FR: Kyushu Spring [22 Mar ~ 5 Apr]

[akc850]

Hi all,

Suddenly feel the urge to upload my photographs after seeing the multiple FRs within these few month. Tour-ed in anti-clockwise direction around Kyushu and skipped some where I have been before in past trips.

Without further ado, this is my itinerary:

21 Mar: Night flight to Fukuoka
22 Mar: Landed Fukuoka Airport and transfer to Kumamoto
23 Mar: Takachiho
24 Mar: Kagoshima
25 ~ 26 Mar: Yakushima
27 Mar: Kagoshima
28 Mar: Sakurajima
29 ~ 30 Mar: Miyazaki
31 Mar ~ 1 Apr: Beppu
2 Apr: Yufuin
3 ~ 4 Apr: Fukuoka (Hakata)
5 Apr: Morning fly back to Singapore

Photos uploaded may not cover all area as I'm more enjoying the trip than become a journalist.

 

[akc850]

KUMAMOTO

First stop of the day after landing in Fukuoka. Dropped our bag and went straight to the castle area for a good feel of the spring season.

Happened to have some festival during the time of trip. Group of performers on shamisen:

 

[akc850]

TAKACHIHO

A pretty quiet town, something like Kawaguchiko if you have been to. As I need to rush to 2 areas within a day (Takachiho Gorge and Amano shrine) and the bus frequency was pretty bad. End up taking cab for a 15-minute ride from Gorge to shrine in order to meet our schedule.

One of the ducks roaming around on the steps to the row boat area:

Break for lunch and tried the nagashi somen (flowing noodle)

Cabbage look-alike plant on the way to Amano Yasukawara

 

[akc850]

Amano Yasukawara (with the stacks of stones along the way)

View from hotel (Takachiho Hotel)

Bunch of pastries from Kumamoto, with exception for the top left

 

[akc850]

Takachiho shrine with the nightly performance.

KAGOSHIMA

Went to Senganen first before exploring other parts. Didn't intend to cramp too much activity on this date as we are saving energy for the latter Yakushima trip.

 

[akc850]

That's Sukurajima for you:

 

[akc850]

YAKUSHIMA

Day-tour in bus on the first day which brought us to some of the famous area around the island. Was informed by the tour guide that we are the only non-Japanese in the party (surprise!). The tour brings you to some part of the island where they drop you for a while to explore but the probably most interesting item was letting you off on the west coast of the mountain road and walk down for a fair bit of distance while the tour guide explained some of the things (my command of Japanese is not good enough to fully appreciate)

Threatening sky. Apparently it is quite normal to have this kind of sky and bright and sunny in the next few minutes.

 

[akc850]

"No man market"
Apparently you just see what you like and leave your money in the box after taking the goods. I believe the owner is living nearby though.

Dinner of the day: Flying fish don

Next up, hiking in the mountainous area on the next day.

 

[akc850]

Shiratani Unsuikyo

I personally feel it is the best part of the trip. There were short showers (or misty I should say) in parts of the hike but that didn't dampened the mood. After having long exposure to the concrete jungles in Singapore, this feels like a cleansing ritual to rejuvenate your body and soul.

Taikoiwa view (which is a big boulder on the edge of the mountain, pretty scary when the strong wind is blowing)

 

[akc850]

End of Yakushima, back to Kagoshima main land the next day.

Is she a caretaker or a real owner of 7 dogs?

 

[akc850]

Next stop: Sakurajima

Mostly walking around the area and only took the bus to reach the Yunohira Observatory Point. Took the opportunity for a dip at the public footbath:

View from Yunohira Observatory Point:

Had lunch at Hinoshima Megurikan Rest Stop

 

[kifo]

I was up at Takoiwa Rock too. The wind was real scary there. I remembered one of the posters on this forum spent the night up on the rock!! (I can't imagine how one can sleep on top of that rock... I would be so afraid of rolling off that small platform in the middle of the night...)

 

[Deathskull88]

Nice photos! I really enjoyed Kyushu, next time I hope to do a trip like urs, and travel from northern to southern Kyushu. U took only public transport in ur whole trip?

kifo: Haha, yeah I remember that report. That guy has got balls. Camping out is one thing, camping with a chance to break his neck is quite another

 

[kifo]

In case any other readers are wondering about Taikoiwa Rock on Yakushima, I found a video that shows a bit how narrow and scary that platform was.

I found the exact report by that forumer!!

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/59415736-post108.html

 

[akc850]

Nice photos! I really enjoyed Kyushu, next time I hope to do a trip like urs, and travel from northern to southern Kyushu. U took only public transport in ur whole trip?

kifo: Haha, yeah I remember that report. That guy has got balls. Camping out is one thing, camping with a chance to break his neck is quite another

Yup, public transport all the way. Since most of the time schedules are published, it's pretty easy to plan way ahead.

 

[xiaojing11]

TAKACHIHO
A pretty quiet town, something like Kawaguchiko if you have been to. As I need to rush to 2 areas within a day (Takachiho Gorge and Amano shrine) and the bus frequency was pretty bad. End up taking cab for a 15-minute ride from Gorge to shrine in order to meet our schedule.

One of the ducks roaming around on the steps to the row boat area:

Something like Kawaguchiko sure must b a very nice and scenery place!
Is it difficult to go there?

 

[akc850]

Something like Kawaguchiko sure must b a very nice and scenery place!
Is it difficult to go there?

How difficult you mean? I think you can only access the place by bus. If you need the bus schedule I can pass you the link

 

[kifo]

Well I would recommend renting a car

A possible itinerary:
10 am - pick up car from Kumamoto
12:30pm - after a leisurely drive with 1-2 toilet stops, visit Mt Aso. Have lunch.
1:30pm - set off for Takachiho
3:30pm - first visit Amano Iwato Shrine
4:30 pm - drive to the gorge and go boating! It is awesome rowing up to the waterfall!
6:00pm - check in hotel
after dinner - drive to see Kagura show (better if your hotel provides transport)
next morning 5:00am - drive to see the cloud sea
10 am - drive back to Kumamoto
12pm - visit the Shirakawa Suigen. Bring huge empty pet bottles to fit up with free spring water. Have lunch in the vicinity.
3pm - back in Kumamoto.

I did the same route, except I included in Kurokawa to make it a 3 days trip.

 

[akc850]

Nice itinerary. Agreed that if you can drive, do drive in Takachiho as the distance between the Gorge and Amano shrine is not really walkable.

 

[akc850]

MIYAZAKI

The first day of Miyazaki was't kind to us as it was raining pretty bad. First stop: Florante Miyazaki. Imagine walking in a flower park while carrying umbrella and camera on the other hand. Actually there is a nursery in the park where they allow you to pick up some plants home free-of-charge but we gently declined as confirm + chop cannot pass the custom.