Seoul to Seoul (Hopefully not Couldn't Stand the Weather)

[Noel Mugavin]

Fukuoka Tower comes in at number 3


Enough of that, back down to walk to Ohari Park

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Interesting building close to the entrance to Ohari Park






In the park

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Stopped and had a coffee at the Starbucks in the park. My Japanese had improved dramatically since my visit in April, however I still managed to get a hot coffee when I was certain I had ordered iced.
Sucker for anything to do with dogs.

Subway to Canal City where I was after Gyutan


Restaurant was busy and there was a little bit of a wait


Hotel room had a washer/dryer, so did some washing and had a bit of a kip.
Out and about for a walk around early evening

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Ichiran headquarters




Found another one






Found the ubiquitous Japanese covered mall, and immediately stumbled upon this

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Dinner, then a walk back to the hotel to call it a night

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Monday morning and time to move on - short trip on the Shinkansen to Kumamoto


Kumamoto Station and the first sighting of the king of Japanese mascots - Kumamon. Kumamoto Prefecture allows usage rights to anyone for free, provided they are promoting the prefecture.




Bit of a shopping mall within the station, took a seat and found my bearings. I had pre-booked a rental car with the intention to drive out to Mt Aso and Aso Farm Land . However with the amount of rain that had, was and would fall, and with all the flash flood warnings, I wasn't comfortable doing so.
So over to the rental car place to let them know I was going to cancel, and quite prepared to take the hit of a late cancellation fee.
More Kumamon at Toyota Car Rental

A short wait and then explained to the fella behind the counter that I intended to head to Mt Aso and wanted to cancel showing him the flash flood warnings on my phone. He pulled out his phone and then showed me road closures along the way, gave me the Japanese version of no dramas and I was on my way, no cancellation fee.
back to the station and a coffee, waiting for the rain to subside before I headed off to the hotel.
Rain didn't subside it just got heavier. Bit the bullet and off I set, bit of a wrong turn before I found the right rram stop, and off I went.
Hotel located on an offshoot road from the covered mall








Bags dropped and off to visit Kumamoto Castle

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Through the covered shopping arcade




Kiyoshi Kimura, Tuna King.



Saw no evidence of the gang problem



First sighting of Kumamoto Castle

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Needed something to eat, and after the Kumamoto specialty of sakura niku. Sakura no Baba Josaien is a little tourist complex attached to the castle, and has a range of shops and restaurants, so decided to try my luck in there.







Found myself a restaurant


Horse is an absolutely beautiful tasting meat, and there was a side dish of tofu that was absolutely amazing.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

I wasn't all that interested into going onto the castle grounds, so a walk around the perimeter would suffice. The rain had subsided to a steady drizzle.


The castle suffered significant damage from the 2016 earthquake
















Had been a bit of rain around

 

[Noel Mugavin]

There's some painstaking restorative work taking place, with every stone numbered, catologed and stored ready to be rebuilt. Scheduled for completion in 2038.







Still an hour or so before I could check into my room, so a stroll down to Shirakawa River
Another Kumomon sighting along the way







Back to the hotel for check in, and a nice view of the castle along the way



Hotel window view

 

[Noel Mugavin]

The hotel has a rooftop onsen, so went and had a soak, then a bit of a rest in the room.
Headed out to dinner and went for some horse again.


On entry the waiter was at pains to tell me it was a horse only restaurant. Only after I gave numerous hai's and daijobu did he let me sit down.
Started with some basashi.
6 different parts of the horse, whitish piece was from the mane, also a couple of pieces of heart. All delicious.



Went for another course, this time some cooked cuts


And is customary, a stroll afterwards then back to the hotel

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Woke to a beautiful morning in Kumamoto


My time in Kumamoto was up though, and I was on the Shinkansen further south to Kagoshima.


Rain had travelled with me



My hotel, across from Kagoshima Station


Dropped my bags, and this window on the reception floor would have a wonderful view if not for the rain


Back to Kagoshima Station for some lunch. My chopstick skills had come a long way, however they are still a lot like my golf game. Will have 3 or 4 clean gathers and think I have it mastered, but then with the next attempt look like I've never touched a set of them before. My ego was severely damaged after observing me for a moment, the server came and offered me a knife and fork.

Had a wander after lunch, and while the rain had stopped

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Still a couple of hours until I could check in to the hotel, so a walk to Don Quijote to pick up some bits and pieces for people back home.

Quite a bit of historical information here and there on the Kagoshima street





Back to the hotel and check in time. Rooms either have a view of the train station on one side or Sakurajima on the other. I got lucky on this occasion.

Sort of


I had a bit of a nap, and when I woke, a bit more of Sakurajima had exposed herself






Bit of wander, a forgettable dinner somewhere, and a bucket load of rain

 

[Noel Mugavin]

I had pre-booked a hire car for the Thursday, today was Wednesday, however just like Kumamoto the forecast of heavy rain and flash floods had turned me off getting behind the wheel. Later on toady I went to the hire car office and cancelled, and once again no dramas, and no cancellation fee.
My goal of hiring the car was to get to Ibusuki and the sand baths. Train would do the job just as well as the car.

A bit rural out here





Town had a bit of a tropical feel, as well as a feeling of definitely having seen better days




Hardly any sign of life

 

[Noel Mugavin]

About a 20 minute walk down to the sand baths












Foot bath outside the sand baths


The sand baths

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Another view of the baths

Steps leading up to the entrance




Up to the door, pushed to open, and nothing. Bloke was on a ladder nearby and noticed me, said something in Japanese, then crossed his arms in front of his body. cough. Google translated the sign in the door, baths were closed this week for renovation. I had checked on their website for opening days and times, and there was nothing about being closed for the week.
Anyway, with my tail between my legs, back to the station.










The old rattler taking me back to Kagoshima

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back to the hotel, view still not great

Samurai housing by the Kotsuki River

Along the river walk is a series of information boards giving some of the history of Kagoshima

Saigo Takomori, one of the leaders of the Meji Restoration and a bit of a hero around these parts










View back toward the hotel

 

[Matt_01]

@Noel Mugavin I am liking your TR, we have been to Japan many times and thought we went off the beaten track but now I am thinking I have missed a few places. Next year we are going back and planing to head to Okinawa as we have not been there before.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

It's always nice to get a reminder of home when you're traveling, so this was a pleasant suprise as I was on my way to the ferry terminal.


Turns out Perth is a sister city to Kagoshima




Australian theme continues along the footpath






Assuming a warning about the ash from Sakurajima, which is the most active volcano in Japan

Strange looking swan

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Down to the ferry terminal, and had to take a double take at the submarine. First glance I had thought it was the sink ocean co ltd. Topical as this was around the time of the Ocean Gate tragedy.

Kagoshima aquarium

One of the ferries that runs to Sakurajima. They run every 2 hours, 24 hours a day; cost 300 yen

Returning back to the hotel, completing my loop to and the ferry port .
Nice looking building


Bullet holes from the Satsuma Rebellion


Kagoshima Castle



SaIgo Takamori statue


Korean bbq for dinner, not great and well over priced