Microblog

Unzen: my view and room. Monks came in 701 AD to reflect on the 84,000 tortures awaiting wrongdoers in the afterlife.

Today I go to the mountains of Unzen: bus from Kumamoto, ferry, then another bus.

Blossoms are at their peak around Kumamoto Castle.

First bullet train ride on this trip. I’ve died and gone to heaven, or, Kumamoto. An official gave me some stickers.

Walked around Senganen Garden, Kagoshima, created 1658. It uses the bay and Sakurajima volcano as “borrowed scenery.”

Kirishima … National Park. Ridge trail, then climb (Mt. Takachiho, 5,160 ft.). Most of the trail was 2011 ash.

Pulled back the drapes this morning and saw this mushroom cloud. Sakurajima, 20 miles away, was active.

Posted about a hike today in Kirishima-Kingowan National Park.

Now in the mountains north of Kagoshima.

Miyanoura, Yakushima Island, about to board jetfoil.

Posted It Takes a Village (and the miracle of the lady with the beer).

Unashamed touristy photo at Ohko-no-taki waterfall, Yakushima, before hopping on a country bus to a trailhead.

Exhausting day exploring ancient cedar forests on Yakushima. Knotted ropes were helpful in the steep bits.

From Kagoshima took a jetfoil to the island of Yakushima.

Posted Saturday Hike in Kagoshima.

Took a 787 Dreamliner from Tokyo to Kagoshima, then walked out of Airport World, into the sun and unfiltered air.