I met a cute cat at Kareigawa train station

In the afternoon, we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Kareigawa (嘉例川) railway station on Hisatsu Line in Kirishima, Kagoshima. The station was built in 1903 when the old Kagoshima Main Line was opened. 

Look at the picture. It looks like an ordinally station, but why I want to go there❓ Because I want to see a pretty station cat called for San-chan (さんちゃん)🐈 She came to the office after Nyantaro (にゃん太郎), the first station master, was passed away two years ago😿    

Unfortunately, San-chan wasn't at the cathouse😥When I went outside, I saw her sleeping at the bus stop🚏😃

After that I went into the station🚉 I didn't see anyone because there were no trains at that time😑

Meeting the Totoro statue in Takaharu, Miyazaki

On the second day, we went to some sightseeing spots such as Kareigawa Station in Kagoshima. 

First we went to the Totoro statue in Takaharu. Takaharu is a beautiful town located in the eastern foot of Mount Kirishima. 

Driving on National Highways 10 and 268, Miyazaki Prefectural Route 29 and passing through the town center, we came to the statue🗽

This statue of Totoro was made by a couple who turned 70 as a present for their grandchildren and children in commemoration of their 70th birthday. It was made with cement using the technique of 50 years of experience as a plasterer. Due to its high degree of perfection, it was introduced on news sites not only in Japan🗾 but around the world🗺😁

Tips when going to the Totoro statue in Takaharu town:

The statue is now a hotspot on social media📱 e.g. Instagram, but it's actually on the premises of the house🏡 I wish you don't shout all the time. And no trespassing at night🌙🙆

Thank you for your cooperation🙇 

Views from Miyazaki Kanko Hotel

After visiting Kumamoto Castle, we headed to Miyazaki Kanko Hotel (宮崎観光ホテル). We just stay for one night and booked on Rakuten Travel at cheapest price, ¥14000 per person per night with two meals🍽 They offer us a special discount because of Go to travel campaign so we can get a cheap hotel rate at a half price😀 For dinner, we went to eat Chicken🐔 Nanban, a local famous dish at Ogura (おぐら) restaurant near the hotel. 

The Chicken Nanban (チキン南蛮) I ate. Cabbage salad and spaghetti Neapolitan are served as a side dish😊    

We stayed in the room with a view of Oyodo River. The room was enough specious for us.

A good morning river view from my room. 

After having breakfast, I took a stroll at the Tachibana Park along the river😄 

The Cathay Pacific flight to Fukuoka is back!

According to traicy, a Japanese travel media, reported on October 31 that Cathay Pacific (CX/CPA) announces the resume of a (direct) flight between Hong Kong and Fukuoka on December 16. It will start with three flights a week on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and to increase daily in January next year😁 

The airline was suspended the service in five years ago. But due to the company liquidation of Cathay Dragon, they decided to take over the route, and came back to Fukuoka on a cargo flight in November 2020.   

Additional information on December 5: According to RKB online on December 2 that Cathay Pacific has already resumed flights to Fukuoka from previous day😀 The airline plans to operate 3 flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until the end of this month and as mentioned above, CX adding four more flights in January next year👏

Visiting Kumamoto Castle again

 We went to Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima for 2 days on November 3 and 4.

First, we had decided to take a drive to Kumamoto Castle🏯 in the heart of the city🏙 You probably know that the castle completely collapsed in the Kumamoto earthquakes six years ago. When we visited the following year, it was still under reconstruction😢

The castle is always crowded: when I took around I saw a lot of tourists from Japan🗾 and abroad🗺 They want to see what it will be in six years😄

Let's take a tour from Ninomaru Park🏃

The brand new keep tower was completed last April. It took five years to restore.

The Misaru-yagura (未申櫓) turret was also restored😊  

But the some part of walls has not yet started😭    

The reconstruction work of the Iida-maru (飯田丸) five-stories turret is still ahead😥 I think it will take a while to complete😐