Gionnosu, the place where the first Christian missionary comes to Kagoshima

Next we were going to Gionnosu Park. Gion-no-su (祇園之洲) is a quiet inlet facing Kinko Bay. 

This is the place where Francis Xavier first set foot in Japan, on August 15, 1549.

When we are standing on an island, the majestic mount Sakurajima lies in front of us😀 I wonder thoughts Xavier had as he looked to the mountain when he first came to Japan.

The memorial plaque commemorating Xavier's landing, seen in the photograph, is a work by Louis Fransen that evokes the historic monument when he landed, and the people of this locality looked up to him in amazement😨  

Right next to it, a bronze statue of Xavier appears to be floating in the air, and tells us the history of Christian mission in Japan🗾

Shortly after arriving in Kagoshima, Xavier visited Shimazu Takahisa, the fifteenth head of the Shimazu samurai clan, and received permission to preach within a month. 

He went all the way across the ocean from Europe to Kagoshima in the Satsuma Province. 

Visiting Ishibashi Memorial Park, Kagoshima

On the morning of the third day, we went to a couple of sightseeing spots in Kagoshima. 

First we went to Ishibashi Memorial Park near Kagoshima Station🚃 

There were five stone bridges built over the Kotsuki River during the Edo period, but two of them were washed away in the heavy rains of August 1993😲 So, in order to preserve the three remaining bridges as a valuable cultural heritage for future generations, it was decided to move them to a safe location and is open to the public when the river was renovated. This is how this park was created😊 

The Nishidabashi Bridge. It was built in 1846 by Iwanaga Sabugoro (岩永三五郎), a well-known architect from the Higo Province, present-day Kumamoto Prefecture. 

The Nishidabashi Gate. There used to be a gate on the left bank of the Nishidabashi Bridge, where samurai and townspeople from the castle town, as well as travelers passing through the domain, would pass through after being inspected at the guardhouse next to the gate. The gate was opened only daytime, from 6am to 6pm.  

We're crossing the Inari River flows between Ishibashi Memorial Park and Gionnosu Park. The best view of Sakurajima volcano island can be seen from here. 

Here we find the Koraibashi Bridge. Compered to the above mentioned Nishidabashi Bridge, it is more simple than that. I think it is more focused on practicality. 

Oh, did I forgot something? Yeah that's right, I forgot to take a picture of Tamaebashi Bridge!😥

The museum was closed today. Sorry😭

Views from Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kagoshima

After visiting the buried torii of Sakurajima, we headed to Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kagoshima (ソラリア西鉄ホテル鹿児島). We just stay for one night and booked on Rakuten Travel at cheapest price, about ¥11000 per person per night with breakfast.

The hotel is located right next to the east exit of JR Kagoshima Chuo Station, and it is very convenient for public transportation such as the Kyushu Shinkansen line🚄

The entrance of a hotel. 

There are two ways to go from the train station, you can either cross the street or take the underground passage. I think the latter one is the best way to get there😁

The lobby of this hotel is very beautiful. It's pretty good I guess😀 

We stayed on the top floor with a view of Mount Sakurajima⛰ 

We reserved a double room when we book, but it was too small for us😢 So we paid 3000 yen more at the front desk and the room has changed😄

A good morning mountain view from my room.

The buried torii of Sakurajima, Kagoshima

After visiting Arimura Lava Observation Deck, we went to Kurokami Buried Torii near observatory. 

As you can see, most of the torii gate⛩ is no longer visible. The volcanic ash on January 12, 1914 that covered in the entire Sakurajima Island. As a result, the 3 meter high Shinto gate of Haragosha-jinja (腹五社神社) was filled with smoke😲

On the following day, lava began to flow and a 3 billion ton wave of fire crossed the Seto Strait, connecting the island of Sakurajima and Osumi Peninsula.  

Visiting Arimura Lava Observation deck, Kagoshima

In the afternoon, we had decided to take a drive to see the Arimura Lava Observation Deck in Kagoshima. It is such a lovely place with a scenic view of Mount Sakurajima⛰😁

We parked a car in front of stairs and go up to the top🌄

A magnificent view of the volcanic mountain in front of you😊

I found coins in the lava. Maybe someone put a 1 yen coin in wish?

A shelter provides us from volcanic ash. There are many places you'll see it on the big island😀

Visiting Aburatsu red brick house in Nichinan, Miyazaki

After visiting a beautiful botanical garden in Aoshima, we went to the Aburatsu (油津) area of Nichinan city. Aburatsu is the historic town and famous red buildings built in the 1920s. 

We parked a car in front of Horikawa Museum. It is built along the Horikawa River using local Obi cedar for building🏠

The Horikawa Canal crossing bridge made of stones. The first bridge was built in the 1600s which is made of wood🌲 But in response to the request from local residents for a permanent bridge, it turned into a stone over a period of four years😅

Going down an alley along the canal, you'll see the Aburatsu red brick house. 

It was built in 1922 as a store house for the Kono family. It is a three-story building with a tiled roof, made using approx. 220.000 bricks. The central passageway is arched, preserving the appearance of the Taisho era. 

The red brick buildings face each other, and beyond them is the old Sugimura Hardware Main Store. Built in 1932, it is a three-story wooden building with 3 floors; the first floor of a house is a shop which sells hardware, the second and third floor is a living room😄

Visiting a pretty botanical garden in Miyazaki

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

First I took pictures of buses🚌 in Miyazaki, and stay in a hotel for the night. 

On the second day, we had decided to take a drive to go to the Miyako botanical garden near the little island🏝

The museum is free entry, so you can watch tropical flowers that grow indoors😄

Let's take a trip to tropical flower garden.

I saw the famous merlion there😊 

After that I went to the tropical fruit greenhouse. There are lots of bananas🍌 and mangoes🥭 growing on a tree🌴

Visiting Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence, Kumamoto

In the afternoon, we went to Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence. Lafcadio Hearn, also known as Yakumo Koizumi (小泉八雲) after naturalization, was a Greek-Irish writer who introduced the culture and literature of Japan to the Western world. 

He lived in Kumamoto for three years from 1891 to 1894 as an English teacher at the former Fifth High School, present-day Kumamoto University. 

The house is designated as a cultural property of Kumamoto City, and is open to the public. 

The picture shows us the history of Hearn went on his voyage to Japan🛳 

A timeline of Hearn's life.

The chronology of Hearn literary works during his stay in Kumamoto.

Hearn with his wife Setsuko. 

During his fifteen-month stay in Matsue, Hearn married Koizumi Setsuko (小泉節子), aka. Koizumi Setsu (小泉セツ), the daughter of a local samurai family. 

This is a traditional Japanese house with garden view🏡

Visiting the Former Oe Residence of Natsume Soseki, Kumamoto

After visiting Janes Residence, we went to the Former Oe Residence of Natsume Soseki. 

It is not too far from here; just walking around the Suizenji Jojuen Garden and when you see the nursery school, it's right in front of you. 

The entrance. 

Natsume Soseki moved to Kumamoto from Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, in 1896 to take up a post as an English teacher at the former Fifth High School, present-day Kumamoto University. Soseki moved six times in the four years and three months between 1896 and 1900. Of the six houses he lived in, only two remain: the third house in Oe and the fifth house in Uchitsuboimachi (内坪井町) near Kumamoto Castle.

The admission fee is ¥200 per person, and historical documents from that time are on display inside. It's definitely worth a visit😃

Visiting Janes Residence, Kumamoto

Yesterday we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Janes Residence in Kumamoto. I've been there many times before, but I'd never been to the old house, so I decided to go.

According to the Kumamoto city official website, this is the oldest Western-style building still standing in the prefecture, and was built in 1871 to welcome the American educator Leroy Lancing Janes to Kumamoto Western School. Janes lived here for five years, from 1871 to 1876, educating the young people of Kumamoto.

This building is the place where, during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, Tsunetami Sano received permission from Prince Arusugawa Taruhito, a Japanese carrier officer in the Imperial Japanese Army, to establish the Hakuaisha (博愛社), the precursor to the current Japanese Red Cross Society.

It was originally built in the Kojomachi area near Kumamoto Castle, but was moved several times as its function changed, eventually being moved to the adjacent to the east side of Suizenji Jojuen Garden. However, it was destroyed by the Kumamoto earthquakes. The new house of Janes that was moved at the Suizenji Ezuko Park in September 2023.

Let's take a tour to the retro style building🏛 of the early Meiji era.

The room is very specious, with chandelier and fireplace. I felt so nostalgic😊

Signs of the Janes' Mansion and Japan Red Cross Memorial Museum.

These are parts of building a house broken by earthquake😨  

Visiting Usa Machu Picchu viewpoint, Oita

On June 28 we had decided to take a drive🚙 to Machu Picchu viewpoint in the former town of Innai, now merged with the city of Usa. 

In Japan, it is commonly known as Machu Picchu in Usa. There's a reason why they call it Machu Picchu. The shape of a mountain called Akiba-sama (秋葉様) that looks like Mount Huayna Picchu in Peru😁

I bought pretty snake dolls at Nagasaki Chinatown

In the evening, we went to Nagasaki Chinatown. As usual, we bought some "snake"🐍 Chinese new year goods at Min-min boutique shop.

NB: This photo was taken last year.

We got here at half past five. It's been two weeks since the Nagasaki Lantern Festival ended so there were quite a few customers😥

I bought four snake🐍 toys; one big one and three little ones. They're all pretty, I think the left one is the best.

Visiting Nagai Takashi Memorial Museum, Nagasaki

On Monday we had decided to take a drive to Nagasaki🚙 As usual, I bought some snake🐍 Chinese new year goods at Min-min boutique shop in Chinatown. 

Before that we went to Nagai Takashi Memorial Museum near Urakami Cathedral⛪ 

Takashi Nagai is a medical doctor who has written books such as "The Bells of Nagasaki" and "Leaving These Children Behind". He was involved in research into radiation physical therapy, which led to his exposure to radiation, and in 1945, he was diagnosed with leukemia and given only three years to live. On August 9 of the same year, he was exposed to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. He was seriously injured and lost his wife, but he devoted himself to relief efforts for the victims. He fell ill the following year, but wrote several books from his sickbed. 

In 1948, with the cooperation of the people of Urakami and the Catholic Church, a hermitage was completed where Dr. Nagai could recuperate, and it was named Nyokodo (如己堂), after the saying "Love others as you love yourself". 

He spent the next three years until his death at Nyokodo with his two children.

You'll be greeted by a panel and a bronze statue of Dr. Nagai, who, despite being exposed to radiation himself, dedicated himself to providing medical care to patients and continued to pray for lasting peace.

Inside the museum, Nagai's favorite items and handwritten manuscripts are on display.

A collection of books and activities for victims of the Nagasaki bombing💣

A medical document written in his own hand.