn’t want to bring it all the way to Minneapolis.

Toto Museum

Visited the TOTO Museum in Kitakyushu. TOTO, the largest toilet manufacturer in the world, is headquartered here Their washlets are commonplace in Japan: we have them in our home. Learned sumo wrestlers use “extra wide, extreme load-bearing” toilets.

Aso-Kuju National Park

Hiked in the mountains above Yufuin, where we are staying. Aso-Kuju National Park, Kyushu.

Public Foot Bath

Took a train to Yufuin, northeast Kyushu, where we will be staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) for the next two nights. Soaked our feet in a hot spring foot bath at the train station while our laundry went through its cycles at a nearby laundromat.

Smoking Landscape

Hiked to 5,600 feet where we could see the smoking landscape on all sides. Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park, southern Japan.

Caldera Lake

A caldera lake gradually revealed itself as we hiked up a volcano then along the rim in Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park, Kyushu, southern Japan.

Cycle Around Active Volcano

Rented modest bicycles from a modest shop for 4 hours. Cycled a loop around the base of a smoking, roaring volcano, Sakurajima, taking care not to slip on volcanic ash. When we returned the bikes 40 minutes earlier than planned, the owner refunded ¥200 each.

Southernmost Kyushu Hike

Took a train to a tiny country station, the southernmost in the Japan Rail system. Hiked past fields of vegetables that will be harvested in the coming weeks. Walked through many cobwebs “blocking” the trail, reminding us it’s almost Halloween. Caught glimpses of Mount Kaimon.