Panoramic views of Sakurajima and Kagoshima from Shiroyama Park viewpoint

After visiting the Xavier Park, we went up to Shiroyama Park viewpoint. From here, you can see Kagoshima city center across the Kagoshima Bay/Kinko Bay with Sakurajima in the background.

There's no cloud on this day, we could see Sakujima clearly.

A view of the Kagoshima city center.

After that, we bought some souvenirs at the nearby Shiroyama Kanko Hotel. When we came back to the parking lot in the park, we saw many Chinese tourists getting off from the bus. They go on a cruise to some major cities of Japan such as Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Osaka, Tokyo etc.

Xavier Park, the place where the first Christian missionary comes to Kagoshima

Next we were going to Xavier Park in Kagoshima. Although we went to Kagoshima many times, but it's first time to visit there. The park was made in commemoration of 400 years of arrival by Francis Xavier who first came to Kagoshima for missionary work of Christianity in Japan.

A part of the church was left when I went to the park.

It seems that the Father Ragge who creates the first Japanese - French dictionary in the Meiji era and is a part of the old stone church that was built the Catholic church for the achievement of Xavier.  However, the church was completely burnt down in the last great war and is not left now.

There are other bronze statues in the park showing how Xavier was conducting missionary activities with Yajiro, the Shimazu warrior and Bernardo.

After that, we went into the St. Xavier's Cathedral Church on the opposite side of the park.

But we don't know where the entrance is. Then we met a guy on the first floor. He was so kind, he took us to the prayer's room. He also told us everything about history of Christianity in Kagoshima.

Visiting Shofu-en, a lovely Japanese garden in Fukuoka

On December 21, we made a short trip to Shofu-en (松風園), a Japanese garden in a residential area of Chuo-ku, Fukuoka. The garden was originally used for the old mansion of Mr. Zenpachi Tanakamaru, the founder of Tamaya, a long-established department store that once existed in Fukuoka. After his death, the city of Fukuoka bought his house and opened as a Japanese garden on July 1, 2007.

Passing through the gate and going up some stone stairs, we came to a ticket booth. We have to pay a 100 yen entrance fee to go inside.

A view of the garden from the hall.

A tatami living room with the Shoji (障子) paper sliding door.

After visiting the tea room, we went back to the entrance hall. Then we walked in the garden.

The house seen from the garden.

We went further to the back of the building through the stone cobbles. There is an Azuma-ya (東屋) or the Octagonal pavilion in the back of the garden. It's the best place to rest, you can take a closer look at the big beautiful garden.

Visiting Uenohara Site, Kirishima, Kagoshima

On the second day, we went around the southern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, such as the Uenohara Site (上野原縄文の森 -jyomon-no-mori), the oldest restored Jomon village in Kirishima city.

Taking on National Highway 10 and passing through central Miyakonojo, we arrived to the Uenohara Site.

This is a trace of a large settlement which is said to be the oldest in Japan. From the volcanic ash of the Sakurajima eruption about 9500 years ago, the village trace of the early Jomon period was discovered.

The beautiful autumn colors with pit-dwelling houses in the background.  

Views from Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort, Miyazaki

After leaving the Mimitsu area, we headed to the Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort. We just stay one night and booked on the hotel site at cheapest price, 17,800 yen per person per night with two meals. Although there aren't many kind of foods available, but we enjoyed very much.

From Wikimedia commons

The room was a standard twin on the 26th floor. It was enough for us with ocean view. We could see the Pacific Ocean at dawn.

The site of Seagaia Ocean Dome. The building was demolished in early this year.

A view from the window in front of the hotel elevator.

The Miyazaki city center can be seen on the left side.

Waking around Mimitsu, a historical place in Hyuga

After seeing Umagase, we went to the Mimitsu (美々津) area in Hyuga, Miyazaki. This area has been designated a national important preservation district for groups of historic buildings.

We went there once before, but we only see the Uemachi (上町) main street last time. This time we walked around the Nakamachi (中町) area where are the Machiya (町屋) style houses in the street.

The Hyuga City Historical Folk Museum is in the center of Nakamachi area. This used to be a lighter shop between Edo and Meiji periods. Now it has been restored as a folk museum.  

Seeing Umagase, Hyuga, Miyazaki

After seeing the five mountains of Aso from Tsukimari Park, we went down south to see Umagase (馬ヶ背) in Hyuga, Miyazaki. It's a scenic spot where you can see a beautiful coastline of the Pacific Ocean.

We arrived at Umagase-chayaya (馬ヶ背茶屋) rest house. Like most famous sightseeing spots in Japan, there's a free parking lot in front of the entrance so it is very helpful for us. From here, we took a walk down to the observation deck. Eventually a dazzling rock appears in my eyes; with a height of 70 meters, a width of 10 meters, and a depth of 200 meters. And the height of a 70 meter cliff is the highest in Japan, surpassing Tojinbo (東尋坊) in Fukui Prefecture.

After that we went down to the path. Finally we came around the Cape Hyuga. We could see the beautiful evening before sunset.

 

What did we see in Minamiaso, Kumamoto

Here, I'll tell you the places we went in Minamiaso, Kumamoto. Minamiaso is a beautiful village located in the southern foot of Mount Aso, the world's largest caldera.

We took a short lunch break at Aso-no-bo-no-sato Kugino (あその望の郷くぎの) rest house. From here, you can see the Five mountains of Aso right in front of you.

After that, we were strolling around the Shirakawa Suigen (白川水源) fountainhead. It's the origin of Shira River (白川) flowing through the Kumamoto city center. There's a rich spring water gushed out from the prescient of Shirakawa Yoshimi Shrine.

Before going to Umagase (Hyuga, Miyazaki), we dropped in Tsukimawari Park in Takamori. Mount Nekodake (根子岳) is the symbolic icon of the park. The jagged and edge mountain range draws one's eyes. And the place where green on the hillside got stripped is a mark of disaster strikes such as the Kumamoto earthquakes in last April.

Aso panorama from Tawarayama Pass viewpoint, Minamiaso, Kumamoto

We went to Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima for 2 days on November 27 and 28.

First, we had visited the Tawarayama Pass Viewpoint (俵山峠展望所 -touge tenbojo) in Minamiaso, Kumamoto. This is the best viewing spot for great panorama of the Five mountains of Aso (阿蘇五岳 -godake) from the west side.

Driving on Kumamoto Prefectural Routes 36, 206 and 28 from Mashiki-Kumamoto Kuko Interchange on Kyushu Expressway and passing some gentle curves, we came to the Tawarayama Pass. However, there are parts of some detours in Nishihara due to the Kumamoto earthquakes of last year.

From here, you can see the Five mountains of Aso right in front of you. Mount Komezuka (米塚), a volcano parasite of Mount Aso, is in the center picture.

A view of the south outer Aso mountain ranges. As you see in the picture, the entire village of Minamiaso is surrounded by Aso caldera.

Fly to Bangkok with Thai Airways, part 3/タイ国際航空でバンコクへ（その3）

A flight report on TG635 from Taipei to Bangkok. This is a one-stop flight from Seoul Incheon to Bangkok by way of Taipei Taoyuan.
Please have a look at my flight experience blog between Incheon and Taipei.

TG635便の台北ーバンコク間搭乗記です。当便はソウル仁川発台北桃園経由バンコク行きです。
＊仁川ー台北間の搭乗記はこちら。

I was waiting at the gate B4 until boarding started. It'll be started at 8 pm. I'll return the transit card to the staff and get on the plane from Incheon again.
搭乗開始までB4ゲートで待っていました。搭乗開始は午後8時。降りたときにもらった乗り継ぎカードを係員に返してから、再び仁川からの飛行機へ乗り込みます。

My flight left in 17 minutes late, at 8:27 pm. In 15 minutes later, it was taking off from Rwy 05R.
飛行機は定刻より17分遅れの午後8時27分に出発。そして15分後に滑走路05Rから離陸。

Mixed nuts before a meal.
離陸後しばらくしてからナッツのサービス。

The second meal. I chose chicken curry with rice again. The taste was a little different from the first one, but it was so delicious.
機内食はまたもチキンカレーのご飯和えを選択。仁川発とは多少味が異なっていましたがこれもおいしかったです。

After a meal I wanted to listen classical music. Unfortunately there was a problem with in the flight entertainment system on my seat, so I asked the crew who passed the side to reset the panel but still it didn't work. Therefore I went to the galley and asked a Thai Stewart. He was so kind, he was checking me out the rear seat to sit and listen to music. I must say "Thank you" to him.
食事後にクラシック音楽を聴こうと思ったのですがあいにくにも僕の座席の機内エンターテイメントシステムに途中不具合が生じてしまい、それで側を通った乗務員を呼んでパネルをリセットしてもらいましたがそれでも作動しませんでした。それでギャレーまで行ってタイ人男性乗務員にお願いするとエンタメが作動する後方の席を探してくれました。親切にしてくれたその方に感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。

I got orange juice an hour before arrival. There was a guide video of Suvarnabhumi Airport after that.
到着1時間ほど前にオレンジジュースをもらいました。その後スワンナプーム空港の案内ビデオが流れていました。

The plane was safely arrived at Bangkok 10:52 pm local time. 
飛行機は現地時刻の午後10時52分バンコクへ到着。

The arrival gate was ?. Since there is no boarding gate bridge here, I have to take a bus to the terminal. When I got off the plane, the bus was stopped but I was waiting for the next bus for about 5 minutes because it was full. The immigration counter is located just off the bus. There is only a few people waiting in a row at the immigration, it ends immediately. My luggage is sending through from Fukuoka, so I have to pick it up at the baggage reclaim. I finally got my luggage coming out after 10 minutes and I was able to take it without any problems. After that we went to the hotel by private car. 
到着ゲートは？。今回は沖止めなのでターミナルまでバス移動しなければなりません。飛行機から降りるとすぐにバスが止まっていましたが満員とのことで次の便まで5分ほど待たされました。バスを降りてすぐのところに入国審査場があります。この時間帯は到着便が少ないせいかガラガラであっという間に終わりました。手荷物受取所では福岡からスルーで送った荷物を引き取らなけらばなりません。10分ほど経ってからようやく荷物が出てきて何の問題なく引き取れました。その後専用車でホテルへ。 

Taking pictures of planes at Incheon Airport on 17 October/10月17日仁川空港での飛行機撮影

I was taking pictures of planes of the world at the concourse before boarding TG635 flight to Bangkok. There are many departing flights in this time, you can see the airlines from all over the world at a time.
バンコク行きTG635便の搭乗前にコンコースにて撮影した飛行機です。この時間帯には出発便が重なるので一度に世界中から集まる航空会社を見ることができます。

An American Airlines flight AA280 to Dallas (B787-9)/アメリカン航空のダラス行きAA280便（B787-9）

From February 17, the airline has introduced Boeing's state of the art, the 787s to the Incheon route.
同社は2月17日からボーイング社の最新鋭である787型機を仁川線に投入しています。

A Malaysia Airlines flight MH67 to Kuala Lumpur (A330-300) /マレーシア航空のクアラルンプール行きMH67便（A330-300）

The KL bound flight left 6 hours behind schedule due to aircraft failure, perhaps.
この日は機体不良（？）などで定刻より6時間遅く出発していました。

A Hong Kong Airlines flight HX629 to Hong Kong (A330-200) /香港航空の香港行きHX629便（A330-200）

From December 16, 2016, a Hong Kong based airline began operating a scheduled service between Hong Kong and Incheon to 1 flight per day, but the flight schedule varies depending on the day of the week. 
昨年12月16日から同社は香港ー仁川線を1日1便で就航開始していますが、スケジュールは曜日によって異なります。

And one more thing to upload on this blog. I also saw the special coating plane of Korean Air Boeing 777-300ER stopped at the main terminal. The aircraft registration number HL8250 is currently in use since the fuselage was repainted as a special livery.
さらに向かい側のメインターミナルに大韓航空のボーイング777-300ERの特別塗装機が停まっているのを見かけました。機体番号はHL8250でした。

Fly to Bangkok with Thai Airways, part 2/タイ国際航空でバンコクへ（その2）

A flight report on TG635 from Incheon to Bangkok. This is a one-stop flight by way of Taipei.
仁川ーバンコク間のTG635便搭乗記です。当便は台北経由です。

Taking with a Thai Airways is in a long time, since August 2006. At that time, I went to Bangkok and Singapore from Fukuoka.
タイ国際航空に乗るのは2006年8月以来久々でそのときは福岡発でバンコクとシンガポールへ行ったときに利用しました。

 Flight info/フライト情報

• Origin/出発地：Seoul Incheon/ソウル仁川
• Destination/目的地：Bangkok via Taipei Taoyuan/バンコク（台北桃園経由）
• Flight time/飛行時間：7 hours and 20 minutes/7時間20分
• Aircraft/機種：Boeing 777-300/ボーイング777-300
• Registration number/機体番号：HS-TKD

Equipment is B777-300, it was nothing going to change their operational fleet. The airline has two different type of B773s, the one is 773A of the initial type and the another one is 773B/77W of the derived type. The plane that I got on was the former one. In case of TG, both equipment will be used for their short and middle distance flights and only 777-300 is listed on the web so that I don't know which one I can ride at the time of booking. They should be improved a little easier to understand. 
機材は予定通りB777-300型機でした。TGの773は初期型の773Aと派生型の773B(77W)があって、乗った便は初期型のほうでした。TGだと短・中距離線に両方の機種が入るうえにホームページ上に777-300しか記載されておらず、どちらに乗れるか予約段階ではわからないのでもう少しわかりやすく改善すべきです。

My flight left in 42 minutes late, at 6:12 pm. During taxi, there was a Malaysia Airlines plane to Kuala Lumpur in front of us, and it was ahead taking off. This was also 7 hours behind schedule. Finally, it was taking off from Rwy 33R at 6:27 pm.
飛行機は定刻より42分遅れの午後6時12分に出発。タキシング中ちょうど前にはクアラルンプール行きのマレーシア航空機がいて先に離陸しました。こちらも予定より7時間遅れでした。そして午後6時27分には滑走路33Rから離陸。

Meal. I chose chicken curry with rice. It was awesome Thai style curry with coconut milk. I think Thai's plane food is so great.
機内食はチキンカレーのご飯和えを選択。もう一択は韓国料理のポークでしたがこれを選んだのが正解でした。タイ独特の香辛料の香りとまろやかなカレーにココナッツミルクを練り合わせていてとても美味しかったです。

Welcome to Thai Airways in-flight entertainment system. It's available in seven languages, including Japanese.
機内エンターテイメントシステムのウエルカムスクリーン。日本語を含め7言語で対応しています。

I choose a 35H seat of the right aisle. My flight still have some vacant seats because there are many cheap flights available between Seoul and Bangkok.
座席は右通路側の35Hを選択。機内はかなり空席が目立っていました。同じ時間帯には韓国系LCCが直行便でたくさん飛ばしているのでそれらの攻勢に負けているのではないかと思います。

A paper napkin with a logo printed on its founding 57th anniversary.
創立57周年記念ロゴが描かれた紙ナプキン。

The plane was safely arrived at Taipei 7:22 pm local time. The arrival gate was B4 of Terminal 1. I'm going to Bangkok so I must get off the plane once and get into it again. I got a transit card for Bangkok but I don't know where the gate is. I was wondering around the terminal. Finally I went to immigration counter. When I came here, many Japanese high school girls who went to school trip from Tokyo or Nagoya. They really looked like a cute idol group like AKB48. I think high school girls in Japan are very fashionable and stylish. 
After that I went back to the original place, there was a ground staff of Thai Airways and he was kindly to tell me that "The gate is here".
飛行機は現地時刻の午後7時22分台北に到着。到着ゲートは第1ターミナルのB4でした。引き続きバンコクまで行くので一旦機内から降りなければなりません。降りたとき乗り継ぎカードを係員からもらってゲートに向かいましたがわからず間違えて入国審査のほうへ。来たとき東京か名古屋から修学旅行に来ていた女子高生たちがたくさん並んでいました。本当にAKB48のようなかわいいアイドルに似ていて思わずテンションアップしてしまいました。それでもわからずにあつちこっちウロウロした挙句元の場所に戻ってくるとタイ航空の係員がいて「ゲートはここですよ」と親切に教えてくれました。

I got through the security procedure and passed through the duty free shopping street, finally I got to the boarding gate. I was waiting at the gate until boarding. I'll return the transit card to the staff and get on the plane.
保安検査を受け、免税店街を抜けるとようやく搭乗ゲートへたどり着きました。そして搭乗開始までゲートで待っていました。降りたときにもらった乗り継ぎカードを係員に返してから、飛行機へ乗り込みます。

To be continued..
続く..