Lake Kinrin, a tourist attraction in Yufuin

In the evening, we walked around the Lake Kinrin (金鱗湖 kinrin-ko) in Yufuin. Yufuin is a tourist town in Oita Prefecture and a popular destination for bus tours. There is a picturesque lake in the town center, and the Oita River flows down and across the valley. 

The lake is always crowded; when I look around I saw lots of international tourists from Taiwan. And some Yoshimoto entertainers coming to Yufuin shooting a TV show on tourism.

After that we had a stroll around the pond.

Maple trees in front of Yufuin Kirin-ko Museum. It seems like the autumn leaves are falling a little.

Autumn colors getting started in the forest around the lake.

Sakurai Futamigaura, a famous scenic spot in Fukuoka

Yesterday, we went to Sakurai Futamigaura (桜井二見ヶ浦) in Itoshima, Fukuoka. It was a nice autumn day and the weather was fine, so we decided to go out nearby.

Sakurai Futamigaura is a quite beach on the border between Nishi-ku, Fukuoka and Itoshima. A sight worth seeing is Meotoiwa (夫婦岩), a pile of rocks glued together, and the shimenawa rope tied between two rocks. Additionally there is a white torii gate stands on the beach.

I went down to the beach to see the rocks up close. 

Walking the samurai town of Taketa, Oita, part 2

After walking around the Buke-yashiki street, we went to another place, the Aizen-do (愛染堂) Buddhist temple. Aizen-do is the oldest temple in Taketa, a city in Oita Prefecture where the Oka Castle is located. 

The temple was built in 1635 by Nakagawa Hisamori (中川久盛) with support from Takeda Banshosaku Uemon (竹田番匠作右衛門), the artisan of Hida Province. Hisamori, the second daimyo of the Oka Domain in Bungo Province, was appointed as a member of the construction team of Nikko Tosho-gu. After he was completed his mission, he went back to his duties as a lord and ask Uemon to build the temple.

When you came to a side street called Hachimangawa Yokocho, you'll see the whole staircase that goes up to the temple.

Going up the stairs, there is a temple where Nakagawa was built as a prayer house. When you go to the left, you can see the Entsukaku (円通閣) stone wall gate as shown in the picture below.

The Aizen-do main hall. The main deity of the temple is Aizen-myoo, known as the god of love, that's why many couples go to pray their marriage.

Before going back to the car park, we saw statues of sixteen kannon at the entrance of the temple. Look at the picture. The 16 arhats standing on stone pillar!

Walking the samurai town of Taketa, Oita, part 1

After visiting the Taketa Yusui Springs Group, we strolled around the Buke-yashiki (武家屋敷) street in the Taketamachi area of Taketa. Taketa is a city located in the south of Oita Prefecture. The Oka Castle, a local historic landmark now in ruins, is nearby.

The first place we went is Tonomachi samurai warrior district. Many traditional houses are left on the street.

Once I got out of the street and went to a nearby place, the site of a hidden Christian (Kakure Kirishitan 隠れキリシタン) cave chapel. It is a place of worship located in caves of Oka Castle.
Some feudal lords in Bungo Province, such as Otomo Sorin who has believed in Christianity. When was Christianity banned in Japan during the Edo period, the hidden Christians continued to practice Christianity in secret. 

A long wall gate and a white wall warehouse along the street.

The Rentaro Tunnel named after Rentaro Taki, a pianist and one of the best-known composers of Japan.

Getting out the tunnel, there is a house of Rentaro Taki that Rentaro live at the age of 12 to 14 with his father's transfer. It is used as museum now.

After that we headed to our next visit, the Aizen-do Buddhist temple.

Visiting the Taketa Yusui Springs Group, Oita

In the afternoon, we went to the Taketa Yusui Springs Group (竹田湧水群 Taketa-yusui-gun) in the city of Taketa, Oita. It is beautiful springs located in the western part of the city. These springs are chosen for the best 100 spring water in Japan.

The spring water group is located in the basins of the Ogata River and Tamarai River that is tributary of the Ono River, and from the Aso Mountains as its origin. The total number of springs is about 60 along the Prefetural Road 8 in the Soho (祖峰) district, and the amount of spring water is roughly 60,000 to 70,000 tons per day.

The first place we went is Sensui Yusui (泉水湧水) Spring.

The water site which is known as one of the best drinking water in Kyushu Island.

The beauty of a water garden.

After that we went to Kawauda Yusui (河宇田湧水) Spring. It's close to the above mentioned Sensui Yusui and has the highest amount of spring water in the Taketa Springs Group, with 350 milliliters per hour!

The water station along the road. There are ten pipes for drinking water, so I bring a water plastic bottle from home.

Kotton, Chinese-style noodles restaurant next to the water station.

Nakajima Park is located on the opposite side of the road.

A slide pool. People enjoy swimming in water during the summer.

The cobblestone path of Futae Pass, Aso, Kumamoto

On November 5, we had decided to take a drive to see the stone paved road on Futae Pass in Aso, Kumamoto. I went there on the evening of October 15, but the time is already half past four. It was getting dark. The image was a bit blurry like a bad photo.

How do we get there? We were going straight to Kumamoto on Kyushu Expressway and taking Japan National Route 57 to the town of Ozu. We were going up north on Kumamoto Prefectural Route 339, commonly known as Milk Road, there's a small parking lot on the right side just above the intersection with Prefectural Road 23, from which the Bungo Kaido Historic Road has begun.

We're going down into the Aso Valley.

A sharp curve continues when you go down the stone pavement from the top of the pass.

Superb views of Mount Aso and the valley of Aso. Mount Nakadake, the active volcano currently erupting, can be seen in the background.

Walking the Sankin-kotai Road in Aso, Kumamoto

After visiting Mount Aso, we went up the Sankin-kotai Road paved with cobblestones in Aso, Kumamoto. I've checked the info about Futae Pass (二重峠 futae-no-touge), the most difficult place to go down the Aso mountains. Especially the way from Futae Pass to Matoishi rest area is so steep, and the soil is made of volcanic ash. It is slippery when wet. Kato Kiyomasa, the first daimyo of Kumamoto Domain, decided to set up the paved road.

We parked a car in front of the entrance and start walking.

The site of Sakashita Chaya restroom near the entrance.

We're now walking on cobblestone roads.

We saw a big cypress tree called the tree of attendance changes. It is an old tree with cedar along the road. The age is over 500 years, you know why Kiyomasa grew tree along the mountain slopes.

We were going up a mountain.

The road continues to the top of the mountain pass, but we decided to go back on the way.

A resting place for travelers

I looked back on the Sankin-kotai Road from the middle of the paved stones.

Visiting Mount Aso, Kumamoto

In the afternoon, we had decided to take a drive to see the Mount Aso crater otherwise known as Mount Nakadake. We wanted to go to the top of mountain by car, but the road was closed to traffic. We went to the Kusasenri (草千里) observatory to see the current eruption of volcano instead.

Close up view of the Mount Nakadake creator.

The small eruption is still going on now.

Superb views of Mount Komazuka and the outer ring of Aso mountain rims. Komezuka (米塚), an old volcano on the mountain, is in the center picture and the mountain ranges of northern Aso in the foreground. 

Kusasenrigahama (草千里ケ浜) is a grassland located on the opposite side of the road. There is the former crater in the north of Mount Eboshi, one of the five mountains of Aso. 

Walking Imaichi-shuku, a post town on the Bungo Kaido

After walking around the spa town of Myoban, we went to Imaichi-shuku (今市宿), a post town on the Bungo Kaido highway in Oita.

Driving on National Routes 10, 210 and 442 and passing through central Beppu and Oita, we came to the town of Notsuharu. We should take turn on the right, but we didn't know where to turn to. We took another road and came to near Onoya Station in Yufu City. There is the nearest Lawson store on the road. We ask salesperson to how to get there. She said, "You should go back the way you came. You'll find there's a road sign to Imaichi". Turn back the way we came and turn right on the middle of road. Going down the road to Imaichi, we finally got here.

A huge signboard at the entrance of an old post town. You'll see it when you're coming from Oita city.

We parked a car in front of Higurashi Chayaya (ひぐらし茶屋) grocery shop and start walking.

The Maruyama Hachiman Shrine at the entrance of Higo Province side. It was built by Kato Kiyomasa, the first daimyo of Kumamoto Domain in 1611.

We're now walking on cobblestone roads. It is well maintained path with stones.

A corner place called Shingen Magari (信玄曲り). The purpose of making a corner is to make it difficult for the enemy planning to invade so that the town can't be overlooked at first glance, if the enemy comes in one way.

The Bungo Kaido was established in 1601 by Kato Kiyomasa, and was an important route that connected the castle town of Kumamoto and the Tsurusaki region of Bungo Province. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified the nation and Kiyomasa entered Higo to rule the province, Kato used this road to the Port of Tsurusaki in Oita. Then he came to Osaka through the Seto Inland Sea and head to Edo by foot.
During the Edo period, as the sankin-kotai system was set up, the Hosokawa clan of Kumamoto also started to use the road when they traveled back and forth between Edo.

In 1864, after the arbitration of the Shimoseki campaign, Katsu Kaishu (勝海舟), the navel engineer and Sakamoto Ryoma passed the road to Nagasaki. They also used this road to and from Saganoseki, where he took a ferry to and from Edo.

The journey will continue to Tsurusaki.

Walking around the spa town of Myoban, Beppu

On the second day, we went to some sightseeing spots such as Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture. We also visited some historical places related to Bungo Kaido, the old road network in Japan dating from the Edo period.

First we strolled around the spa town of Myoban. Among the eight hot springs of Beppu, the Myoban Onsen (明礬温泉) has a sense of the inner space. Located in mountain areas, Myoban is famous for its yunohana (湯の花) products that have been developed from the Edo era. The thatched huts of Yunohana that produce hot pink spring flowers are shown their work process.

We parked a car in the Okamoya souvenir shop. There is an observation deck, you can see a magnificent city view and the bridge of Oita Expressway in front of you. 

After that I went to see the Yunohana huts in the nearby place called Yunosato.

Going through the souvenir shops and walk straight, I finally came here.

More Yunohana huts with Mount Garan in the background.

The Yunohana museum hut. I recommend you to visit this place; you can see the manufacturing process of natural flower medicine for free.