What I saw in Kirishima, Kagoshima

After leaving Imuta-ike, we drove a mountainside road to Kirishima. But rain has been pouring on the way. Unfortunately, I got a terrible headache, and finally threw up all the food twice.

What did I do there? I took a picture of Myoban Jigoku (みょうばん地獄), a hot-spring wall along the Kirishima Skyline highway.

We also visited to Takachiho-gawara (高千穂河原) where Kirishima Jungu (霧島神宮) Shrine used to be located. But we couldn't see anywhere. Maybe we'll go there again next spring.

Lake Imuta, Kagoshima

Driving on National Route 267 from Hitoyoshi and passing some gentle curves and the Kyuhichi Pass Tunnel (九七峠トンネル), you will get into Isa (伊佐市), a city in Kagoshima prefecture. We further down the road until Satsuma Town (さつま町), then take the following routes to reach Lake Imuta or Imuta-ike (藺牟田池).

It's much complicated, so I'll tell you how to get there.

1. At Satsuma-cho Gunmyo, turn left to Prefectural Road 402.
2. At the end of the Prefectural Road, turn right to National Road 504.
3. At Sashi Intersection, turn left and keep going to Prefectural Road 51.
4. At Kedoin-cho Imuta, turn right to Prefectural Road 405. Turn to the left you'll see the lake in front of your eyes.

==Summary==
Imuta-ike is a freshwater caldera lake in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It forms part of Imutaike Prefectural Natural Park. Its plant communities were designated a Natural Monument of Japan in 1921 and sixty hectares of wetlands were designated a Ramsar Site in 2005.

Imuta-ike is surrounded by four mountains; Funamidake (498.8 m), San-o-dake (491 m), Katagi-yama (508.8 m), Tomigashiro (477 m) and Iimori-yama (432 m). Among of them, Iimori-yama (飯盛山) is known due to its beauty also as Imuta-fuji.

 Swimming ducks in the pond.

A lakeside. Some shops offer to hire a boat, you'll enjoy boating in the lake.

Stele for designated a Natural Monument of Japan is standing at the entrance of the pond.

I got an upgrade to premium economy on Cathay Pacific

My seat upgrade was successfully done. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I was asking for a seat upgrade to premium economy using my Asia miles two days before. I need 10,000 miles to upgrade for one-way between Seoul and Hong Kong. Today, I received a confirmation e-mail from Cathay Pacific. They gave me a 34A seat, it's the rear left side section of premium economy.

I'm going to George Town, Malaysia in October

I've decided to go Seoul, Hong Kong and Penang for 6 days from October 21 to 26. First, I had a plan to visit Seoul, Taiwan and Hong Kong in November. But my mind changes now. I really want to go George Town, the center of Penang Island, Malaysia. So I made a change the date, time and plans of my travel yesterday. I bought a last minute ticket of Cathay Pacific from Seoul. The price is 904,600 KRW (=about 93,741 Yen) including all taxes, fees and surcharges. It is an upgradeable ticket, so I'll be able to use a mileage upgrade. I've already applied for a seat upgrade to premium economy class of the return flight from Hong Kong. The answer will come in few days later. Same as the last year, I have to make a connection between Fukuoka and Seoul. This time I fly by Korean Air. I take on Korean Air in this section since April 2007.

Flights are as follows:

• October 21 KE788 FUK 10:30 - ICN 11:55/CX411 ICN 15:10 - HKG 17:45
• October 22 KA691 HKG 15:10 - PEN 18:50
• October 25 KA692 PEN 07:15 - HKG 11:35/CX418 HKG 14:25 - ICN 18:55
• October 26 KE781 ICN 18:40 - FUK 19:55

The first day, I take Korean Air flight to Seoul, then a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong. The transit time at Incheon is 3 hours and 15 minutes, so it has a plenty of time to change planes. I make a stopover for one night in Hong Kong. On the following day, I fly to Penang by Dragon Air, a group of Cathay Pacific. I don't decide what to do in George Town yet, maybe later. After spending 3 nights there, it's scheduled to return to Seoul. Of course, I must change another plane in Hong Kong. I only have one day in Seoul, therefore I really want to visit to Samcheong-dong (삼청동), a place where traditional and modern architecture coexist. I also try to eat waffles in Gangnam's fashonable street, called Apgujeong (압구정).

Visiting the site of Hitoyoshi Castle

We arrived at the site of Hitoyoshi Castle (人吉城跡) at 1 o'clock. We stopped our car in the city hall parking located in front of the castle. Before that, we had a lunch in the car. We've already bought breads near my home, so we ate some. After lunch, we had planned to go to the castle, but my mom doesn't want to go. So I went to there alone.

== Summary ==
The castle is located on the south side of Kuma River running through the city center, it has been built in the mountain of the confluence of its tributary Munekawa River. Using its own nature, the north and west sides are as natural moats, and the south and east sides are used as natural walls of its cliff and slope of the mountain. Arranged San-no-maru along to the Kuma River, Ni-no-maru to the south, and the castle keep on the hill. There has been a Gomado (Fire Offering Hall) of the castle at the keep instead of the tower.

Climbing up the steep stone stairs, you'll see the stone walls. Located in the center picture, Musha-gaeshi (武者返し) wall is the unique one that was built at the end of Edo period, called Bakumatsu (幕末) in Japanese.  It was borrowed from the medieval fortification technology from Europe and adopt it. The musha-gaeshi warrior-back wall is piled up with slightly protruding flat stones at the top of the castle, as well as to stop jumping over walls like a counter attacking. This wall is adapted to be allowed to fall it down easily. It also has been able to use to attack the enemy that sticks to walls.

The site of Ni-no-maru (二の丸) outer citadel. In 1871, the abolition of the han system forced the abandonment of the castle. Many of the buildings inside the castle grounds were taken down or moved to other locations.

Hitoyoshi panorama from Ni-no-maru.

I'm posting one more picture, the Kuma River from the Mizunote Bridge at the entrance of the castle. It's the best place to take photos in Hitoyoshi. Hitoyoshi Onsen hotsprings in the center picture, and there is an area in foreground made by a sandbank. It has been developed over the years, and become a parking for visitors now.

Go to Hitoyoshi along the Kuma River

After taking pictures of the Kumagawa Railway Bridge No.1, we want further go down to Hitoyoshi to see the castle ruins. We decided to take a drive to the National Highway 219. It is along the Kuma River, considered to be one of the three most rapid rivers of Japan (the other two being Mogami River and Fuji River). When we went into the Kuma Village (球磨村) , we're out of the national highway once and took the riverside road. It's a very narrow mountainous road with some gentle curves,but it's a fun.

The Kyusen-do (cave) Shinrin-kan Edison Museum (球泉洞森林館エジソンミュージアム), one of Japan's largest limestone cave, is located in the basement of Mount Gongen. Some places are open to the public, but if you want to go to the second cave which is a part of the route leading up to 200m below underground, you must wear a helmet and follow the instructions of staff. There is a storage provided for aging a local sake, called Kuma-shochu (球磨焼酎), you can keep your favorite Kuma-shochu up to 20 years.

Taking a short break here, we kept running to Hitoyoshi. Deep mountains and the rapid river continue for a while. The Kumagawa-kudari (球磨川下り) pleasure boat, as known for sightseeing spot in Kumamoto prefecture. About 70,000 tourists take a ride on the river every year. I hope I want to see that boat. Unfortunately, I couldn't see it at all this day.

Returning the national highway from Isshochi (一勝地), and we arrived at Hitoyoshi Castle at 1 o'clock.

To be continued..

The Kumagawa Railway Bridge No.1

After leaving the Kudaragi area, we headed off to the Kumagawa Railway Bridge No.1 (球磨川第一橋梁, Kumagawa Dai-ichi Kyoryo). The bridge crosses the Kuma River and linking Kamase and Setoishi in Kumamoto prefecture. It is a part of JR Hisatsu Line and was completed in 1908 by the American architect.

An entire view of the red colored bridge from the opposite side.

Visiting the Kudaragi area of Yatsushiro city, Kumamoto

First, we visited to the Kudaragi (百済; Baekje) area of former Sakamoto Village (坂本村), now marged with the city of Yatsushiro (八代) in August 2005. The name Baekje still exists here of post office, gym etc. They were probably settled here due to its defect in the Battle of Baekgang in 663.

The Kutaragi-jinja (久多良木神社) Shrine is located in this area. It's a very rustic shrine, but has a great faith for local worshipers.

Precinct of the shrine.

The main torii is standing at the entrance.

Next to the shrine, there is an elementary school, called Kutaragi ES. The school is now abandoned, but it has been kept in a clean state still.

About 100m further down the road from the shrine, you can find a monument of Kudararaijizo-do (百済来地蔵堂) Temple. It means the Buddha statues come from Baekje at that time. The tomb of Nichira (日羅), considered to be one of the Baekje royal family, is located inside the temple. I went there, but I don't know where it is. So I missed his tomb. Maybe I'll try next time.

Rice fields spread around the area.

With abandoned Kutaragi Elementary School in the background.

After that, we headed off to the Kumagawa Railway Bridge No.1 in Kamase area. It takes 30 minutes from here.

To be continued..

A day trip to Kumamoto and Kagoshima on Monday

On 1 September, we had decided to take a drive to see Lake Imuta (藺牟田池), a Ramsar site, in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima. It was a long trip, we left at 8:45 am and went back to home at 9:40 pm. First, we visited to the Kudaragi (百済) area of former Sakamoto village (坂本村), now become a part of Yatsushiro city (八代市). The name Kudaragi or Kudara (=Baekje) still exists here of post office, gym etc. Then, we saw the Kumagawa Railway Bridge No.1 (球磨川第一橋梁) on JR Hisatsu Line (肥薩線). The bridge was built by the American architect, and was completed in 1908. After we had a lunch, we strolled around the Hitoyoshi Castle. In 1871, the abolition of the han system forced the abandonment of the castle. Many of the buildings inside the castle grounds were taken down or moved to other locations.
Finally, we arrived at Lake Imuta or Imuta-ike (藺牟田池) around 3 o'clock. Imuta-ike is surrounded by four mountains; Funamidake (498.8 m), San-o-dake (491 m), Katagi-yama (508.8 m), Tomigashiro (477 m) and Iimori-yama (432 m). Among of them, Iimori-yama is known due to its beauty also as Imuta-fuji. After leaving Imuta-ike, we drove a mountainside road to Kirishima. But rain has been pouring on the way. When I was in Kirishima, I got a terrible headache and threw up all the food twice. Because of that, I only took a picture of Myoban Jigoku (みょうばん地獄), a hot-spring wall along the Kirishima Skyline highway.

I'll tell you later.

Imuta-ike is a freshwater caldera lake in Kagoshima prefecture.